Solution — "My roof leaks"

Roof Waterproofing

A leaking roof is rarely a single hole — it is almost always a chain of small failures that only become visible once water has already travelled through your ceiling. By the time you see a stain or a drip, the water has moved along rafters, around insulation, and across the underside of the deck, so the visible mark is often metres away from the actual entry point. That is why we never patch the stain. We trace the water back to its source. Our roof waterproofing work begins with a full inspection of the roof surface, the parapets, the penetrations, and the drainage. We look for cracked or blistered membrane, failed laps at sheet joints, open detailing around pipes and vents, and ponding areas where water sits long enough to find a way through. We also check the condition of the substrate beneath the membrane, because a membrane is only as good as the surface it is bonded to. For most roofs in Rwanda we specify torch-applied modified bitumen membranes, which are tough, repairable, and proven in tropical climates. Where the roof has complex geometry, multiple penetrations, or a substrate that cannot take a torch, we use liquid-applied polyurethane or acrylic coatings that form a seamless, fully bonded layer. Both systems are detailed at the parapet upstands, the corners, and every pipe penetration, because that is where the vast majority of roof leaks actually begin. We also correct the drainage falls where necessary. A roof that ponds water after every rain is a roof that is being slowly destroyed — standing water adds weight, accelerates membrane ageing, and forces water through any weakness under hydrostatic pressure. By re-establishing positive drainage to the outlets, we remove the standing water that would otherwise undo the new membrane within a season or two. The result is a roof system that is engineered for the structure, installed by trained applicators, and documented with photographs at every stage. You receive a clear scope of work before we start, a written specification of the system we will install, and a warranty that covers the workmanship. If the roof leaks again, we come back — that is the standard we hold ourselves to. The first thing we look at is the age and condition of the existing roof covering. A membrane that has been exposed to the sun for years will have lost its flexibility, and the surface will be covered in fine cracks that are invisible from the ground. These cracks are the beginning of the end for the roof — they let water into the membrane, and once the water is in, it spreads along the reinforcement and finds the laps and the details. We also check the condition of the parapet walls. The parapet is the vertical wall that rises above the roof, and it is the most exposed part of the roof system. The parapet is subjected to the full force of the rain, the wind, and the sun, and the detailing at the top of the parapet is where the water is most likely to find a way in. We check the coping, the flashing, and the sealant, and we repair the details that are failing. The penetrations are the next point of inspection. Every pipe, every vent, and every cable that passes through the roof is a potential leak, and the detailing at the penetrations is where the water is most likely to find a way through. We check the pipe collars, the vent boots, and the cable entries, and we re-detail the ones that are letting the water in. The drainage is the final part of the inspection. The roof has to drain the water away, and the drains have to be clear and the outlets have to be the right size. We check the gutters, the downpipes, and the outlets, and we clear the blockages that are causing the water to pond on the roof. Once the inspection is complete, we give you a written report of what we found. The report includes the photographs of the roof, the description of the problems, and the recommendation of the system. The report is the basis of the quote, and the quote is the basis of the work. The installation is carried out by our trained applicators, and the work is documented at every stage. We take the photographs of the preparation, the application, and the finished roof, and we provide the photographs with the warranty. The warranty is the promise that the roof will not leak, and the promise is the standard we hold ourselves to. The roof is the most important part of the building, and the roof is the part that is the most exposed. The roof is the part that is the rain, the sun, and the wind, and the roof is the part that is the most likely to fail. We make sure the roof is the part that is the most protected. The first thing we look at is the age and condition of the existing roof covering. A membrane that has been exposed to the sun for years will have lost its flexibility, and the surface will be covered in fine cracks that are invisible from the ground. These cracks are the beginning of the end for the roof — they let water into the membrane, and once the water is in, it spreads along the reinforcement and finds the laps and the details. We also check the condition of the parapet walls. The parapet is the vertical wall that rises above the roof, and it is the most exposed part of the roof system. The parapet is subjected to the full force of the rain, the wind, and the sun, and the detailing at the top of the parapet is where the water is most likely to find a way in. We check the coping, the flashing, and the sealant, and we repair the details that are failing. The penetrations are the next point of inspection. Every pipe, every vent, and every cable that passes through the roof is a potential leak, and the detailing at the penetrations is where the water is most likely to find a way through. We check the pipe collars, the vent boots, and the cable entries, and we re-detail the ones that are letting the water in. The drainage is the final part of the inspection. The roof has to drain the water away, and the drains have to be clear and the outlets have to be the right size. We check the gutters, the downpipes, and the outlets, and we clear the blockages that are causing the water to pond on the roof. Once the inspection is complete, we give you a written report of what we found. The report includes the photographs of the roof, the description of the problems, and the recommendation of the system. The report is the basis of the quote, and the quote is the basis of the work. The installation is carried out by our trained applicators, and the work is documented at every stage. We take the photographs of the preparation, the application, and the finished roof, and we provide the photographs with the warranty. The warranty is the promise that the roof will not leak, and the promise is the standard we hold ourselves to. The roof is the most important part of the building, and the roof is the part that is the most exposed. The roof is the part that is the rain, the sun, and the wind, and the roof is the part that is the most likely to fail. We make sure the roof is the part that is the most protected.