Roof Leaks
Roof leaks are the most familiar kinds of leaks, characterized by water dripping down from the ceiling. Roof leaks are difficult to find since it takes a long time to start noticing visible symptoms such as water stain marks, bubbled paint, water dripping, and mold growth.
A leak in a roof may not immediately enter the building structure below. The insulation may soak up the water, becoming ineffective at insulating. It may also cause damage to other layers of the roof by spreading the moisture.
Roof Waterproofing
Roof waterproofing may be worn off over the years with the rain and shine, contraction, and expansion of the structure during the extreme climate change in Singapore.
When water penetrates a roof it is absorbed by the insulation materials and may result in a leak within the building which can be a significant distance from the actual leak point. Water will enter the roof insulation or run into cracks between the non-absorbent insulation. Excess moisture is trapped under the roof membrane and it is unable to dry up, will get trapped and pooled, and the water will find its way to flow to another part of the structure below resulting in a ceiling leakage. It is important to address leaks before they spread their damage.
Many homeowners have no idea where to begin when there is a roof leak in the house. There are some leaks that have been extremely difficult to locate and require multiple trips to determine the source. Therefore, using thermal imaging technology to locate these hard-to-find leaks.
The picture above is an example of a handheld device, capturing the moisture of the roof.
Thermal Imaging
A thermal imaging camera is essentially a heat sensor that is capable of detecting tiny differences in temperature. The camera collects infrared radiation from objects in the scene and creates an electronic image based on information about temperature differences, that is not visual to humans. Infrared light can be used as a way to measure the heat radiated by an object. Thermal cameras ignore the visible light; their heat readings aren’t obscured by solid objects like walls or roof membranes.
Under the right conditions, the thermal camera captures that heat in the same way as a normal camera and captures visible light, creating an image that shows the extent of moisture problems with the roofing.
These thermal images narrow the search for water intrusion, without damaging or puncturing the roof, saving time and pinpointing areas for repair.
Thermographic imaging offers significant information about exactly where moisture is hidden, even which specific later of the roof the moisture is on, and which areas of the roof are still dry and functioning. This allows owners to save a significant amount on their investigation and replace the damaged roof.
A thermographic camera is a useful tool and an effective method of finding roof leaks. Surveys are carried out on the roof itself and no damage is caused to the roof system.
The scan is performed from the inside of the building. Obstruction has to be moved out of sight including the ceiling panels. Once the ceiling materials have been removed, simply point and shoot the thermal camera at the roof. Multiple images and recordings of the location under the roof are required due to the limited angle of view of the camera. The data collected on the camera will be displayed in the form of thermographs. The colourises heat is to identify the temperature level of the moisture in the ceiling. It reveals a spectrum of signatures that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. This is why the technology is particularly invaluable for spotting hidden structural problems. It enables us to track the extent of water or structural damage.
By using this high-specification thermal imaging equipment and knowledge we are highly competent in finding roof leaks. Our survey report will advise as to the actual extent of the damage and the cause.
SWC Construction has a thermal leak detection service which is a complete and professional inspection. Following the survey, we produce a detailed professional report which highlights our findings. The report contains thermal images and a digital image along with an analysis and our recommendation.
Call us now, to discuss how we can go about finding roof leaks for you and let us provide you with a complete analysis report on the findings. We are fully qualified leak detection specialists in Singapore.
