Ponding water can have major negative consequences regardless of the type of roofing system.
How to stop water ponding on roof.
Air conditioning units skylights or vents placed around the flat roof may stop the intended flow of water and cause pooling or ponding in their vicinity.
Managing ponding water is essential to properly maintaining a roof.
The problem is when the water sticks.
Ponding water is known in the roofing community as water that stands in a puddle on the roof for more than 48 hours at a time.
Ponding water is defined by the industry as water that stands for 48 consecutive hours following rain.
On a performing flat roof ponding water is not a problem as it will drain or even evaporate away.
Whichever solution you choose the goal is the same.
Protrusions from the roof can provide additional points of vulnerability.
While it s true ponding water may not be an imminent emergency it is certainly a cause for concern over time.
How to stop a water leak in a steel roof ponding can occur on flat and low slope roofs that are installed using tarpaper roofing tar and fine gravel or a similar built up system.
Does your roof have issues with ponding water.
If you have some water on your roof after a heavy rain for instance but the water is gone in a couple of days your roof is doing just fine.
Ponding water is defined as the water which remains on a roof 48 hours or longer.
Roofs with higher slopes are less prone to this issue as the water is able to drain down the roof rather than sitting stagnant as it does with some flat roofs.
Water may accumulate on a low slope roof due to rain snow or runoff from rooftop equipment.
Every flat roof will collect some water during periods of heavy precipitation.
We explain some causes of ponding water how you can stop it from damaging your roof.
Ignoring ponding water on a flat roof.
Ponding water might not be an immediate threat but if it is allowed to persist over time that water can begin to wear on the roofing membrane.
While every circumstance is different an insufficient roof pitch or slope is usually the source of water ponding.
To divert water away.
After any rainfall lands on a flat roof water will begin to pool.
There are a variety of methods we can use to stop water ponding on a commercial flat roof without having to do a full roof replacement.