Metal Roof Leak Detection

Here are just a few things to look for if your metal roof is beginning to leak.

Metal roof leak detection.

Punctured holes are the first sign of leaking roofs. Debris and possible rusting cause metal roofs to weaken and contract for stronger variants. A high quality watertight roof tape with 30 mil thickness can be easily installed with one worker holding the edge of a 50 foot roll of 4 or 6 inch tape and another worker walking the roll along the seam or gap. If leaks continue to occur from ice dams consider installing roof edge heating cables.

Breaches are found by detecting a water path to building ground. Leak investigation is not an exact science. Then reshingle sliding metal step flashing behind the fascia board the trim behind the gutter. This should cover the most leak prone areas.

Check the seam transition points. When installed properly metal roofing screws will seal out the water by compressing a rubber washer down at the base of the screw head. Ridge cap flashing gaskets around pipes. Boots the rubber seals that are around the electric service and plumbing vent pipes air vents and exhaust fan.

There are times where locating a leak source and correcting the problem is a process of elimination. Leaks in the body of the roof. On a lower slope metal roof like a 4 1 pitch typically found on large commercial warehouses leaks form along seams and gaps. The integriscan is a low voltage quality control test that pinpoints breaches in roofing or waterproofing assemblies.

The valley flashing laid over the joint where the two roofs meet should overlap the step flashing at least 2 in. Superior electronic leak detection testing for vertical horizontal waterproofing roofing membranes including black epdm. Utilizing infrared scanning as a tool to locate a hard to solve roof leak may assist a homeowner or professional contractor in resolving a difficult leak condition. How to find a leak in a metal roof.

More often than not if you have a leak in your metal roof a metal roofing screw is the culprit. If you don t have an attic or just can t find the source of the leak you can check several places for problems with moisture or damage. Roof leaks that occur on metal roofs in places other than a transition termination or roof penetration are almost always found in the body of the roof in other words in the metal roofing panel itself. Firstly if you re seeing damp spots or leaks happening on your ceilings that s a sign that the roof has started to leak.

These are leaks that can usually be found by doing a visual inspection of roofing material and are a great place to start your inspection evaluation. Take note of rust holes and some panels that have slid down due to the expansion and contraction. The individual panels are attached to wood or metal trusses with steel nails or screws that can rust and cause leaks.