1. Lack of Upkeep
The failure to seek out and proper minor roof deterioration in the earliest stages is probably the greatest reason for untimely roof problems. This is particularly true of roofing supplies applied on comparatively low-sloped roofs.
2. Weathering
On the whole, inorganic roofing materials are inclined to deteriorate much less quickly from exposure than organic roofing materials. All kinds of roofing materials may be broken by hail. Air pollutants and industrial or salt-laden atmospheres may accelerate the deterioration process of some roofing materials.
3. Wind Damage
Roofing materials are inclined to be damaged from sturdy winds and flying debris. Typically, roofs are not designed to withstand winds of hurricane intensity. Nevertheless, roofs may also be damaged by winds of average intensity, with gusts that may reach 50 to 75 miles per hour. The primary explanation for wind injury is from the partial vacuum created by wind blowing over the edge of the roof. Nature tries to neutralize the low-pressure space by bringing in air from the next strain area, usually from contained inside the building. This air pushes up on the bottom aspect of the roof assembly and, over time, loosens fasteners and breaks the adhesion making the roof inclined to wreck from the next average or robust wind. To counteract the consequences of wind-uplift forces, the roofing and insulation needs to be adequately fixed to the roof deck, and a securely-fastened perimeter element needs to be provided.
4. Improper Design
Troublesome roofing problems are often the results of defective preliminary design of the roof system. Design deficiencies are costly to correct, and normally can only be corrected through roof replacement. Some examples of defective design are:
* Weak roof constructions that deflect excessively below load, causing splitting of the roof membrane
* Insufficient roof slope, sagging roof structure, or inadequate number or location of drains, leading to ponding water
* Inadequate provision for expansion and contraction at changes in deck material or direction, inflicting membrane splits.
* Incompatible roof materials – i.e. the usage of asphalt to stick a torch-on materials (APP).
5. Flashing Failures
The job of flashing is to supply a watertight junction between roofing materials and roof projections or different components of the construction, and between roof sections. Flashing needs to be designed to furnish service for at least so long as the materials used in the field of the roof. Flashing is essentially the most vulnerable part of any roof. The significance and the significance of sustaining them properly cannot be overemphasized.
Many early roof problems are actually flashing problems. Often, repairing the flashing or providing new flashing is all that’s needed to make the roof watertight again. Most flashing issues consequence from insufficient flashing design or defective construction. Many flashing issues could be diminished or eliminated by careful examination by competent inspectors throughout roof set up, and by commonly scheduled inspection and maintenance.
In many instances, leaks happen at flashing where there are no flashing defects. These leaks may be the result of open joints in a masonry wall or coping cap, which permits water to enter behind the flashing and into the building. This drawback could also be eliminated by “by way of-wall” flashing.
6. Base-Flashing Problems
Some widespread causes of base-flashing issues are:
* Insufficient number of base-flashing plies.
* Improper base-flashing height.
* Insufficient protective coating, leading to accelerated weathering and deterioration.
* Omission of cant strips, making the base flashing extra susceptible to damage.
* Open vertical finish laps or seams brought on by inadequate sealing.
* Insufficient adhesion or movement between vertical surfaces and the roof deck, resulting in separation of base flashings from vertical surfaces.
* Unfastened insulation, inflicting base flashings to separate from vertical surfaces.
* Improper fastening of base flashings to walls or curbs, resulting in sagging or separation of the flashing from the vertical surface.
* Deteriorating substrates, causing base flashings to separate from the floor, or permitting water to enter behind base flashings.
7. Steel Base Flashing and Bituminous Counter flashing Issues
The use of steel base flashing within the construction of constructed-up roofs should not be recommended. Metallic base flashing easily separate from bituminous supplies and stripping felts crack at the fringe of the steel due to the difference in enlargement coefficients between the materials. Open joints between metallic items and deterioration of the metal are additionally sources for water entry. Inside and outdoors corners are significantly vulnerable areas. For these causes, metal base flashing ought to be changed with bituminous base flashing whenever possible.
8. Metal Counter flashing Problems
Steel counter flashing shield the top of bituminous base flashing from water entry. The most typical metallic counter flashing problems are:
* Counter flashing situated too excessive above the base flashing.
* Steel deterioration brought on by a scarcity or loss of protective coating.
* Cracks and open joints between metal pieces.
* The separation of counter flashing from vertical surfaces.
* Reglets not being sealed.
* Counter flashing not tightly fit to base flashing.
9. Penetration Flashing Problems
Penetrations by means of the constructed-up roof membrane are normally flashed in considered one of two ways. Particular person pipes and small vents usually use flat, steel flange flashing which can be placed straight on the final ply of roofing materials and are stripped in with felts and mastic or felts and bitumen. Bigger penetrations and teams of smaller penetrations usually use curbs constructed of wooden, steel or concrete, flashed with bituminous base flashing and metallic counter flashing.
Widespread penetration flashing problems are:
* The failure to properly design the flashing for the penetration.
* Open or damaged seams in steel curbs attributable to expansion and contraction.
* Standing water behind penetration curbs brought on by the omission of crickets.
* Sagging or separating base flashings brought on by omission of top wooden nailers.
* Lacking or deteriorated counter flashing.
* Splitting or separation of the felt stripping over the sting of steel flanges.
* Improper priming and stripping of metal surfaces.
* Fastener backout and separation of the metallic flashing flange from the roof around penetration flashings.
* Motion between stack vents or pipes and the flashing.
10. Drain Flashing Issues
A roof’s drainage system consists of the gutters, leaders, drain openings and scuppers, as well as the slope provided by the structural deck, tapered insulation, crickets and sumps. The first perform of the drainage systems is to stop the retention of water on the roof by removing water from the roof as shortly as possible. Each roof, together with so-called “lifeless-level” roofs, should have some provision for drainage. Additional, it will be important that the drainage system be stored free from particles that may intervene with the proper flow of floor water.
Many roof issues may be traced directly to inadequately designed or improperly installed drainage programs; for example, using only one drain; the failure to put in overflow scuppers in parapet partitions; the location of drains subsequent to support columns as a substitute of at factors of most deflection; loose or lacking drain clamping rings.
11. Gravel Stop and Metal Edge Strip Issues
The primary operate of gravel stops (for combination-surfaced roofs) and steel roof edge strips (for clean-floor roofs) is to close off the edges of the roof to forestall wind injury or blow-offs. One other important function of gravel stops is to prevent the loss of aggregate surfacing near the edge of the roof.
The principal issues with gravel stops and metallic edge strips are leakage by means of open or damaged joints between steel items, and splitting of the stripping felts at steel edges. For these reasons, gravel stops and metallic edge strips ought to be raised out the water line every time attainable by using raised wooden nailers and tapered edge strips. The use of interior drainage is preferred. However, the place water must drain over the metallic edge, scupper cutouts are preferable to continuous edge drainage.
12. Issues with Rooftop Tools, Signs, Braces and Helps
Usually, the rooftop is used as a platform for all sorts of mechanical equipment, ladder struts, antennas, flag poles, indicators, bracing, etc. This stuff should not be positioned on the rooftop except when absolutely necessary. They should by no means be mounted or placed directly to the top of the roof membrane, as leaks beneath or adjacent to the supports for this equipment are impossible to repair. Moderately, they need to be mounted to a help structure or to raised curb-sort supports. Flat flange or curb flashing can then be used to maintain the roof watertight, and roof substitute and recovering can be accomplished with out disturbing or eradicating the equipment. Pitch pans, however, should not be used to maintain supports watertight, and should be avoided where possible.
Are you experiencing any of these problems with your roof? Call M&M Construction Specialist today for your free in-home estimate at 908.378.5951 or visit our website: https://www.mmbuilds.com/estimate.html