Ponding Water Epdm Roof Leak

Stress on the post s base and surrounding epdm would say that ponding water is damaging things.

Ponding water epdm roof leak.

But if the water is pooling the pooled water is looking for the lowest place it can go. Ponding water leads to leaks ponding represents perhaps the single greatest threat facing a flat roof. Moisture found in ponding areas has caused decay of organic felts built up roofs algae growth light colored roofs granule loss modified bitumen roofs and premature curing and surface cracking non vulcanized thermoplastic membranes. This article describes an epdm roof installation study roof repair history spanning fourteen years from original rubber roof installation and the mistakes shortcuts that led to leaks and trouble to an extensive tear off and re roof repair that was made along the entire problem roof s lower edge.

Often i see where these posts are literally nailed through the epdm to attach them to the roof. The most obvious problem with ignoring ponding water is that it can lead to leaks. A small cut or puncture in a roofing membrane may cause minor damage on a well drained roof surface but the same puncture located in an area of standing water may allow significant water infiltration causing damage to the roof insulation roof deck and building contents. We illustrate how choice of the wrong roof edge flashing combined with wrinkles in the original epdm installation led to both frequent maintenance and frequent leaks in the original roof.

Um you might not want to puncture a synthetic rubber membrane. From there the water will be directed off your roof. Ponding or standing water is where the water collects on the roof and has not drained within a couple of days. If the business owner starts to notice that there are a number of puddles on their epdm rubber roof after a hard rain they need to act.

Ideally the roof should be designed with a slight slope. He further suggests that they could ballast the roof if i pay for the stones so that the ponding would not be seen. Eventually the ponding water spots on an epdm roof will cause leakage issues. While it is always good roofing practice to provide positive drainage for any roofing assembly epdm membrane offers greater safety margins in the event of deflection and subsequent ponding.

If the water does not drain within a 48 hour period it is highly likely that it will stay even longer and there will be a larger amount of water standing. The roofing manager insists that this is not a problem and because there is a continuous layer of epdm and no joins it is perfectly acceptable and it will never leak. This moisture has absolutely no affect on epdm membrane. Water always looks for the lowest place it can go if water is properly draining from your roof it will quickly find the lowest spot on your roof which should be a gutter or drain.