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Is Standing Water on a Flat Roof a Problem?

Having a flat roof can have a lot of benefits to it.  But there is one definitive downside to those flat roofs: pooling water.  This is because flat roofs do not drain water as effectively as their pitched counterparts.  Those pitched roofs have a natural slope where the water can run down, draining off the roof.  Because these roofs don’t drain water that well, they are prone to developing what is known as ponding water.  Ponding water is known in the roofing community as water that stands in a puddle on the roof for more than 48 hours at a time.

Ponding water might not be an immediate threat, but if it is allowed to persist over time, that water can begin to wear on the roofing membrane.  This leads to a decline in the membrane’s lifespan and can lead to things like leaks which can cause serious problems for the rest of the building.  Thankfully, there are a few different tactics that you can employ to resolve those ponding water issues on your flat roof.  It is important that you address this issue because of the aforementioned leak potential.

When water starts to stand on your roof, not only does it lead to leaking and other damages to your property, it also reduces your roof’s lifespan and negatively impacts its structure. In the roofing industry, ponding water refers to water that has stood flat on your roof for longer than 2 days following rain.  Standing water on a flat roof is also known as ponding which is a term that describes how the water collects in pools on certain surfaces of the roof, thus forming ponds.  This typically happens right after a heavy downpour.  However, most pools either drain off the roof or evaporate.  When the water is stuck on your roof for prolonged periods of time, typically more than 48 hours, then it should be something that needs to be dealt with.

If it lasts for much longer, contacting a professional roofing team would be the best option in order to avoid further damage to your property.  It is also essential to note that ponding is not typically an imminent threat, as roof membranes are composed of water-resistant materials.  Although immediate leakage is not likely to occur, recurring ponding can cause damage to the roof.  But the best thing to do is to keep your roof in tip-top shape to avoid major damages and to also keep it at optimum performance levels. That is also the best way to get the most out of your roof over the years.

The next question you should now be asking is “how do i fix this problem?”  In order to find a solution, every homeowner should first identify the reason why their flat roof is holding water.

Inadequate or Obstructed Roof Drainage Systems

One of the most common reasons why a flat roof tends to hold standing water is due to the fact that there is an ineffective drainage system.  When the drainage system of your roof is inadequate or obstructed, this will tend to keep the water on the roof, especially since there is no roof slope to naturally drain the water away with the aid of gravity.  While this might seem like a major problem that will require an entire roof replacement to solve, this is actually one of the easier reasons to correct.  One of the major fixes is to implement regular roof maintenance. There are 3 different ways that flat roofs drain.  The first is through the roof scuppers which are collector heads leading to downspouts.  The second is through sloping towards a gutter system that guides the water away from the roof. The third is through roof drains.  By maintaining roof drains and gutter systems clean, water should flow out and avoid ponding.

Roofing Structure, Design, and Deflection

Another reason that can cause ponding water on your flat roof is because of the form of the roof itself.  This is trickier to fix because regular roof maintenance will no longer be able to cut it.  When a roof is designed poorly, ponding water can be due to the structure or by parts of the roof that start to sag under pressure.  This issue can also be because of improper placement of roof gutters and drains, which can lead to these drainage systems to be inefficient even when clear and unobstructed. If the structure that the flat roof is installed upon has settled or sagged, ponding water will be equal to the distance that the structure has deflected below the roof gutters or scuppers.

Compressed or Saturated Roof Insulation

The third reason which is a common cause for ponding water is due to compressed or smashed roofing insulation layers.  This can occur due to the added weight of construction materials, HVAC equipment, or other heavy equipment placed on top of a flat roof.  Over time, roof insulation may have also degraded and become saturated.  Most flat roofing insulation systems tend to be quite sensitive to water and degrade rapidly or even dissolve when exposed to water or other liquids.  When the insulation layer starts to degrade or dissolve, it loses its shape and forms an indentation on your roof where water can form ponds.  This will then cause an even bigger problem since the standing water can cause more damage to the roof and the underlying insulation, thus making the indentation grow deeper, increasing the area where water is collecting.  The best way to fix this is to replace the roofing insulation layer.  Determining the major causes of standing water on your flat roof can be a difficult task.  However, there are experts in your area readily available to give you a hand and recommend the best course of action.

Flush Existing Drains

Like the drains that live in your home, drains on commercial roofs can eventually become clogged with debris.  In more extreme cases, these serious clogs can actually lead to standing water becoming a mainstay on your roof.  To prevent that buildup of debris, try removing sticks, leaves, and any other rooftop debris from the drainage system of your building.  Not only will this allow rain and melting snow to flow away from your building, but it will also prolong the life of your drainage system as well.  On its own, that debris seems harmless.  But when it builds and builds, it can lead to a variety of issues with not only your roof but the drainage system as well. Take those preventative measures and you should not only see a longer life for your drainage system but your roof as well.  You can also hire a professional roofing service to come out and perform those preventative cleanings on your drainage systems once or twice per year. That should be adequate to keep your drainage system clean and working optimally.  That bit of preventative maintenance might cost a little money in the short-term but will save you a lot of time, money, and trouble in the long-term.

Fix Low Spots

Despite the fact that they are called flat roofs, flat roofs aren’t always completely flat.  This is because there are subtle slopes in the surface of the roof that can come as a result of the installation process, weak spots in the roof, or a particular focus of debris or precipitation.  Additionally, qualified contractors understand how to slope a flat roof for drainage.  These slopes are meant to facilitate drainage so that there is not a lot of pooling water on your roof.  It helps to remove that extra water off to the edges of the building, where an external drainage system lives, or to designated internal drains that will carry the water away.  One of the flaws of these low spots is that water ponding can occur quite easily.  When that happens, the drains can clog with debris and fail to do their job.  This leads to a buildup of water that can cause damage to the membrane of the roof and eventually cause leakage.

A professional roofing contractor will be able to fill in those lose areas with a roof plaster in order to better direct that water towards the drains. Again, the goal is to direct as much water as possible to the internal or external drains that your building possesses.

Install Roof Crickets

When it comes to pooling on your flat roof, you might find that the water ponds in specific areas.  These areas typically are near chimneys or around large vents.  The best way to battle water ponding in these areas is to install roof crickets in those areas.  Crickets are ridged structures that have been designed to divert melted snow and rainwater around roofing obstructions like the aforementioned chimneys and vents.  Because of their positioning or design, those obstructions may have a naturally difficult time draining water on their own.

Adding crickets to these obstructed areas can also help when standing water is typically associated with transitions between the areas of the roof.  If you are experiencing ponding water in other areas of the roof, crickets might not be enough. It is important to know how to drain water from a flat roof.  If most of the standing water revolves around those aforementioned obstruction areas, installing roof crickets can be the remedy that you have been searching for and answer your question as to how to divert water on a flat roof

Replace The Membrane

The membrane of your roof is the protective layer that keeps your roof safe from things like moisture getting into the roof, attic, or other areas of the building.  When that moisture builds up in the structure of your building, it can cause substantial structural damage.  When the membrane becomes damaged – and this can happen for a variety of reasons, ponding water chief among them – it might be worth simply getting a new membrane for the roof. This is an option if the cost of replacing the roof is not an option.  There are many membranes out there that are meant to withstand ponding water so it might actually be a blessing in disguise if you have to replace the membrane of your current roof for a more effective, modern version. An inspector will know how much ponding is acceptable on a flat roof.  You can also perform preventative maintenance to ensure that the membrane stands the test of time. Bring in a roofing contractor to perform an inspection once or twice a year to ensure that the membrane is holding up and not worn or damaged in areas.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF PONDING ON YOUR ROOF

Sagging roof

Ponding can often lead to your roof sagging which is a tell-tale sign that your roof is about to cave in on the pressure.  If ever you see signs that your roof is sagging, contact your local contractor immediately since it’s only a matter of time before your roof collapses.

Leaks are more frequent

Of course, roofs are not meant to retain water. If ever water will settle on your roof, then it can eventually find its way to holes and passageways inside your house.

Organic growth on your roof

Ponding can lead to moisture penetrating the roof towards the house’s interiors which can then produce molds, mildews, and mosses.  These organic growths can slowly chip away at the integrity of your home’s foundations.

Roofing materials will deteriorate faster

If you’re using materials such as wood or natural slate tiles, then having water seeping into these material structures can accelerate decomposition in wood while also eroding the slate tiles.  It’s best to keep an eye out for granules on your gutters as this is a clear sign that erosion is taking place.