It is not always easy to maintain a flat roof. They require more care than sloping roofs and it is important to take the time to inspect them in order to prevent problems down the line. Certain maintenance tasks should be carried out several times a year to maintain your roof’s value and appearance.
1- Prevent the accumulation of water
There should be no pools of standing water on the roof’s surface. Water accumulation can occur after the roof has been saturated with snow or rain and can lead to water infiltration and various structural problems in the home. If you notice excessive water accumulation, take steps to dry the area. However, the best approach is prevention.
2- Prevent cracks and bumps in the roof
Cracks on the surface of a flat roof are often signs of poor workmanship, the expansion effect of the freeze-thaw cycle or surface tension. Cracks generally occur parallel to isolation joints and may have a spongy appearance if located in areas prone to water accumulation. Bumps can also form on the inside of the roof when the felt layers are separated by air traps.
Small bumps and cracks can be repaired by the owner, but the correction of larger surface deformations should be left to a professional.
3- Check the membrane’s connectors
If your flat roof has a connector system, it is important to check for signs of sagging. Sagging can be caused by water saturation or the chosen connectors may be too small.
4- Prevent the accumulation of leaves and debris
Mainly in the fall, be sure to prevent leaves, branches and other debris from accumulating on your roof. Tree branches close to your house can damage the roof if they are not pruned. In addition to the risk they pose to your roof, these debris can be problematic during snow removal.
5- Snow removal
In the winter, there should be no more than one foot (30 cm) of snow on a flat roof. It is therefore necessary to remove excess snow many times over the course of the winter. We recommend that you use a company that specializes in roof snow removal or, at the very least, proceed with extreme caution as this task can be very dangerous.