A flat roof has specific requirements in terms of repair and maintenance. Since some roofing issues like water ponding and insufficient drainage tend to be more common in flat roofing, the guidelines for inspecting a flat roof can be different from those of standard sloped roofs.

 

 

In this article, a residential and commercial roofing expert discusses how flat roofs are inspected.

 

• Clean up debris. To carry out a thorough inspection, a roofer will have to remove debris from the roof first. A clean roof makes it easier to detect problems and ensures that no area will be overlooked during the process. Without leaves and twigs collecting on the roof, the roofer can see if there is debris caught under the roofing material that can indicate a leak.

• Check for water ponding. In many instances, the presence of small pools of rainwater on a flat roof means that there is a flaw in the design of the roofing system, usually with the drainage. Water shouldn’t be pooling on your flat roof’s surface for extended periods after a rainfall stops. When there is standing water, the roof is exposed to too much moisture, which only brings about a series of costly problems, such as leaks, mold and rot. Let a roof repair specialist address the design flaw in your flat roof to prevent the occurrence of standing water in the future.

• Inspect the attic. An experienced roofer knows that the condition of the attic can affect the health of the entire roofing system. Along with moisture issues, they will be on the lookout for signs of insufficient ventilation. Once they’ve identified the root cause of the problem, they will carry out the necessary repair or replacement.

 

Whether you need residential roof replacement or flat roof inspection, choose only Sully-Jones Roofing. Call our team at (619) 655-3424 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve residents and businesses in La Mesa, CA, and other nearby communities.