Common Types of Flat Roof Repair & Maintenance

Keeping roof drains free of debris is an important and often neglected maintenance item. In fact, it is perhaps one of the most important flat roof maintenance items, since its neglect could lead to an array of serious problems that would require repairs. If a roof drain becomes clogged, water will pond on the roof. Ponding water is extremely problematic as it can seep into flashing seams and freeze, weakening the seams. Because 90% of all flat roof leaks occur at the flashings, repairs to the lap seams in the base flashings often need to be made.

In general, any ponding that occurs on a flat roof adds additional weight to a building that may not be engineered to accommodate it. While ponding water is the major perpetrator of leaks in flat roofing systems, improper workmanship during initial installation can lead to a lack of proper ventilation, open membrane seams and empty pitch pockets, all of which allow moisture to penetrate the roof. Even small amounts of trapped moisture on a flat roof can lead to blistering, warping, internal leakage, growth of moss or silt, and roof rot.