Roofs should be constructed in such a way that all water drains within 48 hours of the rain stopping. Score: 4.5/5 (55 votes) . But when it comes to restoring flat roof substrates with ponding water issues and poor drainage, an acrylic coating system can be quite problematic. Although you may be held responsible for ponding on new or recovered roof systems, many elements . 1. The National Roofing Contractors Association itself said that ponding water can weaken a flat roof's decking in 48 hours or less. Standing water on a flat roof for 12-36 hours after a rain storm can be normal, but according to the National Roofing Contractors Association, any water found ponding on flat roofs for longer than 2 full days should be examined by a professional commercial roofing contractor. I have a ground floor extension approx 4m x4m flat roof on the back of my property. Ponding water on a flat roof for longer than usual indicates moisture damage. Standing water on a flat roof is also known as ponding which is a term that describes how the water collects in pools on certain surfaces of the roof, thus forming ponds. Flat roofs drain in one of three ways: Through roof drains Sloping towards a gutter Ponding water is known in the roofing community as water that stands in a puddle on the roof for more than 48 hours at a time. Pools should drain away without causing any damage to the structure - but owners and managers should know when to take action, how to identify the cause of the ponding, and how to resolve it. Ponding is the phenomenon of water pooling on flat roofs after storms, snow melts, or heavy rains. A roof with a pitch of more than 3 inches for every 12 inches is usually considered to have an adequate slope. If you already have ponding water on your flat roof, the best long-term solution is to have it addressed by an experienced roofing contractor. Perhaps the most common reason is water damage to the substrate or insulated board stock; persistent leaks can cause these materials to eventually break down or settle, creating a place where water can accumulate into stagnate pools. As long as it's maintained, it will stay sealed and won't leak. The felt roof was at least 25 years old so I requested quotes for a rubber roof. V. Nanfito Roofing & Siding can help you with ponding water, as well as other roofing and vinyl siding concerns. Turning a blind eye to this problem can lead to serious structural damage, leakage into your building, unsightly vegetation growth, and most of all it will reduce the life expectancy of your roof. A few reasons why the water may not be draining are: It can also encourage algae growth, which can cause problems such as damage to the roofing membrane, particularly in the seams. "Ponding" Defined The word "ponding" refers to a pool of water on flat roofs that remains visible for at least two days after rain. Roofs with higher slopes are less prone to this issue as the water is able to drain down the roof, rather than sitting stagnant as it does with some flat roofs. But, if there is an issue with this design or after several years of exposure to the elements, your roof can develop low points. We can conduct a thorough commercial roof survey to discover the cause of the standing water and discuss your options for putting it right. The solution to controlling water flow on a dead flat roof, if ponding is still a noticeable concern after following the aforementioned provisions, is designing a framed slope for positive drainage to scuppers and/or bowl drains. Any roof, even with good falls can pond. What is ponding? This roof ponding repair kit can be topcoated with all commonly used roof coatings to waterproof a flat roof. Ponding water is defined as the water which remains on a roof 48 hours or longer. Long-Term Creep Effects and Example Structural materials susceptible to long-term creep intensify the deflection curve. To give you an idea of how detrimental trapped water can be, a one-inch-deep pond can be as heavy as more than five pounds per foot. Fortunately, you can deal with roof ponding and avoid the associated damages if you diagnose the problem correctly. Which is also known as ponding water or standing water. Even flat roofs have a slight slope to them. Water ponds or pools on flat roof membranes because flat roofs aren't completely flat. Technical library detail. To order divide the ponding water area square footage by . Act as a magnifying glass . Ponding is when water collects in pools on a flat roof after a period of heavy rain and doesn't drain off once the rain has stopped. The easiest way to tell is to see it, but leaks are a definite . - Roofing materials deteriorate much faster in the water. Tue, Feb 24, 2015 @ 08:00 AM | Perry sing Tapered roof insulation is an efficient way to eliminate ponding water on a flat roof. Ponding in rubber roof. Ponding water can cause significant damage to roofs and the structure they're supposed to be . When ponding water on a flat roof starts to develop it is time to start weighing your options for repair before the problem becomes a whole lot worse. Ponding water can have major negative consequences, regardless of the type of roofing system. Ponding is the (typically) unwanted pooling of water, typically on a flat roof or roadway. This is why your commercial roof's drainage system is so important for keeping your building watertight. Ponding water is defined as a puddle that remains on a roof for more than 48 hours. If your flat roof is still in good condition, ponding water is probably not the problem as it will automatically drain or even evaporate, but if your flat roof suffers from uneven areas due to sagging or has an issue regarding insufficient slope and drainage, the ponding . Saturated insulation. Acrylic elastomeric roof coatings were originally designed in the 1970s for restoring sloped metal roofs. If the roof wasn't built to code, you will need to rebuild the roof. Ponding water is defined as an excessive accumulation of water, typically in a low-lying area, that remains on a roof for 48 hours or longer even when conditions are suitable for drying. Ponding Water Roof Coating Application. Adheres to any type roof surface. Proper design, installation and maintenance of roofing structures can prevent . Water can magnify sunlight, particularly UV rays, which can prematurely age the outer roofing material. While brief and infrequent ponding is okay on a flat top, persistent or long-term ponding may symbolize that there is an issue with the roof that needs to be rectified. This is especially prevalent after a lot of rainstorms. Add Roof Drains. In theory, a slope of 1%, or 1/8-inch per foot, is enough to drain water. Standing water affects the stability of the roof's coating over time. It might mean that your roof hasn't been pitched properly, that your guttering or downpipe is blocked, or that the roof edge has been constructed . While it may seem relatively harmless, ponding water on the roof can indicate a problem with draining which, in turn, can have major, costly consequences. But for all the great things tapered roof insulation is, cheap is not one of them. Common problems caused by flat roof ponding: Degrading roofing materials, particularly on older modified and built up roofs; Extra stress and damage to the load bearing structure due to the extra weight of the water; In winter freezing standing water will expand causing more damage; Where seams overlap the ponding water can cause the membrane . Water ponding happens when water settles on your roof for an extended time leaving your roof at increased risk of damages. Architects or contractors concave roofs so that water naturally gravitates towards drains. With a flat roofing design, you're almost certain to experience some instances of ponding water or pools of water that are unable to drain properly and collect over a 48-hour period. Directly following rainfall, it's common to see a little water on your flat roof. And it's not unusual during very rainy seasons to hear about low-slope roofs collapsing under the weight of ponded water. When this occurs, the roof is not able to sustain the weight of water for a long period of time and will begin to sag. Many times, clearing a blockage from your drain system is the only thing that needs to be done to eliminate ponding water. A flat roof prone to ponding is quite a common problem that anyone could experience, especially if it rains really badly. While well-kept pitched roofs can last anywhere between 40-100 years, flat roofs have a lifespan closer to 20 years. Dealing with ponding water on a modified bitumen granulated flat roof is essential to get the life out of the material. Ponding water accelerates the deterioration of many materials, including seam adhesives in single-ply roof systems, steel equipment supports, and particularly roofing asphalt. Roofing; Siding; Gutters; X The IBC estimates the creep component of long-term deflection to be half the immediate dead load deflection or a 1.5 factor. When speaking about ponding on roofs, we are referring to the pooling of water in areas of the roof that doesn't drain or evaporate. It can be cut, fit, and installed in a way the moves ponding water towards existing drains, scuppers, or gutters. Ponding is typical on commercial roofs, since these tend to have flat surfaces, unlike residential roofs with a sharp slope. 5. This can happen for any number of reasons. The coating begins to break down under the harmful UV rays of the sun, which heats the ponding water on the rooftop. It's a common occurrence on flat roofs that lack a slope or a proper drainage system. 1. Is Ponding On A Flat Roof A Problem Effects of Ponding Water Ponding water can affect your roof in many ways. Even when using self-adhered modified. - Increased leaks. Home; About Us. There are two main culprits of ponding water on a commercial roof: building degradation and deck deflection. The first major cause is created by the fact that our "flat" roofs aren't flat. Score: 4.5/5 (55 votes) . This creates weak points that can damage the underlying structure of a roof. Drain Blockages. Roof ponding is where water gathers on a flat roof. Ponding is the phenomenon of water pooling on flat roofs after storms, snow melts, or heavy rains. Score: 4.2/5 (18 votes) . However, building codes usually require twice that, a 2% slope, or 1/4-inch per foot. If the insulation beneath the flat roof gets flattened or soaked, it can . 2. Flat roof ponding is when water pools on your roof. When you say "flat roof", many people cringe, thinking of stagnant ponding water, health concerns and damaging roof leaks. The water pools after days or hours of steady precipitation due to a variety of causes such as a clogged drain or structural issues that inhibit drainage. Ponding or standing water can occur from insufficient drainage or a number of other reasons. Ponding on a fibreglass roof is not a problem if the fibreglasser has done his job properly, this would only be a cosmetic issue and can be put right by using fillite and resin 50/50; the roof however would need lightly a abraiding and refinishing (top coat layer). Adding a roof drain will consist of opening up the existing roof down to the deck and . Contrary to popular belief, flat roofs are designed with a slight slope but we rely more on good drainage and evaporation than simply gravity to run its course. Whilst brief and occasional ponding is acceptable on a flat roof, regular or long-lasting ponding could be an indication that there is an issue with the roof that needs to be addressed. An older building will lack modern specifications for framing slopes a minimum of 1/4" rise per 12" run. Not addressing those puddles of standing water can translate to long-term roof damage and potential leaks. Standing water on a flat roof could cause: - The roof starts to sag. Ponding water is typically a sign of a drainage problem that needs to be addressed, because when left unaddressed, ponding water on a roof can: Collect dirt, which may cause the growth of vegetation or telegraph mud cracking to the roof below. Increase the water resistance of the roof within the ponding area by applying two liberal coats . The water may be slowly draining, but resupplied by the machinery. Ponding can lead to roof leaks and material degradation, among other problems. Use drainage systems to avoid ponding water on a . The guideline is " per foot, minimum. Most pools of water will quickly drain off - or even evaporate - but owners should be aware of the signs that ponding has become an issue. Even "flat" roofs contain a slight slope to maintain positive drainage. In an actual sense, it's normal for a flat roof to have some water especially after heavy rain or during winter. The roof should be sloped in a way that guides water towards the drains. 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