It has been a long winter but finally there is a break in the cold weather we have been having. If you have a flat roof and are located around Oakville or Burlington, then you should keep a watchful eye out for leaks and ponding water.
Roofing companies in Oakville and Burlington area see an increase in problems when the annual spring melt begins. Snow that has built up on flat rooftops begins to melt and if the roof is not properly drained or a blockage in the drain is present, then the result is ponding water. What are the dangers of water ponding and what can you do about it?
One quick fix to solve the ponding water problem is to install a solar-powered pump to pump the water from the roof to a drain or away from the building. This solves the immediate problem of ponding but is only a band-aid solution for what the real problem is. Sure, this works whenever there is water on your roof but for a long-term solution, you need to speak with a roofing specialist who can assess your roof and offer solutions to prevent water from ponding in the first place.
The proper solution to your water problem may not be as cheap as placing a pump on the roof to drain the water, but it does offer a long-term solution that is cost-effective and can prevent further damage to your roof. Your roofing contractor may place a pump on your roof as a quick solution until they can schedule your repair in. Just don’t think that it is a permanent solution.
Another common leakage problem occurs when the roof is not properly insulated. An improperly insulated roof allows warm, moist air to escape through the interior ceiling and meet with the colder, outside layers of the flat roof. This is a problem, especially in our climate as we have here in Burlington and Oakville, where snow builds up on the roof and the sun beats down, melting the snow, only to have it re-freeze during cold nights and days. The warm air meets with the underside of the ice, melting the ice, which gives the water no place to escape. The result is damage to seams and flashing, which allow water to run into the building.
A third problem we see is along the parapet wall common on flat roofs. Oftentimes, the waterproof membrane that is installed to conceal the joint between the flat roof and the parapet wall shrinks or becomes brittle, which allows water to seep between the roof and the wall. On the interior, you will see water coming down the exterior walls. Quite often, when we cut away the membrane, we can see light coming from the interior of the building. This situation needs attention to prevent further damage from occurring.
These three problems are ones we see quite often in the spring months with flat roofs around Burlington and Oakville. They are not something that happens quickly, however; they take time to occur and with a simple annual or semi-annual roof inspection, they can be caught before damage or leaks occur. That is why we stress the importance of having your roof inspected by a certified roofing specialist regularly. A bit of pro-activeness with your flat roof goes a long way in preventing future problems.