When you own a property, whether it’s residential or commercial, you’re tasked with the responsibility of keeping it safe and clean while maintaining its value. That means a seemingly never-ending list of tasks, like inspecting your roofs and cleaning your windows and façade.
An issue that many property owners with flat roofs face is ponding. Water intrusion poses a real threat to any property, as it can lead to water damage inside, encouraging the growth of mold and mildew. Here’s what you need to know about it:
Understanding Ponding
Ponding happens when water collects on a roof, usually due to a storm or heavy rain. In most cases, the water pools will either drain off or evaporate, so this usually isn’t an issue. However, with flat roofs, water has more difficulty running off, leading to ponding issues.
Roofs require construction in a way that drains all water that collects on them so that it evaporates within 48 hours. If the ponding persists for more than a few days, you’ll want to seek flat roof repair in Houston to dry it up and prevent any potential damages to your property. Although ponding isn’t an urgent threat most of the time, since roof materials are water-resistant, frequent ponding can result in a roof’s damage and deterioration.
How Ponding Affects Your Roof
Ponding doesn’t inflict rapid damage on your roof nor void warranty, but it does affect the quality of your roofing materials over time. Under the hot Houston sun, a water pool can concentrate sunlight and magnify it, making that part of the house even hotter.
If there is a frequent presence of water pools on your roof, this will eventually degrade it, necessitating repair and replacement more often than expected. These water pools also collect debris and leave them at the top of your home after they evaporate or drain, making it even dirtier. For these reasons, it’s best to address ponding and ensure it doesn’t frequently happen to maintain a good-looking and clean roof.
How Ponding Happens
Ponding can happen for many reasons, which can be resolved with either a simple fix or a significant project. If you have genuine structural problems that don’t allow the water to run off as expected, you’ll need the professional help of a roofing company in Houston. They can inspect and resolve any damaged or improperly installed elements, like beams, joists, or frames, that interfere with roof drainage.
However, other circumstances are much easier to fix. If your roof has properly installed drainage, then the problem might lie in the flow’s obstruction. Your water can’t flow appropriately towards the drains if something is in the way, causing it to back up around the drain. Fortunately, drainage or plumbing issues are much more manageable, allowing a simple solution to your ponding problem.
Another cause of ponding is if your roof has many indentations, which occurs when people repeatedly walk on the surface. As a result, the insulation becomes compacted in high foot traffic areas, allowing water to pool in these recesses. This damage can also occur if the insulation has gotten wet.
Any protrusions on your roof can also hinder the intended flow of water, like skylights, vents around the flat roof, or even air conditioning units. It’s best to consult with roof experts to determine the best fix for this circumstance.
Conclusion
Ponding is a common issue that’s easy to fix; however, you’ll need professionals by your side to diagnose and resolve the problem. There are many possible causes for ponding, so finding the most suitable solution requires a reputable contractor. That way, you can keep your property looking its best.
Texas Certified Roofing is a full-service roofing company in Houston that can answer your roof leak repair, skylight, or insulation needs. We also offer duro-last roofing systems, roof replacement and maintenance, and many more. Contact us today for same-day service and free estimates!
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