It is important to state from the outset that a leaking roof must be treated as an emergency. A leaking roof can wreak havoc in your home in a very short time, and prove costly if not dealt with immediately.

Here at High-Tech Membrane Roofing Ltd, we install unique flat roofing systems across the Basildon area and beyond, we have many years of experience in dealing with roof repairs and can advise and assist with any roofing worries.

There are a number of handy tips to help you locate the source of your leak, but remember to call us out to get it fixed or replaced as DIY jobs are likely to result in a similar event in the future!

Try to locate the leak from inside. The most obvious place to look is directly above the leak in a ceiling or exterior wall. Look for standing water, water stains, mould, wet insulation or other exposed insulation.

However it is important to remember that dampness on a ceiling, a water stain or leaking water doesn’t mean the leak is directly above that spot. The only way of determining the location for certain is to get up on the roof to examine the surface on a dry day. Water travels in a downward motion which helps provide a clue to locating sloped roof leaks but with flat roofing the water can travel in any direction.

Looking for a leak outside can, of course, bring its own problems. It can be dangerous to walk on a flat roof if its strength has been undermined by a leak. 

Using any measurements or other information you gathered indoors, try to make your initial outdoor observations from a ladder and/or using binoculars. 

A low spot surrounded by a dirt-stained ring may be evident of pooling water.

Also check all seams carefully, especially any areas where materials overlap and examine for holes. 

To confirm an area you suspect is the source of the leak, take a hose up to the roof and spray the area before returning inside to see whether water trickles inside at the spot where you first identified there was a problem. It can take many minutes for water to arrive at this area depending on where the leak originates so be patient. This can be a rather tiresome process if you do not find the right spot first time but it will eventually confirm once and for all the location of the leak.

Remember if you are in doubt, contact a professional. Here at High-Tech Membrane Roofing Limited we offer free advice, repairs to leaking flat roofs as well as the supply and installation of maintenance free PVC Single-Ply Flat Roofing Systems. We also offer a lifetime guarantee.

To book an appointment or discuss any aspect of roofing care, call us here at High-Tech on 0808 159 3939.