Everything You Need to Know About Flat Roof Repair
One misconception we sometimes encounter here at Elite Roofing Industries is that flat roof repair is easier than repairing standard sloped roofs. Although working on the flat has its benefits, flat roof repair is in fact quite a specialised discipline, requiring a real understanding of the materials and systems used to keep flat roofs insulated.
Today we’ll be discussing the unique challenges posed by flat roofs and what you need to know before having one repaired.
Diagnosis
In the UK, the biggest cause of damage to flat roofs is rain. No matter what you do, flat roofs will always be more susceptible to water pooling and a lot of thought has to go into combating this problem at the design stage.
Before repairing a roof, it’s important to be able to diagnose the cause of damage in order to prevent it happening again.
If water is pooling then that could be a sign that there’s a flaw in the design. On the other hand, it could also be a sign of extreme weather events or else due to a lack of maintenance.
The truth is that there are lots of things that can cause water pooling but an experienced and knowledgeable team will be able to diagnose the problem and provide a long term solution.
Lifespan
It’s also important to understand the lifespan of a flat roof and this is where things get a little messy.
BUR roofs - made by layering tar, paper, and gravel - can vary a lot in their lifespan. As a rule you can expect them to last around ten years but studies show that the average is between 12 and 27 years with some lasting for decades longer.
An expert repair team will not only give you an idea of your roof’s current lifespan but they can also identify the difference between aging/maintenance issues and design floors, ensuring that runoff is effectively handled.
Understanding Materials
It’s also important to note that flat roofs are often built from completely different materials to sloped ones. As such, flat roof repair requires a whole new area of knowledge that many sloped roof repair teams simply won’t have.
So, if you need a flat roof repaired you need to find a team with the specialist knowledge to do that job. Here at Elite Roofing Industries we’re happy to say we’re that team.
To find out more about what we could do for you, please get in touch by calling us at 07555 100 700 or emailing t.gill@eliteroofingindustries.com.