Oro Valley Emergency Roof Leak Repairs

One of the greatest fears of home owners is a roof leak. These leaks come in many shapes and sizes.  Most roof leaks on pitched shingle or tile roofs happens around valleys or around flashings.  Most roof leaks on coated roofs come near the areas where the water flows off of the roof, particularly around the scuppers. When your roof leaks it is time to call an emergency roof leak repair contractor to inspect your roof and determine the problem. If your roof is a coated roof, here are some areas where the roof may leak.

Flat Roof Scupper Leaks

Flat roof scuppers probably cause 95% of all roof leaks in Santa Fe style homes.  Scuppers are drains that lead the water off of southwestern style roofs. The areas around scuppers often crack due to heating and cooling and the expansion and contracting of materials. When the materials heat and cool they expand and contract and sometimes crack or tear along the edges of the scupper.  When water flows over the cracked area it captures water and sends it directly into the walls of the house.  Your roofing contractor should thoroughly check for cracks around the scuppers.

Another problem with scuppers is backflow.  Roof coating should come from the flat roof and flow into the scupper a few inches.  Water flows through the scupper and over the coating that is inside the scupper. This sometimes causes the coating to slightly lift up. If this happens, water can sometimes flow over the lifted coating and back into the roof area and slide down the wall.  This seems impossible because the water will flow backwards and upwards but trust us, it happens!  The best roof coating specialists will understand this phenomenon and know exactly how to repair the scupper and stop the roof leaks.

Typical Areas That Leak On Flat Roofs

Besides the scuppers, there are a few areas that are prone to leaking. First, wherever there is a corner, a transition to a different type of roof or different level of the roof it can leak. These are areas where the expansion and contraction of materials can cause tearing or cracking in the coating. Just a small ¼” inch crack can lead to significant damage inside your home.  Other areas that are prone to cracking and leaking are under A/C jackstands, near skylights, areas where the roof paper rolls up, and along edges.  All of these areas should be checked thoroughly for cracks and tears.

How To Repair Flat Roof Leaks When It Rains

When a roofing contractor comes out to do an emergency repair on a coated roof during the rain, they usually use an oil based product that will repel water.  This pasty material is put on and around the area that is cracked or torn.  The material is usually spread thin enough that it doesn’t cause a water dam behind the patch.  Sometimes it is necessary to apply a mesh material that will hold the wet patching materials together over larger holes.  Such patches do not last forever. They will usually need recovered with acrylic roof coating when it dries.

These are just a few considerations for coated roofs when considering emergency repairs.  Emergency repairs on flat roofs can be accomplished during wet weather, but should be completed by a roof coating specialist that understands the nature of emergency roof repairs.  If you are in the Green Valley area and need your roof repaired, give us a call. We will never sell you something you don’t need and we are willing to come out during inclement weather and fix the leaky roof.  Call us today: