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 repeatedly can create quite a lot of points, together with leaks, rodents and bug infestation, birds, vegetation, and discoloration. Finally, ponding water can do injury to your constructing and cut back your property’s worth. 

Business property house owners who wish to deal with 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 industrial property house owners can do about it is crucial. Here is what to know.

What Causes Ponding Water?

Flat roofs usually are not actually utterly flat — the truth is, 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 a substitute of draining, there could possibly be a number of completely different causes. 

Clogged drain. If the roof drain clogs, then water could gather on the roof across the drain. Rooftop drains have to be cleared sometimes to forestall this from taking place.

Dips within the roof. Dips within the roof can type for quite a lot of causes. Dips could happen naturally round sure constructions like skylights and different rooftop options. Dips also can happen when the insulation within the roof turns into compressed, typically as a result of foot site visitors. Having a devoted roof walkway system can forestall any such injury. Lastly, structural issues and poor design, typically brought on by improper roof set up, can result in these dips. 

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

What Sort of Harm is Brought on by Ponding Water?

Ponding water could cause injury in some ways, relying on the atmosphere the place the roof is positioned, how a lot water collects on the roof, how lengthy it stays on the roof following a rain and different components. Under is the sort of injury you could anticipate 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 would. 

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

Vegetation. Algae, moss and different vegetation can develop on constructions that keep moist for a lot of the time. Algae and moss may 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 could by no means go away – or a minimum of, not till the roof has been repaired or changed. 

Find out how to Cease Ponding Water from Occurring

There are various issues you are able to do to cease ponding water from occurring on a roof. The primary and arguably most necessary factor you are able to do is keep your roof by performing common inspections and repairs. Your flat roof ought 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. In case you discover issues together with your roof, similar to lacking caulking or broken flashing, rent a licensed contractor to carry out the repairs. 

You may also shield your flat roof by making assist programs part of your roof ecosystem. Rooftop assist programs offer you a spot to retailer your rooftop gear. Assist programs from PHP Methods/Design are designed to disperse the load of rooftop gear to forestall it from making a dip the place water can gather.

Assist programs additionally shield the roof from gashes and different injury, and guarantee you could keep your rooftop gear so that it’s going to not leak in your roof. This makes it a lot safer to have gear on high of your roof, and makes it doable to guard your roof from leaks. 

Want a Rooftop Assist System? Name PHP Methods/Design

At PHP Methods/Design, we promote quite a lot of rooftop assist programs to assist your rooftop HVAC gear, digital gear, cabling and extra. To learn the way a lot PHP merchandise will value to your roof, name as we speak for a free quote.