Common Problems with Flat Roofs

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If you have a flat roof and want it to maintain its value and to look its best, a regular flat roof maintenance program is essential.  A regular schedule of roof assessment and maintenance will ensure that your roof will hold up to harsh environment exposure, particularly to winter snow and to the overall aging process.  This regular maintenance will not only provide a greater degree of safety for you and your family but will also protect the investment you have in your home.

  • Leaking – Worn or split areas in your flat roof that cause interior water leaks.
  • Ponding – Large puddles that collect on your flat roof after rain, causing damage to flat roof shingles.
  • Splitting – Cracks or tears that appear in your flat roof, allowing in water or debris.
  • Blistering – Direct sunlight causing pockets of air to wrinkle your roof shingles. 

Ponding on your Roof

A flat roof is particularly vulnerable to “ponding.”  Ponding occurs water accumulates in pools when the roof becomes saturated with water from rain or snow.  If left undetected and not corrected, this condition can cause leaking and serious structural problems – even roof failure which could result in damage to the interior of your home.  One corrective measure that can be taken if you have ponding is to install tapered installation.

Splitting In Roofing Material

When inspecting your flat roof, look for splits or long cracks that, if present, will be visible parallel joints of your insulation.  These will often appear spongy.  These are cracks are caused by poor workmanship, freeze-thaw conditions, and surface stress.  Roof surfaces where ponding occurs will have a spongy feeling when touched.

Roof Material Blistering

Roof blistering is another thing to look for when examining your roof.  Blistering develops in the felt layers and the substrate from trapped air and creates a separation in felt layers. If you detect roofing spots that are raised and spongy looking, these are often a sign of blistering.

Roof Material Ridging

Ridging usually takes place in bituminous (built-up) roofs in the insulation joints, due to moisture that condenses under the felt.  These ridges may appear as long, narrow cracks and are typically the result of the roof membrane having been poorly attached.

Membrane Fasteners

If your roof is a fastened system, you should examine it for loose fasteners.  The fasteners may become loose because they were not long enough or because of water saturation.

Felt Movement

If the wrong bitumen is used on your roof, or if the roof is exposed to excessive heat, this could cause some or all of the felt layers on your roof to move.

Steps to Flat Roof Maintenance

Regular Roof Inspections 

The best way to extend the life of your flat roof is roof maintenance. That’s why you should regularly do a personal inspection of your roof and hire a professional roofing contractor for annual inspections. 

As a rule, we recommend roof inspections in the spring and autumn.  This is because you want to take care of any potential roofing issues before the worst winter and summer temperatures hit.  However, you should also inspect your roof after harsh weather conditions including storms, strong winds, hail, and snow.  This way, you can clear debris and notice any potential ponding before these issues cause interior problems for your home or business. 

Frequent Flat Roof Coatings

To spend less time on flat roof maintenance overall, getting your roof recoated is an important step.  Every 2-4 years, you should have a roofing company coat your flat roof to protect the surface from heat, mold, and water damage.  Choose a roofing company that maintains industry standards with the best roof coating materials.  This will ensure that your flat roof is energy efficient, resistant to weather damage, impact resistant, and more. 

Be Careful About the Amount of Weight on Your Flat Roof

One of the most common problems you can encounter with your flat roof is sinking, especially if the roof is older or poorly maintained. That’s why you should be careful about the amount of weight you keep on your roof.  Heavy objects can leave deep compressions or damage the coating of your roof if allowed to sit for an intended time in hot or moist conditions. 

Keep Your Gutters and Drains Clear

Water and debris drainage is a vital element of flat roof maintenance.  Because it’s mostly flat surface prevents thorough run off, your gutters and drains have to work harder to keep everything clear.  This is why you need to consistently keep your gutters clear of debris, creating a smooth path for rain and snow to exit the roof. 

Even with the most devoted roof maintenance routine, you will eventually need flat roof repair.  Whether a major storm causes damage or you need a roof coating for restoration, you need to schedule an experienced roofing company to get the job done.