Ponding Water On A Flat Roof

Ponding water is typically a sign of a drainage problem that you need to address before it creates problems.

Ponding water on a flat roof.

Reduce the longevity of the roof increase exposure of the ponding area to damaging ultraviolet rays collect dirt lead to faster deterioration of the roof s coatings and materials encourage growth of vegetation such as moss algae and plants lead to a leaking. This leads to a decline in the membrane s lifespan and can lead to things like leaks which can cause serious problems for the rest of the building. So you need to know what to do to ensure that you take care of the problem early before it becomes a bigger issue. However when your flat roof has uneven areas due to sagging an insufficient slope or drainage issues the ponding water doesn t dissipate.

A more appropriate name is low slope roof because even flat roofs have a slight slope to encourage positive drainage. This can be done professionally or by homeowners who have access to a ladder and a power washer or a hose with. Ponding occurs when after a storm or heavy rain water collects in pools on the roof. This is especially prevalent after a lot of rainstorms.

On a performing flat roof ponding water is not a problem as it will drain or even evaporate away. Most pools of water will quickly drain off or even evaporate but owners should be aware of the signs that ponding has become an issue. Flat roofs by their very nature will collect some water when it rains. If your commercial building has a flat roof sometimes there is a problem with ponding water.

When speaking about ponding on roofs we are referring to the pooling of water in areas of the roof that doesn t drain or evaporate. Of course no roof is ever really flat. However excessive ponding threatens your roof. Thankfully there are a few different tactics that you can employ to resolve those ponding water issues on your flat roof.

Roofs with higher slopes are less prone to this issue as the water is able to drain down the roof rather than sitting stagnant as it does with some flat roofs. Ponding water might not be an immediate threat but if it is allowed to persist over time that water can begin to wear on the roofing membrane. This is because the flat roof can hinder drainage from rainwater which results in standing water on the roof. It may also void your warranty.

The ponding or standing water can. After any rainfall lands on a flat roof water will begin to pool. So if your flat roof is collecting water that doesn t drain or evaporate within 48 hours you will need to fix it. Ponding water on a flat roof may cause long term negative effects.

How to fix ponding on a flat roof depends on the cause of the ponding. If water is backing onto the roof clean out the gutters to restore proper water flow. It s recommended that your. Roofs should be constructed in such a way that all water drains within 48 hours of the rain stopping.