Flat roof repairs
Take care to provide a suitable, safe access to the roof. Make sure that the
roof structure is sound and capable of supporting your weight
Roof condition
Examine the condition of the flat roof covering. If it has deteriorated
significantly over a large part of the total, consider getting a quote for its
replacement. Whilst repairs on a serviceable covering are sensible, as it gets
towards the end of its useful life, repairing may be uneconomic.
Finding the leak
You may well be able to see where water is seeping into the ceiling below, but
the point at which the water is getting in may not be immediately above.
Damp penetration
Where dampness appears at the ceiling edges, the usual cause is a defective
flashing – the sealing strip at the edges.
Find the source by identifing the corresponding position on the roof above the
damp patch. Flat roofs have a slight slope, so the source must either be here or
uphill from this point. Carefully examine the surface for blisters, cracks and
splits.
If the roof is covered with chippings, sweep these away to enable closer
examination. Where the chippings are stuck in the bitumen, apply light heat with
a hot air stripper to soften the bitumen and release the chips.
If there are splits, these may be caused by movement in the roof structure,
usually as a result of expansion and contraction under the heat of the sun.
Blisters
Blisters may be caused by moisture penetration, or trapped air. They can be
squeezed lightly to see if they have any weakness. If they are sound, they are
probably best left alone rather than creating more problems.
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