If a roof leaks whether it has rained heavily or not then there is a good chance that there is an easily identifiable eg broken roof tile or hole in roof cause.
Flat roof leaking after heavy snow.
When the snow piled up on the roof melting occurred and ice dams resulted in water ponding 3 inches deep.
When that happens the first thing to know is that it s not about the amount or depth of snow on your roof it s about the weight.
But some roof air vents sit fairly flat to the roof with a mushroom style hood and unprotected sides.
The steeper your roof pitch the more ice it takes to create interior leaking see ice dam case study 09.
This article will discuss three of the most common causes of flat commercial roof leaks.
Flat roof leaks are among the most common and the most undesirable.
Heavy snow mixed with sleet and ice puts stress on your roof.
Metal roofs can experience corrosion over time so some homeowners may be experiencing roof leaks simply because of wear and tear from their metal roofs.
Metal roofs leak under these circumstances.
Some metal building manufacturers will not warranty a roof with a 1 4 inch slope.
Ponding water leads to leaks.
We counted 90 stalagmites on the surface of the ice rink from drips coming from the leaking roof.
So the chances of roof damage from too much snowpack are minimal after a single snow event.
First the good news.
If you have a low slope roof area accumulations as little as 1 thick can cause problems.
But they also come with a reputation for leaks cracks and collapse.
While not frequent per se the low slope of a flat roof does make it more prone to certain problems particularly when it interacts with the elements.
Excessive rain heavy snow and built up ice all pose extra challenges for flat roofed homes.
This is a particularly difficult problem to fix during seasons with heavy rain which can cause additional damage to a corroded roof.
Light fluffy snow is generally no problem for a well constructed home.
Almost every home built over the last several decades is equipped with roofs that satisfy building codes for heavy snowfalls in that part of the country.
And on occasion a hard driving rain with whipping wind will cause roof vents to leak water.
If you own a commercial property that has a flat roof and would like to educate yourself about the threat of roof leaks then read on.
If your roof vent leaks during heavy rain the rain may be blowing up under the hood and into the vent.
