Avoid Roofing Horror Stories with Flat Roof Infrared Moisture Surveys

 

Thermographer inspecting low-slope roofing system with infrared camera, performing core cut, marking out and measuring moisture damaged areas

The last time the holidays came and went, leaving you with some great memories, a few

extra pounds and a hefty credit card bill, how excited were you when you got that bill in the mail? Have you ever taken a bill and shoved into the furthest recesses of a drawer, hoping it would go away?

It hung around though, didn’t it and got worse when you were slapped with another interest charge. Ignoring a leaky roof is along the same lines as the credit card story. Avoiding repairs to a leak in a flat roof is asking for more trouble than you can imagine.
 
The fact is, your flat roof can be stunning architecturally, making your VA home one of the prized properties in your neighborhood but it is one of the trickiest types of roof construction to maintain. Only through the use of flat roof infrared moisture detection conducted by Roofer 911 can you be assured that your home will be saved from water damage.
 
A flat roof is built with a slight incline that encourages rain and melting snow to trickle into the downspouts that lead it away from the house, but it does not shed water with the efficiency of a sloped roof. Your VA  flat roof may start out level but over time and exposure to the weather and natural elements, dips and valleys will form. This is an excuse for rain to collect and puddle. The likelihood that a hairline crack has developed where the dip in the roof formed is high. To an extent the puddle will evaporate but the majority of the water seeps under the roofing material into your house.
 
The inner structure of a house is not supposed to get wet. There are places such as a bathroom or attic that can accumulate a lot of humidity, but these areas are purposely vented to the outside. Home owners install dehumidifiers in a damp basement to keep it dry. If not, mildew and rot begin to set in and cause the house to deteriorate. A roof leak allows a source of water to enter the house that cannot escape. It soaks into the insulation and reduces the R-value. It seeps under the floors and pops your beautiful hardwood flooring. The drywall begins to crumble. Add a little warmth to the mix and you have an infestation of toxic black mold taking over the walls.
 
Leaks in a flat roof are caused by a relentless pounding from the sun and the weather. It breaks down the adhesives and sealants that were used to keep it secure. Decomposing organic debris from the trees on the rooftop creates pinholes and cracks. Any type of human traffic on the roof can puncture it. The sealant around flashing shrinks and pulls away from the roof. Ice dam in the winter force water to seep between the protective membranes and when the temperature drops below freezing again, these pockets of water turn to ice and tear up the roof.
 
Ignore a leaky roof and you will pay dearly for the oversight. By the time you notice water stains in your ceiling there has been significant damage done. Before you start ripping your house apart, have Roofer 911 do a flat roof infrared moisture survey on the entire house, including the floors. The thermal images will clearly identify the path the water has taken and show you where the damage has occurred.
 
A VA roofing company will save you thousands of dollars on roof repair to your home by inspecting it regularly for roof leaks. There are some things in life that simply should not be avoided if you don’t want the consequences – paying your credit card bill is one and caring for your roof is another!