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Leak Sources of an Industrial Roof Leak
DAVIS ROOFING specializes in emergency flat roofing repairs, maintenance and inspections. Our experienced troubleshooters will view site conditions in your factory, office building or other commercial property, observing the type of decking where the source of a leak may originate inside is important. Knowing where to look and what materials to use saves time and money.
An industrial emergency roof repair involves accurately locating the source of the leak inside the building. On Industrial roofs, this requires the use of flashlights, entering ceiling spaces or inspecting the undersides of decking with the use of ladders or a scissor lift. The three main types of decking are concrete, wood and corrugated steel.
When an emergency roof repair is required the actual source of the roof leak can be several meters away from the interior signs of leakage. Water will run several meters across steel corrugations until it finds a whole in the deck, it will also run across concrete and drip down inside where the pre-cast slabs come together.
As emergency roof repair experts, DAVIS ROOFING specialists can locate the damaged area(s) and stop the leak at its source. There may be two roof systems retro-fitted on the building which means water runs between the systems before it hits the deck and runs further, some buildings have vapor barriers or have been re-saturated which will also cause the water to run several meters before finding a whole in the decking and dripping down inside the building. All these aspects have to be taken into consideration when looking for the true source of a roof leak.
The leak source may be a split flashing at the roof perimeter or from one of the many roof protrusions including drains, roof mounted equipment, skylights or chimneys etc. Other sources can be windows, brickwork, metal cladding or coping, fractures in the membrane or broken pressure ridges due to age or a simple puncture in the roof caused by a heavy object. These problems mostly occur on tar and gravel roofs. We also have vast experience at fixing EPDM and Modified Bitumen Membrane Roof Systems.
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| Flat roof ponding water | Bad flashing | Damaged roof membrane | Old roof |
During adverse weather conditions when an emergency roof leak repair is required, often only temporary wet weather repairs can be conducted. The use of proper industrial emergency repair materials is essential for a successful emergency roof repair. Our vast experience in this field puts us head and shoulders above the competition. Annual roof maintenance programs can help to prevent leaks and extend the service life of your existing roof system. Remember that a well maintained roof is your first and best defense against leaks and water damage.
We are in good standing with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, all our specialists have Site Safety and Hazardous Waste training and we carry full Liability Insurance. Our industrial emergency roof repair and leak repair are 100% guaranteed.
Leak Sources of Residential Roof Leak
Roof leaks are a nuisance for many homeowners. They can be difficult to diagnose. To make matters worse, different weather conditions will produce leaks in different locations. The vast majority of roof coverings operate using the principal of gravity. This can be a big help in locating a leak source. However, horizontal roof boards can trick you. A leak may actually be eight to 10 feet sideways from where you see the wet ceiling or spot in the attic.
Finding the source of some leaks is easy. Others will require detective work and possibly a garden hose and an inside spotter. If you don’t feel comfortable on a roof, you will have to find an honest roofer to assist you. Sometimes this can be as hard as finding the smallest leak!
We are located in Austin, Texas.
If your roof is older, it is possible that the leak is within the roof field. This means the expanse of shingles, slate, shakes, whatever. If your roof is asphalt, then you can walk around with ease. Other materials such as slate, concrete tile or clay tile may not be so forgiving. You can crack roofing if you walk on it, so be careful. With regular shingles, look at the tops of the vertical knockouts. Look for missing colored granules. Look for cracks. Possibly a nail has backed itself out of the roof sheathing. Simply take your time and hunt.
A valley is a line where two roof planes intersect. Here in Austin we use a metal flashing in the valleys. Some areas use rolled roofing. Other places simply lace the shingles together. Valleys can be big problems if you do not trim the shingles correctly. When you trim a shingle for a valley you end up with a chisel point on the end of the shingle. If a second cut is not made to make this point like an arrow point, then water can travel along the top of the shingle and find its way inside your house. The shingle wrapper tells you how to make this simple second cut.
Some roofs stop at a vertical wall. A metal flashing must be in place to direct water streaming down the wall away from the stopping point of the shingles. This flashing may be behind wood siding or in front of a brick wall. The flashing should extend over the shingles at least three inches. If the wall is brick or other masonry, the flashing must bend and extend one inch into a mortar joint. Tar, caulk or roofing cement should never be used in conjunction with these materials. If you see them, it is a sign that someone tried to patch a leak!
Some roof leaks happen at step flashings. You find these flashings where a roof climbs alongside a vertical wall. As each row of shingles is laid, a step flashing is installed over the shingle next to the wall. Part of the flashing turns up on the wall and the other portion gets covered by the next row of shingles. Look for rust or holes in these flashings. In reality, if all is well, you will be able to see only the smallest portion of these flashings.
About vent flashing – newer vent flashings are a concern of mine. Many of these incorporate a rubber seal with an aluminum flashing. The rubber can fail in as little as 10 to 15 years. Look for cracked rubber around the plumbing pipe. The flashing should dive up and under the shingles that extend up roof from the middle of the plumbing vent. The bottom half of the flashing should be exposed and actually cover the shingles.
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| Bad wall flashing | Emergency roof | Bad flashing | Roof valley leak |
Ice dam leaks plague people in the snow belt. These leaks can happen even if everything on your roof is just fine! Ice dams block the natural flow of water down a roof. The water begins to back up under flashings, shingles, tar paper, etc. Once water begins to flow into the house, it can drip for days.
The only means of prevention is to install membranes under the roofing. The membranes won’t stop the ice but will stop water leaks if installed properly.
Wind driven rain can also be a major problem. Once again, you could actually have a good roof and wind will drive water up and under your roofing materials. The only lines of defence are tar paper and the ice dam membranes.
Non-Roof Leaks!
Sometimes you think you have a roof leak when in fact the roof is fine. Attic condensation is a prime example. High humidity can cause condensation and “rain” to fall in your attic. It can also make the underside of the roof sheathing look wet. You think you have a leak instead.