The Damage That Ponding Water Can Do to Metal Roofing
Ponding water is a phenomenon that causes water to collect in low spots on your roof. It can be hard to spot if these areas are hard to see, making it possible that serious damage could be done to your metal roofing. But is this problem all that serious?
How Serious Is Ponding Water?
How much strain could ponding water really put on your metal roofing? Roofing experts estimate that a ponding area about 20 feet by 20 feet and only an inch deep would weigh at least 2,000 pounds. Obviously, smaller ponding areas will weigh loss, but that kind of weight can put a serious strain on your metal roofing.
While it's not likely to actually seriously damage the metal shingles of your roofing (as those are designed to withstand very heavy weight), it is more likely to attack the items that hold your shingles down. Water will get underneath of them and cause serious damage to the underlying roofing.
The Damage It Can Do to Metal Roofing
The damage that ponding does to your metal roofing starts at the fasteners. Rather than wear down the sturdy metal shingles, water will penetrate the areas around the fasteners and work to either dislodge them or force them up. When this happens, water can lift your shingles and allow water to rush in underneath.
This problem won't happen overnight, but when your fasteners are finally lifted, water will begin seeping into your wall flashing and cause leaks throughout your roof. Once a leak starts in this way, it can be very hard to stop. That's why it's important to know how to fix this problem.
Fixing the Problem
If your metal roofing is prone to ponding, you need to take a few steps to fix it. The first step is to get on your roof and use a wet vac to vacuum up all the water that is ponding. Next, you need to look for loose nails, holes, signs of rust, leaks, and other problems, and take care of them as they occur.
Usually, this is as simple as re-attaching your metal shingle and drying up the water on the flashing. You may have to call a professional to re-install some of your roofing materials, however. You should also have them install a slight incline in your roofing to allow water to roll off your roof without ponding. This may slightly change your roof's style, but it will protect it from further ponding damage. Talk to a roofing contractor like A & A Roofing Company Inc for more information.
