The fact is – roofs leak. Roofs are designed to be as water-proof as possible but if you have neglected your roof or it is getting old, it will eventually leak. With the spring thaw finally here and the rain coming down, flat roofing contractors are getting a lot of calls.
What should you do now that you have arrived at work to find a large puddle on the floor of your shop or business? The obvious answer would be to have scheduled in a routine maintenance check to prevent the leak in the first place.
If you didn’t think of that earlier, now you are in a pickle and since hindsight is 20/20 you need to do something quick to stop the leak before further damage occurs. What should you do?
First thing is to contact your local flat roofing specialist to schedule an inspection ASAP. When you call, you may find that you are not the only one with an emergency, so the roofing technician may not be able to arrive for some time.
If your roof is accessible, and you are comfortable working up high, go to the roof and have a look around to see if there is any obvious damage or ponding water. Water ponding can be quickly removed by the use of a water pump available at your local rental company. This may not eliminate the water problem inside, but may slow the leak down.
While you are up there, look at the flashing around pipes, vents, and other mechanical equipment that is attached to the roof. You want to look for cracked sealant or missing or loose flashing. Problems like this are quickly patched with roofing cement available at your local building centre. Remember, this is only a temporary fix to stop the leak. You still need to have a professional look at your roof.
Other common areas for leaks are around the edges near the parapet wall. You are again, looking for cracked or missing sealant. Also, check to see if the gravel has been moved or is thin in areas where the roof leaks. This may indicate that there is damage to the roof sheathing.
If your inspection fails to identify any obvious signs of damage, the leak may be coming from an area that only an experienced roofing contractor can find. While you are waiting for your service call, take a plastic tarp up on the roof and secure it over the area that is leaking using heavy objects to hold the tarp down. Never nail or staple the tarp to the roof. This will only cause further damage.
Despite the warmer weather, there may still be ice on the roof so be cautious when inspecting your flat roof. Remove any ice that you can be safely removed and make a note on your calendar to call your local flat roofing specialist more often for an inspection so this does not happen again.