Leaks are bound to happen one way or another. No roof is immune to it – even flat roofs. Unlike other types of roof repair in Calgary, flat roofs need a certain approach to tackling leaks. Yet, what can be done? Find out how you can stop your flat roof from leaking here.

What Proper Flat Roof Repair in Calgary Requires

How Leaks Occur

There are plenty of reasons why a flat roof may have leaks. Yet, it’s important to know the factors that can cause leaks to occur in the first place.

Here are a few things that can lead to a leaky flat roof:

Old Age: A flat roof loses strength from its material deteriorating over time from poor maintenance and rough weather conditions throughout the year. These take a toll and create damages that result in leaks.
Shoddy Installation: Using the best materials for a flat roof is wasted when installed poorly. They’re vulnerable to weak points from the near non-existent pitch if not done right.
Pitch Isn’t Right: Calgary is no stranger to heavy snowfall or rain. However, if a flat roof’s pitch can’t effectively shed water or snowfall away, it will cause ponding water – which can deteriorate your roof and cause water damage.

These are just a few of the common reasons leaks can occur. But ultimately, whatever it may be, the only way to handle it is by looking for proper roof repair in Calgary.

What to Do About Leaks

Before tackling the leaks, it’s important to consider the material of your flat roof and its severity. When any leaks occur, it’s best to call a professional to fix them. Yet, until you can get them to do so, you can use a flat roof sealant as a temporary fix. It’s a waterproofing paint that’s easy to apply, but don’t do so if you have multiple sources of leaks across a wide area. Trying to do so is inefficient and leads to more issues later.

Another good reason to have roofing experts handle flat roof leaks is because of the various kinds of roofing material. They’re familiar with repairing many different ones since they all require individual fixes.

Here are the following types of flat roofing material:

Fibreglass (GRP)
Rubber
Felt
Concrete

How to Prevent Future Leaks

Knowing what causes leaks and how to fix them is important. However, what’s just as important is learning how to prevent future leaks. Once you know how to avoid leaks, it can help save you time and money.

Check out what you can do for prevention here:

Inspect your roof twice a year
See how your roof is after any harsh weather (e.g. heavy snow, rain, or hail)
Check gutters for clogs & clean them
Have flashings installed
Replace your flat roof

There are just a few measures you can take. By making a proactive effort with these tips, you can prevent leaks from happening in the future.

Active Exteriors has one mission: to provide the highest quality roofing in Calgary at competitive prices while satisfying our customers’ needs. We have established ourselves as Calgary’s go-to roofing contractors through our industry-setting levels of professionalism, integrity, and fairness. Offering roof replacement and repairs, siding repairs, installation and exterior renovations in Calgary is not just a job for us; its a matter of pride. You’ll experience workmanship that is well worth the value and will transform your property. Contact your trusted roofing company in Calgary at 403-717-0515.

Proper maintenance of flat roofing in Calgary can do wonders toward extending its life. One common means of doing so is by knowing when to reseal your flat roof. However, it does beg the question of how often you should reseal. If you have been pondering this exact question, read on to find out the answer here.

How Often Flat Roofing in Calgary Needs Resealing

detail of the finishing material of the roof of a building

Why Resealing Matters

As established above, a flat roof can last for many years with consistent upkeep – even up to 25 years! However, your roof isn’t immune to wear and tear during that time. Even though your roof does its best to protect you from the elements, it does take a hit in various ways from certain conditions that can create damage over time. When you consider the unpredictable nature of Alberta weather, a flat roof will certainly be affected by it. Seasons with heavy snow, intense heat waves, and even potential hail can certainly do some damage – notably, water damage. With resealing, it helps to combat these issues by making your roof look good and reducing possible repairs since it ensures moisture doesn’t seep inside.

Factors to Consider When Resealing

Winters in the city can range from cold, heavy snowfalls to the next day being noticeably warmer, with slushy snow melting everywhere. Resealing your flat roof would be in your best interest to avoid this heightened risk of moisture damage.

However, it’s important to understand that various factors contribute to how often you need to reseal your roof. These include the following:

Type of flat roof you have: A completely flat roof requires regular sealing since they’re prone to ponding that leads to leaks. Meanwhile, sloped ones only need resealing a few times since water runs off mostly.
Calgary’s climate: Alberta’s weather is all over the place. Think about resealing before extreme weather conditions (e.g. winter & summer) to prevent possible damages.
Age/condition of your roof: Naturally, an older flat roof will show its age from wear and tear. Damages build up in time, so it’s best to reseal at any sign of issues.
Your current maintenance habits: If you’re not consistent with the maintenance, this can make damages more apparent since they’re being overlooked. Mostly, it’s rather low upkeep since you typically only need to reseal once every five years.

Types of Roof Sealants to Use

When resealing your roof, it’s imperative to use the right sealant. Doing so can ensure the job is done properly, and you won’t have to worry about moisture damage.

There are at least the main types of flat roof sealants, which are:

Built-Up Roof: Most traditional method uses tar or fibreglass membrane that’s laid down, then covered with hot tar & gravel. This type is inexpensive compared to the other types. Important to note, however, it’s quite heavy, & gravel often comes off.
Modified Bitumen: Also asphalt-based, but this uses layers of mineral-reinforced bitumen sheets capped by granule-surfaced or metal-foil laminate sheets. These are normally thick, making them puncture-resistant and great for various temperatures.
Rubber Membrane: From a tough single-ply membrane of recycled rubber, it’s laid over the plywood roofing surface and attached with an adhesive. An inexpensive option, but it may be prone to punctures more than the other types.

Typically, there are two roof coverings: either pitched or flat roofing in Calgary. Whatever the type of roofing, it should withstand the load while providing adequate waterproofing to the house. Yet, what kind of flat roof lasts the longest? If you’re uncertain, you can find the answers here!

Understanding What Flat Roofing in Calgary Offers

Why People Choose Flat Roofs

Previously, flat roofing in Calgary was designed for industrial facilities. On rare occasions, you can find them in multi-story houses used for residential purposes. Until recently, flat coverings have made their way to residential houses. With improvements in technology and development in building components, it is now possible to use flat coverings even in individual houses.

The advantages of having flat coverings lie in how inexpensive they are and their simplicity. Besides, the components used in flat coverings provide the best waterproofing solution compared to other types of roofing.

The materials used in flat roofs have the following properties:

Lightweight
Durability
Heat insulation
Chemical protection
Fire-resistant
Biostability
Solar radiation resistant
Flexibility in application
Long-lasting quality
Cost-effectiveness

Additionally, flat roofs consist of materials that maintain waterproofing, including optimal microclimate.

These might include the following:

Use of primers for additional waterproofing, joint tightness, and reliable installation
Proper drainage system
Bituminous covering system
PVC membrane that creates a reliable and durable waterproofing layer

Types of Flat Roofing

In general, there are three types of flat roofs.

Single-Ply Membrane Roofs or EPDM

Polymer membrane has been popular in building coverings regarding decoration and repair areas. Membrane roofs come with a high-reliability factor, have good adaptability to varying temperatures, are available in rich colour palettes, and have a lifespan of up to 40 years.

However, EPDM roofs are the latest technology, with an average lifespan of up to 55 years. EPDM covering is made from eco-friendly rubber materials that are recyclable as well.

Pros: The coating is all-weather resistant, durable enough to last 30 to 50 years, and costs less than other membranes.
Cons: It absorbs more heat than reflects the same making it less energy-efficient

Built-Up Roof or BUR

This type of flat roofing uses gravel and tar to create a waterproofing layer. It’s one of the most costly flat coverings used in residential buildings.

Pros: With proper maintenance, they can last for about 10 to 15 years, have excellent protection against harsh weather conditions, ultraviolet rays, and water, and they have amazing durability.
Cons: Time-consuming installation, may damage due to extreme rain or wind.

Modified Bitumen

No wonder BUR has been the favourite option for most people for 60 years. But during the early 1960s, modified bitumen was introduced with proven effectiveness.

Pros: Needs low maintenance, available for various applications, provides better flexibility and elasticity, easy setup, affordable.
Cons: Seams that tend to overlap should be glued properly to prevent water leakage.

What Flat Roof Lasts the Longest?

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) is a long-lasting flat roofing material. It can withstand extreme weather conditions and last for at least 30 years. With proper maintenance, it can last for up to 50 years. If you are interested in replacing and installing your flat roof with the best material, contact a team of professionals with the required knowledge and tools to undertake the job effectively.