Welcome to Family Roofing

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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.

 

WHAT CAUSES FLAT ROOF CRACKING

At some point in your building’s lifetime, your flat roof will need to be replaced or repaired.  The lifespan of a flat roof is usually 10-15 years.  The tricky thing with a flat roof is figuring out if it just needs some minor repairs or if it needs to be replaced.  Flat roofs need frequent inspections and maintenance so that if there is a problem,  you will be able to get it fixed before it get worse.  Certain problems can be quite dangerous as they can compromise the integrity of the building and potentially endanger yours and others’ lives.  Remember to always contact a professional to inspect, repair, or replace your roof.

Flat roofs are more complex than they might seem.  There are several common causes for flat roof leaks, and each of them can occur in various situations:

• Standing water on the roofing surface

• Utilizing outdated roofing technology

• Roof is located in a harsh environment

POSSIBLE FLAT ROOF PROBLEMS

Damaged Roofing Membranes

Until several years ago, flat roofs were made of multiple layers of asphalt tar, roofing felt and gravel.  This was an effective approach, but is time-consuming to install. So, nowadays, roofing membranes are the more popular choice of the business owners.  These membranes are made of a very thin single-ply membrane, generally made of durable rubber. In comparison to built-up roofing these membranes are less expensive and easier to install.

But, like any other roofing system, these membranes are prone to damage as time goes by.  Cracks, blisters, and splits are some common problems.  These cracks and splits allow water to accumulate beneath the membrane and once the insulation becomes waterlogged, it will lead to difficult to identify causes of leaks.  For this reason, you should get your roofing membrane inspected regularly for signs of damage.

Leaks And Moisture

Another common problem with flat roofs is leaks.  But since it’s a flat roof, the water doesn’t have anywhere to go but straight down.  This means that the moisture can seep into the roof that may cause mold and fungus, or damage to the structure.  The best way to overcome this issue is to get your roof inspected regularly so that it can be maintained every time there is an issue.   Leaks and moisture occur with a flat roof, due to the fact that the water collects on top and doesn’t have anywhere to go but down.

This can lead to fungus, mold and other water damage.  Leaks and moisture can eventually compromise your building.  It’s difficult to find a leak because the water doesn’t enter the interior in the same spot as it enters through the membrane.  Any damage in the membrane has the potential to be the source of a leak.  Anything that has been badly water damaged will need tending to.

Flashing

Like most other materials, asphalt flat roofs expand and contract with changing weather. With time, this continued process of expansion and contraction will cause the flashing to pull away from the corners and edges of your roof. The flashing faults will lead to leaks, and moisture can easily get trapped inside the roof. The best way to avoid this is to get your flat roof inspected regularly and repaired as necessary, because if the leaks become significant you will have no other choice except to get a new roof.

Damaged Flashing happens when an asphalt flat roof starts to pull away from the edges and corners of your roof as a byproduct of your roof expanding and contracting over a period of time due to being in the sun.  The roof flashing strips hold the different components of the roof together—if it’s loose, it’ll cause leaks.  The seal can be renewed by removing the old one completely and sealing it back up again. If there is too much damage it may need replacing.

Cracks In The Roof

Flat roofs tend to have more pressure exerted in comparison to sloped/slanted roofs.  When this pressure becomes excessive, it can lead your roof to crack.  As soon you see any crack in the roof, call a roofing contractor immediately.  Not only will a crack expose the roof structure – or potentially even the interior of building – to precipitation, but it is also a sign that your roof is structurally compromised and it’s the right time to get it repaired or replaced.

Because flat roofs have more pressure and stress than slanted roofs they’re more prone to cracking when the pressure is excessive.  Blistering and alligatoring can lead to cracks. This will eventually compromise the roof.

Cracks in your roof should always be dealt with by a professional.

Pooling Water

Standing or “ponding” water is one of the most common issues faced by flat roofs.  It is characterized as any water that remains on the roof for longer than 48 hours following precipitation.  The longer the water remains on your roof, the greater the chances are that it will lead to damaging leaks.  The roof should be designed with a slight slope so that water can easily find its way to the drain points.  Sometimes even flat roofs that were carefully designed in this way can eventually be faced with ponding as they age.

It is important that you regularly monitor your roof for any signs of standing water.  Gutters, downspouts, wall scuppers and drains will lead to ponding if not functioning properly.  Ponding is more likely to occur around large rooftop units because the weight of these structures will prevent the structure of the underlying roofing supports from working as designed, leading to ponding.

Be aware that, even if ponding doesn’t lead to leaks, it still represents a significant roofing problem.  The reason for this is, as time goes by, the enormous weight of standing water will gradually make the problem worse.  Roof leveling can resolve minor drainage issues, but more serious issues of ponding require changes to the underlying roof structure itself.  Pooling water occurs if your roof isn’t level and the water builds up in the dips-adding pressure to certain parts of the roof.

Shifting foundations can cause your roof to not be as even as it might have been when it was built.  The pooling water can start to cause mold and algae growth.  The source of pooling water can either be blocked drains or an uneven roof, a roofing professional can help find the cause of the problem and repair it for you.

Blistering

Blistering happens when air or moisture pockets get trapped between the layers of the roof membrane or between the membrane and the roof deck.  The pockets expand and stretch the membrane as the sun heats the roof. Unless the blisters show signs of more serious damage, they’re sometimes best left alone.  If they’re in an area that is getting foot traffic, the membrane has cracked, the surface is coming off, or the blister is near a seam then they’ll need to be dealt with.  In order to repair a blister in a roof, you’ll need new membrane material that will extend at least six inches around the edges of the blister after it’s been cut out.

Alligatoring

Alligatoring is a surefire sign that your roof is aging.  The asphalt for your roof has started to age and lose its elasticity since the sun’s UV rays have dried the roof material causing it to crack and bubble, resembling alligator skin.  In order to fix a roof that is alligatoring, you’ll need to clean it of particles and dust, then add a compatible primer and lastly, it’ll need a new coating on the roof.

Buckling In The Membrane

The membrane in a flat roof is always one solid piece.  As your building shifts and settles, it can cause your roof membrane to buckle and damage the structure.  Buckling repair is always best left to a roofing professional.

Roof Penetrating Structures

Flat roofs are vulnerable to leaks anywhere a structure rises up through the surface of the roof. These structures include gas lines, pipes, plumbing vents and other building elements.  If you want to protect these features against leaks, different tactics can be used like rain collars, installation of flashing, field wraps, and pipe boots. Regular roofing inspections should be made for thorough check of all roof penetrating structure.