It is a common misconception that a flat roof is completely flat, usually they are built on a very slight angle to allow water to drain off. Without this, the roof will begin to sag and retain water. Despite this, a flat roof is prone to leakages, and many of them are in dire need of repair. Sometimes aesthetic features on or around the roof can cause water to pool, or will weaken the structural integrity of the roof. Because of this, if you have a flat roof you often need to repair it more than others.

Luckily, there are plenty of DIY quick fixes that will get you out of trouble (such as Leakseal), as well as lots of more permanent solutions (such as Fillcoat and Dacfill HZ)

 

Safety First

As obvious as it may seem, it never hurts to have a gentle reminder. A roof can be a dangerous place.  it is important to never use a simple step ladder when repairing a flat roof – use scaffolding or a stable platform. Make sure that there is someone with you when you do the work, even for a basic job. If something happened while you were up there then you’d need someone to help you get back down again.

To avoid injury try not to walk on a roof when it’s wet since a wet roof . Again it seems obvious, but wet roofs are slippery. Remember that leaves on a roof can also create a slippery surface.

Signs that a roof needs repair

There are a few tell-tale signs that your roof may need repairs. Once you can spot these then you can evaluate what you need to use to fix it.

leaks are the most common issue that arises from a flat roof. Unfortunately, locating the source of the leak is not as easy as pinpointing where the damp patch is on the ceiling. Water often gets trapped and can travel along the line of the ceiling. This makes it hard to locate where it originated, and it can cause water to pool and cause further issues.

The issues that you see can differ depending on what your roof is made of. Timber may sag under pools of accumulated water. Old chipboard decks can break up/disintegrate when damp: look for dried water stains in the shape of concentric circle stains, which will indicate a leak.

Should the issue appear to be beyond your skill level then contact a professional. There are plenty out there, and if you can get pictures of the damage or the points where you think the problems have originated then they can put together a quote for you very easily.

How to find the leak

1. Measure the distance from the outside wall of the room to the damp patch. This will give you a reference when you’re on the roof of where it is coming in.
2. Check the surrounding area for potential trouble spots. These can be anything from joints, cracking, loose tar. Bear in mind that some roof surfaces can shift, so even a small area could potentially cause larger problems.
3. Check that there are no missing roof nails or other metal structural parts. If these are all correct check if any have become more rusted than the others. his would indicate it had been exposed to more water.
4. Areas with plants or other additional features can also become areas for water to pool. these are often the source of the problem.
5. Examine the top layer for flaws, like additional roofing tar patches or caulking. These are temporary patches that may have deteriorated quickly because of poor application.
6. If you are still not be able to find the leak, start adding water to the roof in small sections. Water will take the least resistant path. This will allow you to see when the water starts to come in. This process can be time consuming and the more detailed and regimented that it is executed, the more accurate it can be in determining the location of the damage on the flat roof.

Roof Repair

Asphalt and concrete flat roof repair:-

This type of roof can quite often blister or buckle with bumps of trapped moisture.

As an emergency repair the Rust-Oleum waterproofing products such as Fillcoat and Fillcoat fibres can be used as an before repair even whilst it is still raining. This product is able to cure underwater, and when applied properly gives instant waterproofing. It is also suitable for many types of guttering and down pipes: it will adhere to most substrates, including bitumen, PVC, metal tiles and glass. Emergency repair kits which include all the necessary application tools such as brushes and clubs are also available for emergency backup. Leak seal aerosols are also available for localised patch repair work on certain substrates.

Permanent fix:

For more permanent repairs there are a range of coating systems from all our leading suppliers. Our technical team can recommend bespoke systems to give the best results.

 

Steel, galvanised or other metallic roof:-

As an emergency repair the Rust-Oleum waterproofing products such as Fillcoat and Fillcoat fibres can be used as an before repair even whilst it is still raining. The product is designed to adhere to all types of metal surface and can be used in conjunction with a reinforcing fleece. This will give extra strength where required to bridge small cracks and holes.

The Mathys product Noxyde can be used as a permanent repair to these areas. But it off our website, or our technical team will be able to advise bespoke solutions. Contact our Wolverhampton office number of a 01902 429190.

Roofing tile paint:-

Roofing tiles made out of concrete slate terracotta can be recoated to make roofs look like new again. Dac Hydro plus and Dac Hydro D can be used in conjunction with primer 44HS to give a high quality lasting protection layer. The coated surface protects against pollution, UV degradation and acid rain. When applied correctly it has a life expectancy of 10 years

Additional Products

Antifungicidal products can be used alongside the above products to clean polluted roofs effectively. It does not harm glass or PVC and is not hazardous for the applicator. AMW is suitable for bitumen, concrete, asphalt, wood and pre-painted surfaces.

For further assistance please contact our team on 01902 429190.