Flat Roof & Roof Deck Waterproofing in Pittsburgh, PA
A roof that people walk on needs a different kind of waterproofing than one that only sheds rain. Roof decks on city row houses, terraces on newer townhomes, balconies over living space and walk-out roofs off a bedroom all take foot traffic, furniture and grills, and almost all of them have a door opening onto them, which is where most of their leaks start. The answer is a membrane rated for traffic, or a standard membrane protected by a deck system, plus proper flashing under and around the door threshold and enough slope to get water off. We look at how the space is used, what is underneath, and how the door was installed, before recommending a system.
What's included
- Assessment of use, structure and drainage
- Traffic-rated membranes or protected deck systems
- Door thresholds flashed and sealed
- Sleepers and deck boards lifted and reset where needed
- Railing post penetrations flashed
- Slope to drains or scuppers
- Balcony edges and drip edges
- Interior leak below the deck traced first
- Photo report
Sound like your roof?
- A ceiling stain under the roof deck
- Leaks near the door that opens onto the roof
- Rotting sleepers or deck boards
- Water standing under the deck boards
- Cracks in an old coating on a walk-out roof
Flat Roof Waterproofing — FAQs
Not without protection. Plain EPDM isn't made for furniture and foot traffic; a deck system over it, or a traffic-rated membrane, is.
The threshold is the hardest detail. Flashing has to run under the door and up the sides, which is often skipped.
Usually some or all, to see and fix the membrane under them. They can often be reused.
It depends on size, access, the deck system and the door details, so it is priced after a roof check, in writing.