Roofs Types, Common Defects,

Inspection and maintenance

 ROOFING TYPES
THE TWO PRIMARY TYPES OF ROOFING
WE MUST CONSIDER ARE FLAT AND
PITCHED:
Flat roofs are those slope is LESS THAN
1 in 4 and use waterproof membranes
(also called Low Slope)
Pitched roofs have slopes of 1 in 4 or
GREATER and generally use shingles
 Roof Type Selection
Roof Type Selection depends on:
building use
Span
Structural materials
Need to shed water or snow
Need to provide overhangs for shading
Need to provide overhangs to protect the wall
materials
Need for insulation and type of insulation to
be used
Incorporation of skylights or roof glazing
 Common Fact

Flat roofs are prone to leaking

Leaks are difficult to find as the
entry point for the leaking water
is usually not near the point of
apparent leakage
Sloped roofs tend to stay
watertight if properly built (pay
attention to ice dams)
pitched roof
Aroofhaving one or more surfaces with
aslopegreater than 14 from
thehorizontal.
Types of pitched roofs
 Causes of Leaks in Pitched
:Roof
Faulty installation of roof or poor
workmanship andinferior quality of
materialsused in construction of roof.
Improperholes, broken or missing shingles,
damaged gutter, vent or chimney
surroundings.
Heap ofwaste on roof or in the
gutterprevents smooth flow of rain water
which causes leakage.
Weather effects such ashigh wind pressure,
storm and heavy rainaffect roof structure and
 How to Repair Leaks in Pitched
:Roof
Step 1: Make all gutters and roof clean
Clean the gutters for easy and quick flow of rain
water.
Clear all debris from the roof as it prevents easy
flow of rain water and causes damage/ cracking
of shingles or sheet due to the weight of debris.
Keep rain water pipes clean and check them
from time to time to prevent leakage.
Step 2: Mark actual area of leakage
Know actual causes of leakage and mark
leakage area in daylight while it is raining.
Take help from professionals in leakage
treatment. Actual area of leakage should be
calculated with the materials required for repair.
 Step 3: Tighten loose fasteners and inspect roof
regularly
Check the roof after storm and if any fastener or
hook is found loose, it should be tightened to avoid
any further damage and leakage.
Add extra fastener to the roof to avoid further
damage to roof if the number of fasteners fixed are
less.
Step 4: Replace missing or broken shingles\sheets
Repair gutters essentially and immediately as they
provide direct access to drain off rain water from
the roof.
Replace missing or broken shingles/sheet at once
by properly fixing them with necessary nails or J
hooks.
Restore defective or missing flashing with the joints
of chimney, vent, gutter etc.
Step5: Provide water proof outdoor silicone to
prevent leakage
Remove old cracked sealant around the vent or
chimney and fill it with proper quality outdoor silicone
to prevent any leakage.
Fill wrong and defective holes in roof shingles properly
with water proof silicone material to avoid leakage
through holes.
Provide proper quality outdoor silicone to prevent
leakage because the sealant around glass of skylight
may crack over time and create leaks through the
joints.

Step 6: Provide proper overlap

Give proper overlap and if any overlap of shingles or
sheet is found improper, change defective, missing or
cracked piece of shingle or sheet.
 : Common roof defects in flat roofs
1.Surface imperfections such as crazing, while unsightly,
do not usually require any remedial treatment save perhaps
the use of a solar reflective treatment (which should be
reapplied every five years).

2.Deeper cracking may be indicative of differential

movement of the asphalt around openings or between it
and other roof components. Where water penetration has
occurred then the substructure must also be examined.
Patch repairs may suffice depending on the extent/severity
of the cracking.

3.Distortion (rippling/creeping/sagging) is also usually

caused by differential thermal movement and in serious
cases may cause cracks. Warm-decked roofs without a solar
reflective finish are more prone to distortion-related
problems. Remedial work can range from monitoring to
Blistering is often symptomatic of moisture trapped under the.4

asphalt, usually caused by solar heat gain. It is more common with cold-

decked construction, although the absence of a solar reflective

treatment may make warm roofs more susceptible. Again, the remedial

approach depends on the extent and size of the blisters but, generally,

larger blisters (over 150mm2) may indicate other more serious

underlying problems with the roof deck that must be investigated. If

interstitial condensation is the cause then this must be tackled to effect

.a long-term solution

While not necessarily requiring remedial action, ponding may signify.5

the existence of other problems, e.g. differential building movement,

settlement, structural shrinkage, incorrect workmanship or design

defects. In the absence of any leaks, ponding is perhaps best tackled

.when other roof repairs are carried out

Physical damage in the form of holes, indentations and.6

other blemishes can be caused by poor maintenance/repairs,

improperly supported plant and vandalism. Patch repairs may

well suffice, although try to avoid point loading or incorporating

.more durable materials

Issues can also be caused by chemical damage from.7

.spillage etc, and high/low temperature embrittlement

Sagging/Deflection of roof due to ponding of
water
Adding Drains for Ponding
Roofs
What to Check- during roof
?inspection

Visible Damage and Debris The first step to inspecting a roof is ( 1
looking for obvious signs of damage, including visible structural
deformations, dirt and debris, standing water, and blocked or broken gutters
.and downspouts. Any obvious damage should be repaired immediately
Exterior Structural Components All external structural components of ( 2
the roof, including chimneys, vents, fascia, drip edges, and decking should be
inspected for damage, missing components, rust, and rot. Leaks tend to form
around chimneys, vents, and skylights and if they're not noticed in a timely
manner, damage can occur to the underlayment, sheathing, and joists,
.leading to potentially expensive repair and replacement costs
Interior Roofing Components When roofs are not inspected regularly, ( 3
interior structural damage can occur. Often, due to lack of regular
maintenance, interior damage is the first to be noticed. On sloped roofs, the
location of the damage may not directly point to the location of the leak.
Water follows the path of least resistance, which means the source of the leak
is often not above the visible damage. If a leak has been left to linger, rafter
and roof trusses should be checked for evidence of mold, mildew and rot,
.which could indicate extensive structural damage