Water Puddling or Standing On Flat Roof
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Many so-called “flat roofs” have some ponding. Flat roofs really shouldn’t be flat. They normally will have at least a ¼ inch to a foot slope, and many roofers prefer more. The more the roof slopes, the less ponding that will occur.
Overtime and with age, a roof may sag a little or develop some low spots. Sometimes they were even built that way.
Evaporation
On many flat roofs the ponding is very shallow and the water evaporates in a few hours or a few days. Yes, no ponding is desirable, but in real life there is often some ponding.
Maintenance or repair
There are products that help eliminate or reduce ponding. These products help fill in the low spots, but they can be a little messy to use and because of this, it is easier to have a roofer do the work. While doing this, you may also want check to see if any of the roof sheeting needs support or repair.
Is the roof leaking ?
Are there any stains on the underside of the roof? Sometimes you can see the roof sheeting, i.e. in a garage area. If you see stains, then the roof may be leaking, however, don’t jump conclusions. If you’re a buyer and see a stain, you may wish to ask the seller if the roof has a leak or if it did leak, did he have it patched or repaired. If so, when and by whom.
Stains on drywall ceilings or even on a wall may be an indication of possible leaking.
Who to consult? Roofing contractor.Generally ponding or puddling is a maintenance item for a roof and roofers do the maintenance on these roofs. In some circumstances a home owner may do limited maintenance items.
Additional Resources
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Flat type roofs often have leaves and other debris that gathers on them overtime. If the leaves and debris are not occasionally removed, the drains may get clogged or restricted by the debris. If water builds-up, leaking may occur and if the water builds up high enough, it can cause structural damage.
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A second or third roof covering may weigh too much for the rafters and cause sagging or damage.
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When water puddles, then survey your options and changes that may wish to make. Also, any drains nearby that are clogged.
The roof of my house has water ponding and I want to fill it with cement. Will the new cement bin with the existing
Hello, one of the main causes for standing rainwater on a flat roof is that the roof drain is sitting higher than the roof. Up until now, the solution was to build a wood box to lower it. This is extremely labor and material intensive process. You can use a prefabricated sump pan to get the job done FAST and EASY by DIYer!!