By:Monte Leeper
Q. I am writing re: my flat roof leak. Please find enclosed pictures of
inside and outside of my home. Since we bought this house in 1975, we have
been having trouble with the flat portion of the roof. I have had the inside
repaired, only to leak again. A couple of years ago, I had a new roof
installed, mainly to fix the flat section. The roofers tarred the flat
section. When I called them back a few months later, to tell them it's
leaking again, they just put a heavier coating of tar on it. After that
didn't work, they said there is nothing more they can do. I have called
other leak finders, only to get no satisfaction. As you can see, the inside
ceiling looks horrible. Outside, everything looks fine.
A. As I answer this question, I am listening to a weather report of yet
another approaching "Nor'easter" rain storm. This is a good time of the year
to find leaks, due to the rain. That probably is not too comforting to you in your frustration, but your problem can be solved. I looked at your pictures and saw what to me can only be described as a mess.
Tar is not the answer, unless the roof is a built-up installation, comprising multiple layers of hot, applied tar and asphalt papers made for this
purpose. It looks more like a layer of asphalt roof membrane that was coated
(and that is a polite way of putting it) with roofing cement. That tar
substance will only last through a few seasons before it splits. I also
question whether the roof edges that join the house were "flashed" with
membrane of metal and if the roof edges have been sealed and doubled back. I
once found a leak that had already cost an owner about $20,000 to try
to solve, just by looking above the area to the tops of windows on the upper
floor. They had excavated and sealed all the foundation walls, tar applied
special membranes, etc., only to discover that two pieces of metal covering
the top of the windows above did the trick for less than $100. In
your case, I would start above, examine the roof and wall openings, and work
down the face of the house to each junction of dissimilar materials. Covering
everything in tar is a mistake. To really solve your problem may now involve
stripping the roof to examine the wood structure for staining, if all else
fails, but try looking from the inside first, since the ceiling is down.
Good Luck!
