If you own a house with a flat roof, you probably appreciate its nice look and energy savings, and maybe even enjoy the extra outdoor area it provides. However, flat roof owners need to be extra cautious to stop leaks, damage, and other issues. A leak in a flat roof could cause it to cave in and cause a lot of damage to your property. But you can prevent most of these problems by using common sense and doing regular maintenance.

Let’s clear up a common misunderstanding: flat roofs aren’t completely flat. A properly designed flat roof usually has a very slight slope. This slight tilt helps water flow off the roof, although it’s often hard to notice.

Rainwater can pose a serious threat to low-sloped or flat roofs. Unlike steep roofs, they don’t have gravity helping to drain water away. If debris clogs the drainage systems on a flat roof, water can accumulate. This standing water puts pressure on the roof, increasing the risk of collapse. Moreover, it creates opportunities for leaks, especially in tiny cracks that develop over time due to constant exposure to water.

Pooling or Standing Water

Pooling or standing water refers to water that collects on your roof and doesn’t drain within 72 hours. This problem often arises when your roof doesn’t have enough slope. A slight incline is necessary for water to flow towards a drainage spout. If you encounter this issue, there’s a high likelihood that your building will suffer significant structural damage if it’s not addressed promptly.

Blistering

Blistering is a clear indication that your flat roof requires replacement. It happens when the asphalt on your flat roof ages, loses elasticity, and starts to crack, bubble, resembling a blistered skin. Regrettably, when blistering occurs, your flat roof has deteriorated beyond repair and must be replaced.

Roof Buckling

The membrane of a flat roof is a single piece, so it can warp as your building settles over time. When the buckling of your roof becomes visible without the need for magnification, it indicates that the roof has reached the end of its lifespan. If the buckling is severe, there’s a risk of the roof collapsing into the building, posing serious harm to anyone inside.

Low-Quality Flashing

Flashing serves the purpose of guiding water away from crucial parts of the roof. If your commercial roof was fitted with subpar flashing during installation, there’s a high probability that water is gathering in inappropriate areas. As you can imagine, the extent of damage resulting from this issue can vary greatly based on the quality of flashing installation.

Cracks in the Roof

Cracks on a flat roof can develop due to various reasons mentioned previously, such as pooling water, blistering, thermal movement, or roof buckling. These cracks are among the most prevalent issues encountered with flat roofs. Without regular roof maintenance, water will seep through these cracks, leading to gradual damage to the interior of your building.

Separated or Exposed Layers

When a membrane layer of your flat roof becomes separated from the layer beneath it, your building becomes vulnerable to leaks. This issue often arises due to standing water and is akin to blistering; however, separated or exposed layers may not always be as visibly apparent. Therefore, it’s advisable to enlist professional roofers for regular roof maintenance check-ups to help identify exposed layers before they escalate into a more significant problem.