When should a flat roof be replaced?

Most businesses choose to go with flat roofs because they are easier to construct and easier to maintain. This is not to say, however, that they last forever! How long does a flat roof last? The jury is out on that question, as there are several factors that contribute to the life expectancy of a flat roof. Having said that, there are a number of different indicators to look for indicating that a flat roof needs to be replaced.

The biggest, and most obvious, one is major and minor leaks in the roof. This may not seem like something a layman would detect right away, but they’ll manifest themselves soon enough on a flat roof. The main indicator is when people in the building alert the janitors that a bucket is needed in a certain area. Major leaks will require buckets to be brought in and even minor ones will need to be mopped up. Once this starts to happen, a timer is already running, indicating that the roof needs to be repaired right away, and possibly replaced sometime in the near future.

The second indicator is a torn vapor barrier. This is what is installed in order to make sure that moisture stays out of a business or private property. A hole in a vapor barrier doesn’t manifest itself immediately, but can result in telltale signs that there are problems with it. If moisture is being trapped on the wrong side of a vapor barrier, it can result in issues like mold and smaller indicators of water damage.

Smaller indicators of water damage show themselves in the form of dark patches on ceilings or the typical brownish water spots marring an otherwise white ceiling. If mold or these water spots are seen, then it is best to check to see if there is a hole in the vapor barrier somewhere in the immediate vicinity. A careful check needs to be conducted, because depending on how long that hole’s been there, the damage of the roof could be more extensive than what a bit of water damage indicates.

Degraded top coatings are among the most common indicators that a roof may need replacing. They are there to be that first protective surface that protects the roof from rain, wind, and snow, but will inevitably become worn after a few years. They do need to be repaired from time to time, and a badly degraded one could indicate that greater work needs to be done. The best way to look after this is to notice if small pieces of the roof coating are flying off in strong winds or to simply have someone go up and take a look.

All of these signs of damage are indicators that repairs to a flat roof need to be done at the very least. Always have them checked, though, to ensure that a roof is in good shape, because it is possible that flat roof just might need replacing!