Stripping back to basics

What do you do when your flat roof starts leaking? Well as with any water leak the priority is to find and fix the problem as quickly as possible before any collateral damage occurs. When faced with something like a burst pipe the answer is fairly simple. You either replace the damaged section of pipe or repair any joint that might have given way.

But what happens when the leak originates in your flat roof? As we discussed in our earlier article, Repair or Replace, the temptation can be to opt for a quick repair rather than go down the potentially more expensive route of replacing the roof covering. And there are times when a repair is all that is needed. However, there are also times when opting to repair can prove to be a false economy; particularly when that repair is ineffective and further remedial work is then required.

That was the problem facing the landlords of the Kings Chase shopping centre in Bristol. A leak above the Costa coffee shop had resulted in one section of the premises being closed to the public. After previous attempts by other contractors had failed to repair the problem Pellow Roofing were called on to provide a solution.

Upon investigation it was clear that replacement of the existing roof covering was the only viable solution. This involved removing all of the existing mastic asphalt to expose the concrete deck. A deep chase was then cut over to the joining outlet to aid water flow. The entire area was then sealed with RES-Tec 2020 Flexitec Liquid Applied Waterproofing.

One of the reasons that Flexitec 2020 was chosen for this project is that it provides a seamless, tough and flexible membrane even on complex roof structures. Reinforced with fibreglass CSM for extra strength and crack resistance Flexitec 2020 delivers an impact resistant membrane. This not only makes it suitable for flat roofs but also for balconies and walkways. A powder hardener for rapid curing helps to speed up the turnaround time, enabling us to complete the project in a single week in February 2019.

Following our intervention there have been no further leaks from the flat roof, enabling the premises to be fully reopened.