A common cause of leaks on flat roofs is often flashing.
How to find roof leaks on a flat roof.
Any seam in the roofing material is a natural spot for a leak.
Look for places where tree branches may have gouged or torn the roofing material.
Look for concentric rings of dirt as the puddles dry out.
Start low soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house.
Seams a high priority.
If a leak is difficult to find enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose.
Often water will pond in low spots in a flat roof.
On a nice day have a helper tap on the mark while you re on the roof.
Unfortunately the leak might not be in the exact spot you find the water stains.
If you have an attic the easiest way to spot the leak is to up there on a rainy day.
Look here for tiny holes or splits in the roof.
Identifying the true location of roof leaks in the attic.
Typically there are two layers of flashing.
Roof leaks can ruin insulation become a breeding ground for black mold damage interior ceilings and walls and rot the wooden framing.
For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides.
Walk around the roof looking at the metal flashing.
On coated concrete flat or low slope roofs the tracing of a leak to its probable source is often a bit easier because the horizontal travel distance will be less and the inside leak will appear close to a crack or close to a roof drain or point of overflow if the drains are blocked.
If you see water stains on your ceiling it probably means the roof is leaking.
Clear any debris from the roof.
Once you locate the source of the water mark the area.
Water will reflect light so bring a flashlight along.
Thin pieces of material sometimes metal that have been installed to weatherproof the roof and stop water entering at angles or joint.
Water will always seek the path of least resistance so it could be coming in somewhere else and running to that specific spot on the ceiling.
Isolate areas when you run the hose.
Look closely at all seams.
Roof slope surfacing and the type of roof deck among other factors can all contribute to disguising the actual source of a roof leak.
So let s look at the ten of the most common culprits in causing your roof to leak and what you can and should do about them other than recruiting a bucket brigade.
Roofing professionals including contractors and roof consultants utilize many different tools to solve hard to find roof leaks.
Tracing a low slope or flat roof leak to its source is important if you are to assure that the roof leak repair will be successful.
How to find a flat roof leak.
You will see evidence of these areas on a flat roof.
