Preventing Ponding Water on Commercial Flat Roofs

Ponding water on your commercial flat roof may not seem like a big deal. But the longer water sits on your roof, the more damage being done, starting with the premature deterioration of the roofing membrane to roof leaks, damaged insulation, and other issues. As DFW’s best roofing company, we provide the tactics you can adopt to prevent ponding water on your commercial flat roofs.

What is ponding water?

If water pools on a roof for more than 48 hours after a rainfall or snowmelt, it is known as ponding water. It is more common in flat roofs and is often caused by poor roof design, inadequate drainage, compressed insulation, and alteration of the roof slopes due to structural issues.

How to prevent ponding water on your commercial flat roof

Schedule regular roof inspections

Carrying out regular roof inspections is crucial to prevent standing water on your commercial flat roofs. Inspecting the roof twice a year or after heavy rain or snow can help detect low points, slope issues, damaged membranes, and other problems before they escalate.

Clear existing drains

Sticks, leaves, litter, and other debris from the roof can build up and clog the drainage, preventing the channeling away of water and causing backup on the roof. Clearing the drains helps eliminate the debris, allowing water and melting snow to flow away from the roof.

Fix low points

From their name, you may think flat roofs are completely flat. That is not the case. Flat roofs have subtle slopes that help move the water to prevent ponding. A flaw in the design of these slopes or natural wear and tear can lead to low points, causing water ponding. A professional roofer can fix this issue for better direction of water to the drains.

Repitch the roof

As mentioned above, flat roofs have slight slopes to allow the free flow of water. If your roof does not have these slopes or they do not function as they should, water is bound to pool on the roof. The best way to combat this issue is to alter the existing slopes or the angle of the roof's surface to encourage proper water flow.

Install more drains

Sometimes, the problem isn't clogged drains but inadequate drains, especially in areas with high rainfall. When the existing drains cannot remove water due to the enormous volume, the solution is to hire a roofing contractor to add more drains or widen existing ones.

Add crickets

Areas around roofing structures, such as chimneys and vents, can be particularly problematic regarding proper water drainage. Even if your roof is sufficiently sloped, these structures can stand in the way of water flow. So it's not unsurprising if you find ponding water in these areas. An effective solution is to add ridge structures called crickets to prevent blockage and divert water away into the drains.

Is water ponding on your roof? Call the #1 DFW roofer today to prevent further damage

If you suspect water is ponding on your commercial flat roof, call the experienced DFW roofing contractors immediately. We'll assess the situation, recommend the appropriate solution, and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

We've raised the bar on roofing construction and repair, and are committed to ensuring your roof remains sturdy and resilient, no matter the weather. Schedule an inspection today.