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How To Handle A Leaky Roof Finding out where a leak is on your Lancaster
County area roof isn’t always as easy as it would appear to be. When trying to
locate a leak, use the following guidelines to assist you. NOTE: whenever you
see the words "the leak area," it refers to an area within a 10 foot (3 meter)
diameter of the leak.
Flat or
Low-Slope Roofs
Inspect any roof
drains near the
leak area. If
they are plugged
or draining
slowly, then
there is a
strong chance
that they are
the reason for
the leaks.
Drains are
rarely
waterproof if
they are
plugged. They
are generally
designed and
constructed for
water to flow in
one direction
only...down.
Inspect any
material seams
in the area of
the leak.
Just because you
see "tar" or
adhesive
sticking out
under a lap, it
doesn’t mean
that the
material is
adhered
properly. Take a
flat blade about
2 inches (5 cm)
long (like a
pocketknife
blade), and
gently run it
along under the
lap. If it
slides in more
than 1 inch (2.5
cm), then the
seam should be
sealed. If it
slides in for
the length of
the 2 inch
blade, it’s a
good suspect for
a leak.
Look carefully
at all
penetrations for
signs of
problems.
Problems include
holes in the
metal flashings,
shrunken pitch
pan filler,
deteriorated
caulking, curled
flashing flanges
that are
sticking up
through the roof
membrane, or any
other visible
defects.
Look for
blisters that
have been
punctured.
Look closely
at expansion
joint seams.
These are often
faulty.
Check for splits
in the area. Do
this by walking
the area with
your feet close
together and
taking many
small steps,
turning in all
directions. If
there is a
split, you’ll
see the roof
separate between
your feet.
If the leak
occurs near the
edge of the
building, check
the edge metal.
It can separate
at the seams and
tear the roof
membrane in the
process.
Check under
debris. A
lot times, if
debris has been
sitting on a
roof for a long
period of time,
then it can hold
water which will
expedite roof
deterioration.
Bird, rodent,
and other vermin
nests have been
found under
piles of debris
on roofs.
If you get a
freak rain storm
that dumps
horrendous
amounts of water
on your roof in
a short period
of time, and all
of a sudden you
have half a
dozen leaks
where before
there were none,
don’t get overly
excited. Most
roofs are not
designed or
constructed to
handle that much
water all at
once.
If you are
looking for a
Pennsylvania roofing
contractor to
repair or replace your roof,
please call us
today at
717-354-3737 or
complete our
online request
form
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