How To Lengthen The Life of Your Roof

Protecting Your Flat Roof

Every building depends on its roof. Your building’s roof is what stands between the interior of the building and the elements. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your roof is properly maintained.

Maintaining a flat roof can be very different from maintaining a roof that’s sloped.

These five suggestions for repairing flat roofing will help you to keep your roof in excellent condition as time goes on.

Start With Inspection

Don’t call in an expert for repairs until you’ve taken a closer look at your roof. There should be a way for you to access your roof so that you can look for signs of the issues you’re seeing, such as the source of a leak.

If you haven’t looked at your roof, you won’t have any way of knowing how serious the damage is. You’ll want to keep an eye out for issues such as pooling water, roof splits, and blistering. Don’t hesitate to bring in experts if repairs or roof replacement is needed.

2. Make Sure Splits Are Repaired Right Away

It’s not unusual to see a split down the middle of a flat roof. All roofs are exposed to the elements, and this can lead to damage like splitting. Other factors, such as poor installation, can also cause these kinds of problems.

Some of the warning signs of a split roof include interior tile staining and ceiling leaks. If you suspect that your roof has a split, you should address this as swiftly as possible.

Splits can easily be repaired by roofing professionals. Damaged materials on a roof can be removed. From there, the sections beneath can be cleaned and dried. The adhesive is placed, and new material is secured over it.

This process may seem easy enough, but that doesn’t mean you should tackle it yourself. Not only could you make mistakes during the process, but you could also void your roof warranty or the insurance on your building.

2. Take Steps to Avoid Ponding

While it can be lovely to see a pond in a park, you won’t want one to pop up on your roof.

Typically, flat roofs utilize draining systems that allow water to drain from the edge of the roof, but these systems don’t always work perfectly. Roofing professionals can take steps to ensure that water flows down through gutters instead of pooling on your roof.

If you spot any ponding when inspecting your roof, the first thing you’ll want to do is take a look at your gutters and drains. You may notice that debris, such as leaves or sticks, is keeping the water from properly draining. A little cleaning may be enough to take care of the clog.

If there’s still ponding on your roof after your gutters have been cleaned, however, it’s like that you need a better drainage solution. This could include installing more gutters or putting in a new drainage system. Professionals can assess the problem and find an effective solution, whether it’s utilizing automatic pumps or installing more gutters.

A professional may also choose to relay or build up additional roofing materials to give your flat roof a bit of slop. This will help to guide water away from the center of your roof and to the drains at the roof’s edges.

Ponding isn’t an issue you can afford to ignore. Over time, it can lead to watermarks and staining on the interior of your building. It can also cause deep indentations to form. If water continues to pool in these low spots, you could wind up with a leak inside your building.

3. Look Out for Blistering

If you’re in an area that sees a lot of hot weather, your flat roof may be at risk of blistering. When installing a flat roof, professionals put down several layers of both felt and felt substrate. During this process, air may be trapped between layers.

As temperatures rise, air pockets can begin to form within these layers, causing the material to bubble up and blister. Unless the issue is dealt with, these blisters will expand over time.

If blisters get to be too large, it can cause your roofing materials to burst open, leaving a hole behind. This means that your roof will no longer be properly protected. When it rains, water could leak through these holes and into your building, causing water damage.

Professionals can remove and replace any roofing materials that have begun to replace it. It’s best to work with experts that have extensive experience with flat roofs. Specialists can use techniques when applying the new materials that can help you avoid air pockets and blistering in the future.

4. Steer Clear of Environmental Threats

Regardless of the location, you’re in, any man-made structure will be damaged by the elements. Thankfully, you can take steps to mitigate and even prevent some of this damage. Inspect your building so that you can identify threats that have the potential to damage your roof in the future.

One of the first things you should assess is the trees around your property. If there are trees close to your roof, you’ll want to have them trimmed so that none of the foliage is too close to your roof. Leaves, sticks, and other types of debris can fall from the tree onto your roof, leaving your drainage system clogged. This could eventually lead to ponding.

It’s also important to keep an eye out for material that has begun to blister, especially when the weather is hot. If you’re able to find bubbles right away, you can avoid significant damage.

Although you should inspect your roof on a regular basis, you should never do this alone. Even flat roofs aren’t made to be walked in. Having another person with you can help to keep you safe.

5. Choose the Appropriate Roof Coating

Even if you take plenty of precautions, your roof could still be damaged. This makes it all the more essential to apply a suitable coating to your roof.

You should work with an experienced professional that can help you find the best type of coating. That way, you’ll be able to keep your flat roof in excellent condition as time goes on.

If your roof is already damaged, you won’t want to work with just any contractor. Find a professional that has experience with flat roofs and is familiar with the types of damage these roofs are susceptible to.

Make Flat Roof Repair a Priority

Preventative maintenance is key if you want your roof to protect you. Remember, any damage on the outside of your building could damage the building’s interior in the future. Don’t hesitate to connect with us if your flat roof needs repairs.