In Texas, flat roofs are commonplace in commercial buildings, modern homes, and extensions. Apart from their aesthetic appeal and ease of access for maintenance, flat roofs, in some cases, are economically cheaper to build. However, flat roofs, especially in Central Texas, pose a challenge.

If you are considering a property with a flat roof, it is wise to keep in mind the frequent issues that flat roofs encounter and to know how to prevent these issues.

Let us shift our focus to the problems flat roofs encounter in Texas and what you can do to prevent them.

Intense Heat

Flat-roof buildings in Texas suffer from brutal and unrelenting heat during the peak summer months. Even in the spring and fall, the heat is punishing. During these months, we deal with sweltering and blistering heat that, at times, can become unbearably hot. UV rays can deteriorate roofing materials, dry out sealants, and cause roofing membranes to crack and blister over time. The damage is incremental, and most people don’t notice it season after season.

Reflecting the rays with a reflective roof coating is a good method to reduce their impact. The coating can also lower the amount of heat absorbed. As a rule of thumb, protecting the roof also lowers the internal temperature of a building, which translates to lower energy bills.

Water Has Nowhere to Go

Pitched roofs shed any excess water quickly. That is not the case with flat roofs. They become ponded at the end of a heavy downpour. At first glance, this seems to be a symptomless condition.

The reality is, most ponding water on flat roofs becomes a jackpot. It becomes more than twice as heavy the moment it is allowed to seep. It also perpetuates the cracks and, in the long run, creates structural damage. And with the ever-increasing Texas storms, the problem can worsen over time.

To avoid water issues, proper drainage should be implemented first. Your roof should have internal drains, scuppers, or gutters that are regularly cleaned and maintained. Even minor blockages can result in water backing up and settling in areas that could result in damage.

Flashing Failures Are Common

Texas storms can rapidly change temperature, and with loose flashing and strong winds, this can become a problem. Texas storms can loosen flashing over time, especially with strong winds. For flat roofs with water on top, this can become an even bigger problem.

The best strategy is to do routine checks. As we have learned at Hutto, TX Roof Repair, most leaky roofs are most easily fixed with small adjustments rather than expensive damage control.


Ponding Water Leaves a Trail

You must have come across the term "ponding water" before. Ponding water describes water that remains on a rooftop for a period longer than 48 hours after a downpour. In addition to the stress that the water puts on roofing material, ponding water also serves as a host for dirt, algae, and eventually other forms of life.

It is true. We have sighted weeds growing on abandoned flat roofs. Such stagnation of vegetation and dirt acts like a giant sponge and traps even more water, which causes more damage and eventually results in increased problems.

If your roof already suffers from ponding water, tapered insulation can be added, or the slope can be changed to funnel water toward the drain. As always, prevention is cheaper than repair.

Cracking and Splitting Membranes

A large number of flat roofs employ the use of membrane systems like TPO, EPDM, or modified bitumen. While they are created with a focus on durability, the membranes do tend to crack over a period of time, especially in relation to the Texas heat and sudden drops in temperature.

When membranes begin to shrink, bubble, or split, they leave the roof exposed to moisture without any covering. Ponding water remains on the roof for more than 48 hours and is extremely dangerous, for moisture can enter through any covering. In fact, some of these gaps are minor and remain obscured until a large leak suddenly appears. We recommend checking your flat roof (or having someone do it) at least once or twice a year. Walk carefully and check for soft spots. Look for cracks, and inspect seams where two different types of materials meet. A trained eye can catch early signs of failure and patch them before they escalate.


Vegetation and Debris Build-Up

A flat roof often collects various types of debris like leaves, sticks, dirt, or even the pesky plastic bag that’s been floating around the neighborhood. It’s not just a cosmetic issue. Debris sitting on the surface of the roof creates stagnant water, which accelerates the roof’s deterioration.

We see this often around treed areas and at the bases of taller buildings where raging winds funnel debris onto the roof. Over time, dirt and moisture form a perfect environment for mold, algae growth, and ultimately, roof rot.

There’s a strong chance that your building experiences the same winds. You may want to rethink scheduled cleaning days. A seasonal clean for the rest of the undersides can work wonders. It’s inexpensive and highly useful, saving you roof maintenance expenses in the process. If your building lies surrounded by tall trees or other tall buildings, you may want to schedule your cleanings a lot more regularly.

Poor Installation Can Haunt You Later

To reiterate and as a case in point, more than a few sore points with flat roofs, troublesome as they may be, come as a result of a comically simplistic approach to the initial installs. The failure to remember the right slope to follow, the merest hint of delinquent flashing, cutting corners with the bare minimum of quality materials, and delegating repairs to the sea monkeys that could probably tumble down the Invisible Mountains are all top contenders to make roofs easy to screw.

Picking the right dimension and slope for flat roofs should be a zen experience. If a mental checklist is exhausting, the top few on the list as contenders for the lack of that zen experience would be on a milestone.

Hutto, TX Roof Repair offers full service, comes equipped with the best hammers, and will not rest until you are in complete alignment with the result of the roof redo. With the rest of the vertigo of fancy fix work and a throat to install, you will be.

Don’t Let Small Issues Turn Into Big Repairs

The investment of time will allow for that cause to stretch further. The more you exert, the easier each component will rise, heat ,and sleep. Just as a bone will be dry, the top will not kindly salve over slumbers alone. Your flat roof can endure everything Texas throws at it if it is maintained properly, inspected regularly, and preventive measures are taken. And when in doubt, contact the professionals.

As flat roof specialists, we have been helping homeowners and businesses in Hutto, TX, for years, so we can appreciate the specific challenges flat roofs have to overcome in this area. We are devoted to providing roof coating services, maintenance, roof repair, and full drainage system upgrades to keep you stress-free and leak-free!