CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
Water Pooling on Flat Roof
Having a flat roof can have several benefits. 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. Because these roofs don’t drain water that well, they are prone to developing what is known as ponding water. Ponding water is known 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.
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.
Flush Existing Drains
Like the drains in your home, drains on flat 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 you roof. 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.
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 build up 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 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.
Add more drain lines to the building
If the current drainage system has issues with effectively removing water from your flat roof, there are a few things that you can look into in order to help the process along. Though it comes with additional costs, adding additional drains is one of the most effective ways to take care of this issue.
Flat roofs, particularly those in areas with high precipitation, will sometimes need those additional drains to properly clear the water from the roof. Unfortunately, most building owners don’t realize this until they see that water ponding becomes a substantial problem in the wake of a heavy storm.
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. But 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.
Re-pitch The Rooftop
One issue that your roof could be having when it comes to keeping away ponding water is that the pitch was not properly designed or installed during the initial process. All roofs need some form of sloping to it, even if it is just subtle. Without the right amount of sloping, the water that builds during a storm won’t be able to drain and will more often than not lead to additional pooling across your flat commercial roof.
The process of re-pitching the roof might be a costly one, but it might also be the only way that you can solve consistent ponding issues on your commercial roof. It might be worth exploring other options first, but if you need to make the investment, there are far worse things to put your money towards. Best of all, if you know what you are looking for, you can actually re-pitch the roof before a problem arises. Noticing standing water is an obvious sign, but maybe you live in an area that has a lot of storms and want to take preventative measures.
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, 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 roofing professional 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. Your roof is the last line of defense you have from the elements and it needs to work properly.
With preventative maintenance and a little attentiveness, you can keep your roof working the way it is meant to work. Don’t let ponding water become an issue for your business when you can use these tips to get rid of that pesky water.
Flat Roofing Coatings
Flat roof coatings are available in a variety of types these days. Homeowners no longer need to use tar with toxic fumes to seal their flat roofs. Rubber and PVC coatings are newer products you can use to seal your roof from the elements. The type of coating you choose for your roof will depend on your roof’s existing condition and the kind of coating already on your roof. Here are some of the best coatings for flat roofs today.
Aluminum roof coatings are a great way to protect flat asphalt and rolled roofs from deterioration and costly overheating. Another benefit of coating your flat roof is that it can cover the minor leaks and damages. People often avoid full-scale roof replacements if they use the right coating for the roof. Roof restoration through coating can save you 50 to 70 percent as compared to the entire roof replacement process.
CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
Having a flat roof can have several benefits. 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. Because these roofs don’t drain water that well, they are prone to developing what is known as ponding water. Ponding water is known as water that stands in a puddle on the roof for more than 48 hours at a time.
If the current drainage system has issues with effectively removing water from your flat roof, there are a few things that you can look into in order to help the process along. Though it comes with additional costs, adding additional drains is one of the most effective ways to take care of this issue.
Aluminum roof coatings are a great way to protect flat asphalt and rolled roofs from deterioration and costly overheating. Another benefit of coating your flat roof is that it can cover the minor leaks and damages. People often avoid full-scale roof replacements if they use the right coating for the roof. Roof restoration through coating can save you 50 to 70 percent as compared to the entire roof replacement process.