Flat Roof Repairs in Broadstone
Are you looking for Flat Roof Repairs in Broadstone
Bituminous Sheet Flat Roofs: General Information
Introduction
Flat roofs are often regarded as inferior to their pitched counterparts and normally restricted to use on sheds and outbuildings although they can be found on many older buildings.
Tenement buildings in particular often have flat roofs as part of their construction. Flat roofs pose a number of problems that are different from those encountered in pitched roofs.
They are not as proficient at shedding water as pitched roofs to that end any defect can have serious implications for the building.
Flat Roofs can be difficult to inspect, they cannot normally be seen from ground level and the first anyone knows about a defect is when water is penetrating the
The following information seeks to provide a general insight into the structure of a flat roof as well as some of the things to look for whilst carrying out an initial inspection.
Flat roofs basically consist of joists, sarking and a waterproof covering built to a slight which should drain off rain water. The most common covering material is bituminous or roofing felt, this is a felt covering built up in layers each bonded with a bituminous substance such as tar.
The upper surface is generally covered in a layer of stone chippings set in tar, these stone chippings make the roof more robust, weather proof and better able to deal with solar gain (this is the amount of heat which the roof
structure absorbs from the sun).
Standing water is a major source of deterioration in flat roofs where a flat roof meets an adjoining masonry wall, a parapet or a slopping roof, metal detailing known as flashing is used to ensure water is kept out of the junction. Flashing was installed in such a way as to allow for a little movement in the structure of the roof whilst still remaining water tight.
Where flashing are sealed with tar or cement these often do not last as they become brittle and fracture.
Inspection
It is important to regularly inspect the external surface of a felt covered flat roof to check for early indications of problems and defects.
If spotted, these should be rectified as soon as possible. Where practical to do so flat roofs should be inspected from inside as well as from ground level and if possible from the surface of the roof itself.
Some points to bear in mind when inspecting flat roofs are:
If damp patches appear on the ceiling below a flat roof it indicates that there is a leak in the covering. this should be sourced and repaired as early as possible to avoid further damage.
It is important to note that the leak may not directly correspond to where the damp patch appears and some searching for the source of the problem may be required.
Soft patches underfoot are a good sign of deterioration of the substrate usually caused by water penetration.
Gutters and other water outlets should be inspected for blockages particularly in autumn.
Pools of standing water are a sure sign of poor drainage.
The surface of the flat roof should be checked for any signs of deterioration such as cracking, blistering or crazing.
Beware walking directly on the roof this can make the problem worse, in some cases where the roof is in a particularly bad state of repair you may even fall through the roof.
I hope you find the above information useful.
If you require more detailed information or you are in need of a specialized roofer or roofing company please feel free to click on any of the local links that can be found on this page
Thanks for looking