How To Find A Roof Leak On A Flat Roof

Roof slope surfacing and the type of roof deck among other factors can all contribute to disguising the actual source of a roof leak.

How to find a roof leak on a flat roof.

Have a helper stationed in the attic with a flashlight looking for moisture. If you see water stains on your ceiling it probably means the roof is leaking. Flashings are transitional roofing materials. Don t go crazy with the water.

I always start at flashings. Unfortunately the leak might not be in the exact spot you find the water stains. A common cause of leaks on flat roofs is often flashing. Be sure to start small.

You want to look for trouble spots that generally are the primary source of leaks. Roofing professionals including contractors and roof consultants utilize many different tools to solve hard to find roof leaks. Common reasons for leaks on flat roofs. If you still cannot find the leak systematically wet down the roof.

This flashing is normally installed around pipes and at roof edges but it isn t always that durable. Thin pieces of material sometimes metal that have been installed to weatherproof the roof and stop water entering at angles or joint. Roofers use a combination of visual inspection and moisture meters to scan membrane coated roofs to find the wet areas below the membrane and thus the probable leak point usually at a seam mechanical damage a roof penetration or at a roof drain. See membrane single ply roofs.

If you don t want to wait for rain to look for the leak try bringing the garden hose up on the roof. Water will always seek the path of least resistance so it could be coming in somewhere else and running to that specific spot on the ceiling. Run the water over the place where you think the leak might be located. How to find a leak on a flat roof the best time to look for a leak is when the roof has been dry for at least three days and in the evening night time when after cooling down the flat roof leak hot spot will release heat that has stored underneath the hole during the day.