Kris Koonar asked: Flat roofs are gaining popularity by the day. Unfortunately due to their design they are more susceptible to water build up on the roof surface, which makes them prone to damage resulting in leaks. A leak in a flat roof is extremely difficult to locate because the water entering at a particular spot in the roof membrane usually percolates through the roof only when it is far away from the leak. This happens in a sloped roof also but there it is possible to discount the area below the point where the leak is visible from below because the water does not travel against gravity. However, in a flat roof, water is able to travel in any direction from the actual point of the leak and this is what makes it tough to locate.
When you want to locate a leak in your flat roof, the best time to do it is when the roof is dry and cool. This allows for proper inspection to locate trouble spots. Generally main areas for roof leaks are in and around chimney stacks or plumbing pipes protruding out of the roof. Another area that is prone to leaks is a seam in flashings and the roofing membrane. All these places should be examined minutely for even tiny openings, cracks or breaks. These defects let in the water that leaks into the building.
Every flat roof has some low spots, which let water to pool in leading to damage in the waterproof roof membrane at that place. It develops tiny holes and splits in these places leading to leaks. The low spots can be identified by dried dirt rings that are formed as the water puddles in these low spots dries out.
The latest method for flat roof leak detection is through Infrared surveys. The survey is conducted by scanning the whole roof area for signs of moisture. The technology works on an interesting principle. The roof heats up in the sun during the day and starts cooling down as the sun go down in the evening. During cooling the area of the roof insulation or roof structure that has a leak tends to become wet by the condensing moisture within and acquires a higher thermal mass as compared to the dry parts of the roof. By conducting an infrared survey it is possible to detect these areas containing moisture through a clear picture of the damaged area. This is highly technical work and should only be carried out by a qualified technical professional.
The infrared survey can be carried out in two different ways for detecting a flat roof leak. It can either be conducted from a distance or through performing a ‘walk on’ inspection of the roof. The latter can be extremely dangerous if the roof is wet from a previous shower or if it is raining during the inspection. Professionals are aware of the need to take necessary precautions however; it is always advisable to remind them to be cautious.
Finding roof leaks is an important part of the maintenance schedule for flat roofs. Every year numerous roofs are ruined simply because of maintenance issues. When the area of damage leading to cracks, leaks, rotting etc. cannot be identified and is left untreated it may require the whole roof to be replaced in a short time.
Timely detection and rectification of leaks is the key to the long life of your flat roof.
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