Flat Roof Leaking Around A Pipe

Flat roofs are known as being problematic with many suffering leaks.

Flat roof leaking around a pipe.

It s always smart to respect ladders and heights so proceed with extreme care. Pry upward gently to locate the nails. Roof leaks around vent pipes is relatively common. Roof vents are made from different materials.

Other signs of a roof leak you might not notice such as mold in your attic. Signs your roof is leaking are sometimes obvious such as a stain on your ceiling or water or rust around your stove pipe. The foam breaking up is a common problem and not everyone knows what to do in this case. The foam around the copper pipe is corroded away and allow water to leak down.

When you still cannot locate the leak call a professional flat roof contractor for assistance and repair. A roof that leaks around a vent pipe is a common cause of small water stains on a ceiling or water leaking into a home. This old house general contractor tom silva shows how to create a watertight seal around a vent pipe. If you can t access the roof from inside use a quality ladder rated for more than your weight and have a strong adult hold the ladder steady for you.

I show how to easily install a perma boot 3. If no damage is found in the membrane examine nearby vent pipe boots flashing caulk around vents and similar structures for damage. Use the tip of the bar to pry out the nails. The leaking may first be seen in the attic but if you don t catch it right away you may see water coming into the house dripping on the floor.

Remove debris make sure your roof valleys are clear of debris re shingle valleys valleys may need to be reshingled with new ice and water shield put in place. However in my own experience the problems with leaking flat roofs are usually as a result of either poor workmanship installing the roof membrane poor maintenance by the building owner or as a result of age. Watch our demonstrator use an innovative pipe boot that can be cut to size and fixed to the epdm membrane covering the flat. Insert the tip of a pry bar beneath the shingle directly above the shingle that sits against the pipe.

See below for a shopping list and tools subscribe to. See how you can create a perfect seal around a pipe on a flat roof.