There are a few different kinds of roofs designs currently, some roofs are clay tiled, some roofs are flat concrete roofs while some roofs are metal sheets/zinc sheets. One thing in common is that over time, regardless of what kind of roof your house has, wear and tear will cause water seepage into your house through the roof.
Our roofs are exposed to the sun and the weather, as a result our roofs go through immense contraction and expansion throughout the day. This may potentially cause our roofs to crack and damage the water tightness functionality. This is what we term as “wear and tear”. Another potential cause of roof leakage is the presence of pest and insects. Pest and insects can create holes in our roofs through biting.
If you suspect that your roof is leaking, you should look at the uppermost floor’s ceiling when it rains. If the ceiling starts to peel off or the paint works start to turn yellow and flaky, there is potential leakage through the roof. Having said that, different types of roof require different methods of repair. Here, we will discuss the different methods of repair suitable for your roof, providing you the best option for your roof water leakage repair.
R.C. Flat Roof
If your roof is a reinforced concrete flat roof (i.e. you have a roof terrace/garden) and you are experience water leakage, there are multiple ways to repair the water leakage/seepage issue.
One way is the hack and remove the existing tiles/surface and waterproofing membrane and to re-waterproof the entire concrete roof surface before re-installing the finishing layer of your preference, tiles or cement screed. This method of repair is usually preferred if the water leakage happens in a very heavy extent in the sense that the entire top floor ceiling is showing signs of water leakage. Downside of this method of repair is that it is dirty, noisy and takes a long time to complete.
Another more efficient and productive method of repair for your flat roof water leakage is to carry out high pressure injection grouting with polyurethane (PU). This method of repair is preferred because it does not require hacking and hence it is less dirty, noisy and efficient. PU grouting is also cheaper than re-waterproofing of the entire roof.
Clay Tiled Roof
Clay tiled roofs are hardy and it can withstand contraction and expansion better than R.C. flat roofs. However clay tiles can break and crack when hit by falling objects or when too much force is asserted on it. When the clay tiles on your roof break or crack, there is a hole which water can seep into. Moreover, the flashing of clay tiled roofs are also common sources of water leakage.
The way to repair water leakage through clay tiled roofs is to replace the broken and cracked clay tiles or to apply waterproofing sealants to seal up the cracks or holes found. We can also apply waterproofing membrane over the clay tiles to seal up micro cracks that is causing the water seepage.
Metal/Zinc Roofs
Metal and zinc roofs are common in factories, older office buildings and even in some older residential units. The reason why metal and zinc roofs leak is through rusting. Metal components of the roofs rust over time due to the weather conditions and as a result, break or crack. Water will seep into these breakages and cracks and cause damage to the property internally.
The most common and best way to stop such water leakages is to change the entire piece of damaged metal/zinc roofing sheet. Consult SWC Construction for an understanding and quotation of changing the entire piece of damaged metal/zinc roofing.
If you are experiencing water leakage problems, you should engage a professional contractor or specialist to determine the source of water seepage. After which, the contractor or specialist will provide his proposal on how to carry out the repair.
All in all, the main root of roof leakages is the weather. Depending on what type of roof your house is having, there are various methods of roof water leakage repair specific to your type of roof. There is no one method of repair fits all, the specialist contractor will have to determine which method of roof repair is suitable to solve your water seepage problem.