Flat Roof Repairs – How to fix a leaky Roof in PA – Roofing Repairing

DIY Flat Roof Repair Checklist

• Step 1 – Determine what type of flat roof repair you need to make by determining the roofing materials – is it an EPDM, TPO, Tar, and Gravel or a Torch Down?
• Step 2 – Find out how old the roof is – EPDM, TPO do not last much longer than 15 years. Torch Down can continue indefinitely
• Step 3 – Look for apparent problems around vents, drains and other objects
• Step 4 – Check the pitch pockets, flashing, cracked skylights, storm damage, holes made by flying debris from a storm
• Step 5 – Clean or wash the roof to expose issues easier
• Step 6 – Clean out drains and gutters regularly
• Step 7 –  Apply compatible sealant where holes, cracks are visible causing leaks
• Step 8 – Replace broken skylights and vent boots
• Step 9 – Find an experienced roofer – not a handyman, to make the necessary repairs

Home Depot and Lowe’s in Pennsylvania have Sub Roofing Contractors that could be available if you needed an experienced flat roof repair person.

This Video is about “How to Repair a Flat Roof” that has a Torch Down Rubber membrane. Follow the links to see how to make flat roof repairs on different roofing materials. In Pennsylvania, all three type of roofing systems are commonly used.

This video shows how a pitch pocket could cause a leak in a flat roof. Pittsburgh

It is not always easy to locate what causes a leak on a flat roof. From experience, we know flashing against brick walls, chimneys are very susceptible causing leaks and also Pitch Pockets on commercial roofs are know for causing leaks. Watch the video to see how to look for a leak and then what you are supposed to do to fix a flat roof leak.

There are many flat roofs in Pittsburgh that have Pitch Pockets. How to Fix Leaks of on Flat Roofs guide will be a great help.

DIY Flat Roof Repair support is available in all states:

• Connecticut
• New York
• Rhode Island
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• Massachusetts

1. Skylights on flat roofs

Making Skylight Repairs on a flat roof can be tricky. Here are a few tips where you can begin.  Check the following on a skylight:

• Skylight flashing – make sure that the rubber membrane has not come loose from the metal flashing. In some cases, the rubber membrane is the flashing as well and is tucked underneath the skylight frame. In other circumstances, the membrane is attached to the skylight flashing. Pull up on the membrane and see if you can lift it from the flashing. It should be tight and secure
• Skylight Dome and Frame – when the glass or plexiglass dome of the skylight is secured with a metal frame, then it is likely that the rubber gasket that seals between the glass and the frame has dried and cracked

This 3 D video shows where an EPDM Rubber Membrane can leak around a skylight and other flashing areas. – Pennsylvania

• Corners on skylights – In many cases where the rubber membrane is galvanized around the corners of the skylight, can cause leaks due to the seams separation
• Cracked Plexiglass – The plastic or plexiglass domes on skylights crack due to ultralight exposure

A List of Manufacturers of Skylights:

• Wasco Skylights

• VELUX Skylights

• Bristolite Daylighting Systems

• American Skylights: Custom Skylights

• Commercial Skylight Manufacturer – Architectural Skylights | Plasteco

Wasco is a skylight manufacturing company and has agents that sell their skylights in Pennsylvania. The image above is a Round Domed Skylight made by Wasco.

Here is a list of Wasco Skylight dealers:

• Carnegie, PA

  Distance: 5 mi

  68 Arch St
  Carnegie, PA 15106-2040
  (412) 278-5190

  Hours »

  Directions »

• Shusters Bldg Components
  2920 Clay Pike N Huntingdon, PA 15642-3020, United States
  724-446-7000

Lezzer Lumber in Pennsylvania

• • BUTLER
  • CURWENSVILLE
  • CURWENSVILLE
  • CURWENSVILLE TRUSS PLANT
  • DUBOIS
  • HARRISBURG
  • HOLLIDAYSBURG
  • INDIANA
  • LANCASTER
  • LANCASTER COMMERCIAL DOOR
  • LEWISBURG
  • MANHEIM
  • PENNSDALE
  • STATE COLLEGE
  • STATE COLLEGE COMMERCIAL DOOR
  • STOCKERTOWN
  • WILLIAMSPORT COMMERCIAL DOOR

  1260 Wayne Ave Indiana, PA 15701-3589, United States
  724-349-2281

• Pittsburgh – 38.97 miles

  Tel: (412) 771-1110

  Akron – 120.52 miles

  Tel: (330) 622-4173

  Leesburg – 128.16 miles

  Tel: (703) 779-2030

  Gaithersburg – 142.37 miles

  Tel: (301) 294-1960

  Rockville – 144.68 miles

  Tel: (301) 294-4611

  11 Ann St Oakmont, PA 15139-2004, United States
  412 828 1016

• Brookside Lumber & Supply
  500 Logan Rd Bethel Park, PA 15102-1514, United States
  412-341-3600

2. Bathroom Vent pipes – Flat roof repairs

Vent pipes piercing through a rubber membrane can become the cause of a flat roof leak. The rubber gasket or “roof boot” deteriorates over time and crack causing the leak.

• Check the “roof boot” around the vent pipe
• Check the rubber membrane and seams that attaches to the metal flange of the “roof boot”
• Sometimes the “tar” that is used to seal the  pipe to the rubber, gets dry and crack, causing the leak

Bathroom Vent pipe with a Roof Boot – To make a flat roof Repair, you need to identify the leak areas. The vent pipes are prone to leak.

3. Pitch-Pockets on flat roofs causes leaks

A Pitch-Pocket is a bottomless container that is placed on a flat roof where airconditioner pipelines and wires are fed through. After the wires and pipes are fed through, the container is filled with liquid “tar” or roof cement to seal around the wires and pipes.

• Check the pitch-pocket and see if it is full to the brim with tar. Many times this tar will dry and shrink and cause a low spot in the container. When it rains, this low spot will collect water, and water will eventually leak through where the wires and pipelines are.
• Check the foam insulation that covers the pipelines. This foam deteriorates and causes openings where water can leak through the Pitch-Pocket.
• As a precautionary step, these pitch-pockets should be filled to the brim at least once a year.
• When looking for a leak on a flat roof, always check the pitch pockets to see if the tar in them is filled to the brim.
• Flat Roof Repairs can easily relate to a Pitch-Pocket that has wires and pipes going through it, and all you need to do is make sure the insulation foam around the pipes is not the cause of the leak.

An Example of a Pitch pocket with Tar. Notice the foam insulation around the pipes is all torn. This cause leaks on flat roofs

4. Flashing on flat roofs causing leaks

Flashing is probably the biggest cause of flat roof leaks. Many roof technicians will not take their time and make a proper flashing transition from a rubber membrane to flashing. This can be attributed to lack of experience or did not charge enough for the job.

Locating flat roof leaks – This video points out how counter flashing, if not done right, can cause a leak. 

• Counter flashing – whenever flashing is used where a roof meets a wall, there must be proper counter flashing. Counter flashing is when siding or stucco or any other methods are used to cover the flashing from the top side. One should never be able to see the edge of a flashing.The vertical section should be covered by stucco, wood siding, or even other metal. The horizontal part that lies flat on the roof, should be covered by the rubber membrane.
• Test the rubber adhesion on the metal – try to pull the rubber membrane away from the metal, if it comes up easily, then that could be the cause of the leak.
• Check for cracked stucco or siding – If the siding or stucco has cracks in it, then the counter flashing is compromised.

Installing Counter Flashing – To fix the roof leak on this flat roof we had to install counter flashing. We used an angle grinder to cut a slot into the wall where the metal flashing can be inserted.

Flat Roof Repair – Installing Counter Flashing

The brick wall in the image shows that the membrane was brought up the wall about 12 ” high. They then adhere the roofing membrane to the wall. This way of making flashing doesn’t work. The membrane will eventually pull away from the wall. We cut a slot into the brick wall at a 30 degrees angle.

After the slot was cut, we inserted a metal counter flashing that hang over the membrane. This is what counter flashing is and how it is done.

Flat Roof Repairs mostly involves flashing on flat roofs that were not done correctly.

Counter Flashing Installed – After cutting the slot into the brick wall, a metal flashing was inserted into the slot and that went over the membrane to cause the flashing. Philipsburg, PA

5. Chimneys – the Cause of Flat Roof Leaks

The counter flashing on chimneys is always a problem on chimneys. Many times, the counter flashing has to be embedded in the stone or brick wall. This is where most people don’t get it right.

• Check if the sealant that is used on the counter flashing still holds
• Check if the counter flashing is still intact
• Check for cracks in the chimney
• Inspect the chimney crown – This is the topmost part of the chimney – Most of the time, these cement slabs crack and causes leaks.
• Make sure the rubber membrane is properly attached to the flashing on the chimney.

In the image, notice where the metal flashing meets the cement grout. That little crack is where water leaks from on a flat roof

Chimney flashing causing leaks – to be able to fix flat roof leaks, you need to identify what causes the leaks. See the flashing in this image – How to Fix a Flat Roof in Altoona, Pennsylvania – Flashing on the chimney is leaking. Seal the flashing where it meets the cement

7. Drains – Flat roof repairs around drains

When a drain is leaking, it is not always necessarily what causes the leaking. Because the drain is normally lower than the rest of the roof, a leak could start somewhere else and flow towards the drain underneath the roof membrane.

To locate a leak around a drain area do the following:

• Try to open the ceiling where the drain is coming through the roof and make a visual inspection
• Clean all debris that has accumulated around the drain and strainer
• Remove the strainer to make a visual inspection of the drain pipe from above
• Make a close-up inspection of the roofing membrane and the drain flange to see if it hasn’t separated
• If you cant find an obvious problem, call an experienced roofing technician to find and repair the leak

Flat Roof Repair – The rubber membrane was never attached to the drain flashing in this image – Phillipsburg Pa

8. Dripedge – Locating the roof leak at the perimeter of the roof on the drip edges

Drip edges are made of metal and make the transition from the roofing membrane to the gutter or edge of the roof

Things to inspect to see if the drip edges are causing roof leaks:

• Inspect to see if the membrane is still attached to the metal edging on the perimeter of the roof
• Check where two drip edges overlap for a potential gap or crack on the roof
• Make sure the drip edges are still properly attached to the substrate
• If gutters are present, make sure the drip edges are pointing into the gutter and not behind the gutter