How to maintain a flat roof and what to do in the event of a leak?

If the protective membrane of the roofhas one or more leaks, this can quickly lead to water infiltration into the roof, bringing moisture into the building and degradingits thermal performance .Replacing the flat roof of a building is never a trivial, time-consuming and costly project. For professionals, the financial burden of a new roof weighs heavily on the budget and can struggle to pay for itself.

That's why solutions that defer the work for several years and prevent the risk of leaks need to be carefully considered. With the right strategy applied at the right time, you can significantly extend the life of your roof.

Here are our tips for maintaining a flat roof, preventing leaks and our solution for extending roof life.

On the same subject: How do I waterproof a flat roof? Our advice!

Contents

• Our tips for roof maintenance
• Your roof is well maintained, but inspection reveals leaks. What can youdo about it?
  
  
  

Our tips for roof maintenance

1. Inspect the roof at least twice a year

A roof inspection is the best way to determine whether your flat roof is in need of maintenance or cleaning. Ideally, a flat roof should be inspected at least twice a year. It's a good idea to carry out the first visit just after winter, once the snow has cleared. The second visit can be made in late autumn, once the trees have lost all their leaves, which will need to be removed.

Examining the flat roof will enable you to detect wear and tear and other problems that could affect the watertightness of the installation. It will help you spot any blisters or delaminations that could eventually lead to infiltration or reduce the building's thermal performance. As a general rule, the roof surface should be uniform: a roof in good condition will have no peeling pieces or curling sections.

2. Clean the roof regularly

Examination must be accompanied by cleaning, toremove any foreign matter that could damage the bituminous membranes or prevent water drainage:

Some roofs need to be cleaned more carefully. These include green roofs, gardens, wooden decks, tiles and slabs of all kinds.

Also read: PVC membrane roofing: how many years before renovation?

3. Don't forget to clean gutters

Gutters, also known as roof edges, also need to be cleaned of rain, leaves, garbage, moss and rainwater. In particular, they protect the facade from rain. If they are clogged, this prevents water from running off, overloads the roof and can cause cracks.

To clean gutters: open and degrease downpipes.

Then, depending on what you discover during the inspection, various actions can be taken to repair or prevent leaks!

Despite your roof maintenance, the inspection reveals leaks.What can you do about it?

Case n°1: Leaks are minimal

Seepage should be eliminated as quickly as possible, and if possible, before any damage is visible inside the building.

The aim of the examination is simple: to act quickly before a small leak becomes larger and causes more serious damage to your flat roof.

Even a minor waterproofing defect needs to be treated, because repairing a small defect is not as expensive as replacing the coating.

💧Anyvisible trace of moisture on theinside can cost several thousand euros to repair, and even if your insurance covers it, it may temporarily hinder your business.

Here's an idea for a plan of action:

Call in a local waterproofing contractor to glue the cracked area or apply patches: this should be enough to solve the problem.

In some cases, it may be necessary to replace one or more localized bituminous strips, or to reassemble the readings if they are showing the first signs of delamination and are likely to cause a leak in the medium term.

Case n°2: numerous leaks discovered

After an external inspection of the flat roof, or because moisture is appearing on the ceilings, the verdict is clear: your roof is leaking. You need to act fast, especially in bad weather: heavy rain can aggravate leaks that are already visible. Youhave no choice but to completely overhaul the waterproofing.

The solution will depend on the age of your roof:

Your roof is less than 10 years old: If numerous leaks or delaminations appear on a roof that is less than 10 years old, you should consider taking out the installer's ten-year insurance policy. It's probably a sign of poor structural workmanship from the outset.

Your bitumen roof is over 25 years old : wear and tear is understandable, and you'll need to replace it. In this case, opt for white waterproofing membranes, which will enable you to benefit from the advantages of solar reflectivity. As an added bonus, your building's need for air-conditioning is reduced as it absorbs less heat, and your energy bills follow suit!

💡 O ur other practical articles on waterproofing solutions

Case No. 3: No leaks have yet been spotted - prevent them from appearing!

Even in the absence of leaks or blisters, with regular cleaning, a roof in visually good condition may need to be replaced after 20 to 25 years. A visible sign of ageing is that slate flakes usually peel off, giving the roof a worn appearance.

There are several solutions for reinforcing the waterproofing of a bitumen roof .

The green roof helps limit water infiltration by absorbing precipitation. It's also an effective way of combating excessive heat in offices. However, this solution often represents a significant financial investment.

You can also choose to apply a material such as resin to repair yourroof's waterproofing. Some installers offer this option. However, it can also bequite costly, and does not provide an additional thermal solution.

For two to three times less, and because you can also reduce the investment in this operation through savings on your electricity bill, you can more effectively opt for a so-called "cool roof" paint.The white color allows :

to reflect the sun's rays onto the roof and limit heat in buildings. This insulation system allows you to keep people comfortable, and reduce the use of air-conditioning and, consequently, electricity bills. What's more, it's a solution that doesn't require any work, and allows you to preserve goods and equipment.

Extend the life of your flat roof for up to ten years before replacement. Cool Roof paint provides effective protection, preventing dirt and weather from reaching the roof's structural components.


However, be sure to use a service provider offering a quality solution, otherwise the protection will quickly peel off or deteriorate.

The application of a non-stick top coat (top cot) is also a real plus, to benefit from a self-cleaning effect: it would be a shame to invest in a white paint solution, and rapidly lose solar reflectivity as it covers with dirt and turns yellow.

This solution doesn't just apply to deteriorated flat roofs: applying protection from the outset and cleaning your roof regularly are the most cost-effective approaches. Why is this so? In addition to the other benefits provided by a Cool Roof solution, it avoids the need for sometimes costly repair work as early as the first decade of the roof's life.

While replacing a bitumen roof is sometimes the only solution, there are steps you can take to postpone this investment over time.

To find out more :

• How much does waterproofing a flat roof cost?
  
  
• All you need to know about Liquid Waterproofing Systems (LWS)
  
  
• Waterproofing capabilities for steel pitched roofs
• Is painting an EPDM membrane white a good idea?
  
  
• The co-ownership's responsibility for roof maintenance
  
  
• What you need to know about reflective waterproofing
  
  
• Re-coating and alternatives for maintaining your waterproofing solution
  
  
• How to maintain a flat roof and what to do in the event of a leak