Ponding Water On A Flat Roof

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.

Ponding water on a flat roof.

If your commercial building has a flat roof sometimes there is a problem with ponding water. This is especially prevalent after a lot of rainstorms. A more appropriate name is low slope roof because even flat roofs have a slight slope to encourage positive drainage. 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.

So you need to know what to do to ensure that you take care of the problem early before it becomes a bigger issue. Thankfully there are a few different tactics that you can employ to resolve those ponding water issues on your flat roof. This is because the flat roof can hinder drainage from rainwater which results in standing water on the roof. Ponding water on a flat roof may cause long term negative effects.

However excessive ponding threatens your roof. Still after heavy rains or snow pools of water can form on flat roofs. Flat roofs by their very nature will collect some water when it rains. So if your flat roof is collecting water that doesn t drain or evaporate within 48 hours you will need to fix it.

It may also void your warranty. This can be done professionally or by homeowners who have access to a ladder and a power washer or a hose with. Common problems caused by flat roof ponding. 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.

On a performing flat roof ponding water is not a problem as it will drain or even evaporate away. It s recommended that your. However when your flat roof has uneven areas due to sagging an insufficient slope or drainage issues the ponding water doesn t dissipate. 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.

Roofs should be constructed in such a way that all water drains within 48 hours of the rain stopping. After any rainfall lands on a flat roof water will begin to pool. The ponding or standing water can. How to fix ponding on a flat roof depends on the cause of the ponding.

Of course no roof is ever really flat. If water is backing onto the roof clean out the gutters to restore proper water flow. Ponding occurs when after a storm or heavy rain water collects in pools on the roof. Ponding water is typically a sign of a drainage problem that you need to address before it creates problems.