Assessing and Repairing Roof Leaks and Damage

In a time of economic uncertainty, replacing a roof is not always a viable option, regardless of the number of leaks, because often the money is just not there. Still, water intrusion must be stopped and the interior of the building must be protected. Repairing the roof becomes an attractive alternative to re-covering or replacing the existing system. But there are some things to think about before trying to repair the roof.

One approach that is often taken is to call RAMCON to come and fix the leaks. This is certainly effective. However, sometimes the problem is that repairs are just not enough or may be the wrong approach entirely.

The first step should be to find out what you’ve got. If you have a warranty, the warranty will tell you who the manufacturer is and what kind of roof system is installed. If you don’t have a warranty or you can’t find it and you do not already know what kind of roof you have, RAMCON will show you. We’ll determine the roof assembly, approximate age and condition of the roof.

If the roof can be repaired, we’ll provide exact costs to fix the existing problem and get you taken care of. Like always, we warranty all the work we perform for one year. However, there are times that additional repairs are not justified, and often may cause more harm than good. If this is the case, we work with you to provide the accurate costs for recovery or replacement.

It is essential to ensure that leaks are really coming from the roof. Not all leaks come from the roof membrane. They can be a result of problems with parapet walls, windows, rooftop mechanical units, plumbing or other sources that disguise themselves as roof leaks. On
ce these have all been eliminated as the source of leaks, the rest of the roof is subject to leak investigation. In general, most leaks occur at penetration and base flashing's rather than the field of the roof. Look for cracks, scrapes, blisters, punctures or cuts in the membrane. Check seams to be sure they are adhered and watertight. Check for erosion of the membrane, especially around drains and downspouts. Once the probable leak locations are identified, a certified RAMCON technician can make a permanent repair to protect the system.

Walking the Repair and Replace Line

Because of the recession, there may be many roofs out there straddling the repair/replace line. So what are some sure-fire signs that will help facility managers tell if a replacement is necessary? Let’s take a look.

Although all roof membranes have different physical properties and failure modes there are certain deficiencies that are common to all roof membranes. Here are some common failure modes for all membranes to look out for:

1. Brittleness: All roof membranes become brittle at the end of their service life. This phenomenon is more rapid in some membranes. Once the material becomes brittle it losses the elasticity required to provide weatherproofing service. The material can be tested (tensile/elongation tests) to determine remaining service life or failure can be illustrated through grazing/cracks and splits in the membrane surface. Visual observation of material scrim or reinforcement is also an indication o

2. Wet Insulation: All roof insulations lose structural and thermal integrity once they are wet. All wet insulation should be removed from the system to avoid costly structural deck damage (particularly on metal decks). Typically, if more than 25% of a roof system has wet insulation, a full roof replacement is recommended. Wet insulation can be determined by any method of moisture testing. If non-destructive moisture testing is conducted, core samples should be conducted to verify that the material is wet. Some adhered membranes will illustrate wet insulation through excessive blistering and membrane ridging.

3. Flashings/Penetrations: Flashings and penetrations are the most vulnerable point of a roof system and nearly two-thirds of all roof leaks occur at these points. Openings, splits and sagging of flashings materials are common causes of roof leaks. Excessive openings or displacement of these materials can lead to free flow of moisture infiltration into the system and the building.

If you are experiencing any of these problems, they certainly will not get better on its own. Reach out with RAMCON and we’ll perform a free, comprehensive evaluation to determine how your roof is performing. We’ll provide you a complete report and documentation to assist you in making the best decisions possible.

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Your Roof: Repair vs. Replace

You’ve likely experienced unscheduled capital expenditures due to roofing repairs. Many of these water-infiltration-related repairs can be avoided by developing and following a scheduled maintenance program for the life of a roofing system. Even with stringent adherence to a thorough maintenance program, however, the decision to re-roof an existing roofing system will have to be made at some time within or towards the end of the expected service life of the roof.

Many issues — such as the location, type of system currently in place, cost, construction schedule, occupant requirements, and long- and short-term use of the building — have to be addressed as part of this decision. Although it is possible to identify many of the physical issues that affect roof performance in general terms, the appropriate decision must be addressed on a building-by-building basis.

The first step to be taken, before beginning the decision process, is to estimate the remaining service life of the roof. We derive this estimate from factors that include water infiltration, moisture trapped in the underlying insulation, aggregate movement across the roof, membrane slippage or embrittlement of single-ply membranes.

RAMCON can investigate the existing system and answer these questions for you, as well as comment on any related code or technical issues. We can also eliminate false or misleading assumptions, such as incorrectly attributing water infiltration to the roof system when the water is actually entering the building through alternative sources.

Is it cost efficient to repair my roof?
Repairing an existing roof or replacing sections of a roofing system become difficult to justify if the deterioration leading to the need for a repair is due to long-term exposure to the elements or the advanced age of the roof. Truth is, if deterioration is extensive, the application of a maintenance coating will rarely solve the problem for long.

If the roof is leaking because the existing system is aged, it will be just a matter of time before the entire system will need to be replaced. In those cases, the cost of the temporary solutions may not be justifiable; the money would be better spent recovering or replacing the roof. The best course of action would be to have a RAMCON Service Account Manger inspect your roofing system and determine the viable options.