Our bodies require water to live, but our homes do not! Preventing the elements from damaging your home is all about diverting moisture away from it, so it can harmlessly seep into the ground instead of getting inside and causing expensive water damage.
Water rolls downhill, which is why people with a flat roof need to be aware of certain precautions to prevent their roof from leaking, cracking, or even collapsing.
Specialized Expertise
If you’re calling in professionals to handle your roof, they need to offer flat roof repair services that can adequately address the problem. They should have a track record of repairing flat roofs, which require their own waterproof sealants.
Sometimes the most damage to a flat roof is caused by a very tiny hole in the sealant. Call specialized experts with a track record in repairing flat roofs.
Pooling Water and Clogs
The angled slope of most roofs can help debris and leaves fall off harmlessly to the ground. The drainage system on a flat roof is extra important: not only can leaves clog the eaves trough, but they retain moisture from rain and snow, which becomes very heavy quickly.
Standing water can erode your roof’s membrane, causing you to need more repairs or an entirely new roof. By working proactively to prevent clogs, water will drain away before it has time to pool up and ruin your roof.
If you have access to your flat roof, you can sweep off the debris with a broom. But be careful, especially during winter! It’s safer to get on the roof when conditions are dry, or simply call in professional roofers.
Wind Blows Shingles Out of Place
If your shingles aren’t adequately nailed or screwed down, the wind can get a foothold underneath them and slowly raise them from the roof, where they’ll be less effective. In some very unfortunate cases, the shingles are fastened with staplers!
If you have a flat roof and live in a windy region, ask your installer how they plan to prevent your shingles from lifting.
Ice Dams
Flat roofs that aren’t properly insulated are liable to get ice dams. Ice dams occur when heat from the home thaws part of your roof, and the melted snow gets trapped on the roof by a ridge of ice and creates a leak in your home because it can’t manage to get off the roof.
Professional roofers can take on your home’s attic ventilation, as ice dams often indicate a problem with insulation and airflow in the home.
Flat roofs can be stylish and practical, too. So long as you take a few considerations into account, you’ll keep the rain and snow from entering your home. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local roofers, provided they have a great record of fixing flat roofs.
Nice content Marysa! Winter is coming here soon and I was looking for tips and advice on what should do since I have a flat roof :). Thank you for this. Been very helpful.