Flat roof repair - "Water can only come in at the joists"

mathie

So I've a sideroom (one story) with a flat roof.
Recently water came dripping in so I got a guy to look at it and he said "Water can only come in at the joists"
There are about 10 joists on the rooms roof and he said he'd repair down to half way (as the leak was at the front of the roof)
He has put strips of felt (12 inches wide) over the joists. Covering the joists.

Should he have covered half the roof?
I assumed he was going to do this.

650gs

You should have covered all the roof to repair it right you got a patch job thats all

sky6

With flat Roofs it's only a matter of time before they leak.

When a Roof leaks where the Water is entering the room has no bearing on where the leak actually is. I've seen Water track 30 ft across and under the surface of a flat roof. Then only drip through where it could get down between the Slab joints.

Depending on the age of the Roof a proper re felting might be due. Which if done right should give you another 15 to 20 years life. Make sure to finish it with Silver Coat as this protects and prolongs the lifetime of the Roof.

As said already I think you might have been had.

mathie

In fairness he did tell me it was a patch job and it wasnt very expensive.

I just thought he'd cover 1/4 of the roof fully with felt but he just did the joists.

Is it true that water can only come in at the joists?
I mean surely if the felt was ripped at any point if could come in there.

Cheers
M

sky6

Of course water can come in anywhere. One of the biggest problems roofers have is find where the actual leak is. It's very often not anywhere near where it comes through the ceiling. Then again the leak can be right over where it comes down.

genuine leather

[QUOTE=sky6;84208055. One of the biggest problems roofers have is find where the actual leak is.[/QUOTE]

So so true, and with so many cowboy roofers on the go in the busy time, trying to fix numerous leaks/poor jobs, so disheartening(Zero standards or pride in their work).

sorry back on point,
I think your workman meant felt joints rather than joists,
they start to perish after so many years, and quicker if done poorly.
The water wont stay out for long. Soon it will all(as lads said) have to be re done or a pitched roof put on it.

Another method that may work for you down the line(not much more expense than refelt) is to clad the roof with pvc coated box clad sheeting, it needs minimal pitch, and no joints from top(channel dressed up) to gutterline(channel dressed down to form drip point). Some edge flashing and its sorted for a long time