How Do I Find A Leak In My Flat Roof

Flat roof leaks are among the most common and the most undesirable.

How do i find a leak in my flat roof.

When a roof leaks moisture penetrates through the surface of the roof system and begins to saturate the underlayment or decking for the roof system. I always start at flashings. If the leak isn t obvious have a helper watch in the attic while you get on the roof with a garden hose. How to find a leak on a flat roof.

So all you need to do is simply follow it up to its source. Wait inside for several minutes for the water to begin to drip. Roofers use a combination of visual inspection and moisture meters to scan membrane coated roofs to find the wet areas below the membrane and thus the probable leak point usually at a seam mechanical damage a roof penetration or at a roof drain. Once you locate the source of the water mark the area.

If a leak is difficult to find enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. If you have an attic the easiest way to spot the leak is to up there on a rainy day. If you have a flat roof that leaks get up on it when it is dry and cool. After the underlayment or decking is saturated and can no longer absorb any additional moisture the water begins to leak into the inside of the building.

How to find a leak in a flat roof the problem with finding a leak in a flat roof that sets it apart from finding one in a sloped roof is that the water can run in any direction. With a traditional sloped roof a leak can be found quite easily as water will flow in a downward motion. The goal is to find the leak before the entire roof goes bad. To find the source of a roof leak.

If you own a commercial property that has a flat roof and would like to educate yourself about the threat of roof leaks then read on. Isolate areas when you run the hose. Look in the attic with a flashlight for evidence like water stains trhen trace them up the roof and rafters to the entry point. See membrane single ply roofs.

Run water from a garden hose along any potential trouble spots. You want to look for trouble spots that generally are the primary source of leaks. The best time to look for a leak is when the roof has been dry for at least three days and in the evening night time when after cooling down the flat roof leak hot spot will release heat that has stored underneath the hole during the day. For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides.

Identifying the true location of roof leaks in the attic. If you still cannot find the leak systematically wet down the roof. Water will reflect light so bring a flashlight along.