Ponding water is the enemy of a flat roof. Water that collects in puddles very sometimes is unlikely to create an issue, however water that collects often can create a wide range of points, together with leaks, rodents and bug infestation, birds, vegetation, and discoloration. In the end, ponding water can do harm to your constructing and scale back your property’s worth. 

Industrial property house owners who wish to maintain their flat roof should look ahead to ponding water and take precautions in opposition to this drawback. Figuring out why ponding water happens, how it may be an issue and what business property house owners can do about it is vital. Here is what to know.

What Causes Ponding Water?

Flat roofs will not be actually fully flat — in reality, they’re designed to incline towards a drain into which water runs. As soon as within the drain, the water runs away from the constructing. If water is accumulating on a flat roof as an alternative of draining, there may very well be a couple of totally different causes. 

Clogged drain. If the roof drain clogs, then water might gather on the roof across the drain. Rooftop drains must be cleared sometimes to stop this from taking place.

Dips within the roof. Dips within the roof can type for a wide range of causes. Dips might happen naturally round sure buildings like skylights and different rooftop options. Dips also can happen when the insulation within the roof turns into compressed, generally attributable to foot visitors. Having a devoted roof walkway system can stop any such harm. Lastly, structural issues and poor design, generally brought on by improper roof set up, can result in these dips. 

Leaks from rooftop tools. Tools leaks could cause structural harm that results in depressions within the roof the place water can collect. Rooftop tools that’s simply too heavy also can trigger a despair within the roof over time. Utilizing tools helps will help distribute the load of heavy tools extra evenly, lessening the chance for harm.

What Sort of Harm is Brought on by Ponding Water?

Ponding water could cause harm in some ways, relying on the setting the place the roof is situated, how a lot water collects on the roof, how lengthy it stays on the roof following a rain and different elements. Beneath is the form of harm you could count on to see brought on by giant puddles forming in your flat roof. 

Leaks. Standing water could cause roofing supplies to degrade over time, and that may result in roof leaks. Flat roofs are designed to repel water, so it does take time earlier than a leak can type, however ultimately, it can. 

Rodents, bugs and birds. As soon as a leak kinds on a flat roof, the construction beneath can start to deteriorate. This could result in infestations of many varieties, as pests begin to burrow into the construction and make a house, in a lot the identical means that pests make their properties out of fallen timber within the forest. Wooden-eating pests want water-damaged wooden. As soon as wood-eating pests transfer right into a construction, it is simpler for different bigger pests to make their residence within the construction as properly. 

Vegetation. Algae, moss and different vegetation can develop on buildings that keep moist for a lot of the time. Algae and moss could be troublesome to take away, as soon as it is widespread. 

Discoloration. Discoloration can happen on a construction when it stays moist for a very long time. This discoloration might by no means go away – or a minimum of, not till the roof has been repaired or changed. 

Cease Ponding Water from Occurring

There are lots of issues you are able to do to cease ponding water from occurring on a roof. The primary and arguably most essential factor you are able to do is keep your roof by performing common inspections and repairs. Your flat roof needs to be inspected a minimum of twice yearly. When inspecting your roof, search for particles like moss, leaves and natural materials, and take away it. Should you discover issues together with your roof, reminiscent of lacking caulking or broken flashing, rent a licensed contractor to carry out the repairs. 

You can too defend your flat roof by making help techniques part of your roof ecosystem. Rooftop help techniques offer you a spot to retailer your rooftop tools. Help techniques from PHP Programs/Design are designed to disperse the load of rooftop tools to stop it from making a dip the place water can gather.

Help techniques additionally defend the roof from gashes and different harm, and guarantee you could keep your rooftop tools so that it’ll not leak in your roof. This makes it a lot safer to have tools on high of your roof, and makes it attainable to guard your roof from leaks. 

Want a Rooftop Help System? Name PHP Programs/Design

At PHP Programs/Design, we promote a wide range of rooftop help techniques to help your rooftop HVAC tools, digital tools, cabling and extra. To learn the way a lot PHP merchandise will price on your roof, name in the present day for a free quote.