Roofs are the one force stopping the rain from entering a building. While the slope of a roof does help with the draining of water, sometimes a slop is non-existent. This is often true with flat roofs. The waterproofing on these types of roofs can be extremely tricky. If not properly maintained, they will eventually leak. When they do leak, it takes a specialist to ensure they are fixed properly.
The big challenge of fixing a flat roof is that there is basically nowhere for the water to go if the drain lines are clogged. This means that water just sits on the roof. If there is any crack in the waterproofing, the water can slowly seep in. Eventually, this water will soften the wood underneath and create soft areas. In some cases, the heat combined with the water can cause unseen mold growth.
Another challenge with fixing a roof that has no slope is that often heavy equipment such as air conditioning units are on top of it. This means that there are more openings in the roof. More openings means more opportunity for compromise for the roof. Flashing can easily become damaged from things like routine maintenance or the constant vibration of the machines. Once this happens, water has an open pathway into the building. Often, this damage isn’t noticed until the water is raining down.
The flat roof also has a lot of edges that have to be properly sealed. These edges can be tricky as they have to be done correctly in order to prevent the water from going into the edges. Often, the flashing has to be carried up on all four sides of the roof. A missed seal in these areas can ultimately result in major water damage as the water leaks into that compromised seal.
While flat roofs aren’t recommended for most buildings, they are sometimes necessary. Without the slope to help drain away water, any compromise in the roofing material can result in major damage. Thus, it is important to get flat roofs checked out by Bulldog Roofing and Restoration to ensure that they have maintained their integrity.
