Should Flat Roofs Hold Water

The consequences of your flat roof collecting standing water.

Should flat roofs hold water.

Flat roofing is not actually flat. There s a problem with flat roofs. The design of a flat roof can sometimes prevent rain and precipitation water from draining properly making standing water a common problem. The most common reason that flat roofs hold or pond water is because of inadequate or obstructed drainage.

Roof systems are simply not designed to hold water. 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. Even flat roofs contain a slight slope to maintain positive drainage. Water does not run off of it very easily.

It has a very low slope between 1 4 to 1 2 inch per foot so that it drains water. By their very nature flat roofs do not completely drain after it rains. Collect dirt which may cause the growth of vegetation or telegraph mud cracking to the roof below. The good news is that this cause of ponding water is usually the easiest to correct with scheduled roof maintenance.

There can be a host of reasons why ponds of water may appear on your roof after bouts of rain so it s important to know what remedial action to take if your property is suffering.