What is ponding?
Ponding is when water collects in puddles on the roof instead of draining off in a timely manner. Some homeowners may think this small amount of water is harmless, but ponding tends to worsen over time and can have a negative impact on the roof and your whole home.
Hence, you do not want to have ponding water on your flat roofs, and flat roofs aren’t truly flat. Usually, they are sloped at a slight gradient to help water drain off into the gutters. Ponding water forms when the rooftop doesn’t properly drain, leaving rainwater on the roof for two days or more.
Consequences of Large Roof Puddles
1. Damage to roof coating
Ponding exposes roof coatings to prolonged moisture which affects the stability of the roof’s coating over time. The coating begins to break down under the harmful UV rays of the sun, which heats the ponding water on the rooftop.
2. Leaks and collapse
Moisture gains entry into weak points or imperfections in the roofing system, leading to leaks into the interior parts of the building. This may be severe enough to lead to a roof collapse. The substantial weight of the ponding water could simply cause the roof structure to fail.
3. Vegetation growth
Weeds, grasses, algae and other vegetation thrive from excess moisture on the roof, which can lead to debris that clogs roof drains and causes further problems.
4. Breeding ground for insects
Water attracts insects, especially mosquitoes. Worst case is when these insects move from the roof to inside the building and your issues and costs to exterminate them grow dramatically.
Hence, ensure that you hire a professional roof contractor who knows how to design a roof replacement with positive drainage that takes all factors of the building into consideration. Also, do annual inspections of your roof to remedy any problems in time before it worsens.
If you require any assistance for roof ponding especially with the recent heavy downpours, do PM us on FB or write us through our website’s enquiry page for your enquiries today!