[Nick1]

Hi all,
I'm fixing up a house and there is a section of roof that is flat (or only slight sloping). There are a couple of leaks which seem to originate from the flat section. As you can see in the pic the flat part has been covered in a granular roof roll material. The vertical edge of the flat section need repair. I am wondering how to repair the vertical edge of the flat section.

 

[mako1]

The pic did not show up.Without the pic or more info the post is confusing and pretty much useless.

 

[Nick1]

pic should be here!

This is the pic

 

[mako1]

I would say dynamite.Not trying to be a smartass but this is one of the worst designs I have seen in a long time and really not a DIY project.If you would post your location it may help.Hope you don't get any rain wherever your at.

 

[Nick1]

I agree. Well at least the place is unoccupied. Just bought it a few days ago.
It's in central New Jersey

 

[mako1]

You have a steep sloped roof running onto a flat roof with a parapet wall around it.I see no drains or scuppers although they may be covered with all of the leaves or the many gallons of tar. Wish I could be of more help but you have a very expensive mess there.

 

[Nick1]

There is a drain in the parapet wall. There are about a dozen houses of the same design nearby. House built in 1931

 

[craig11152]

I agree that is not a very DIY friendly situation.
That looks like its crying for a professionally done EPDM system.

 

[1985gt]

From what I understand the parapet wall in the picture is leaking, where the old roof has deteriorated and such?

It looks like someone used a peal and stick cap sheet to cover the old roof, not a very long term fix. And they didn't flash the wall.

You could flash the wall, it won't last that long but it would work for a short time.

Other then that I'd remove it all and start over, tapered ISO and a EPDM would work well.

If I were called out to look at it I wouldn't offer to do any repairs like to flash the wall ect, it would be all or nothing for us as a business. You maybe able to find someone to fix it or you could flash it your self but it will by no means be a long term solution.

The cap sheet looks to new and the fact you just bought it screams the old owners had issues over a lot of places on that roof, the original one looks pretty old.

FWIW there is absolutely nothing wrong with that design as long as there is proper drainage and the roof is done properly.

 

[Nick1]

I appreciate your comments Craig. Thanks. The house is in bad shape - abandoned for 2 years and previous owners let things go. It was a short sale and I got a good deal.

 

[mako1]

FWIW there is absolutely nothing wrong with that design as long as there is proper drainage and the roof is done properly.

I will agree with this as far as drainage on the roof if done correctly.Still se no reason for a design like this when it could have been designed another way that would have not caught all of the leaves and debri which builds up and clogs the scuppers and drains.

 

[1985gt]

I will agree with this as far as drainage on the roof if done correctly.Still se no reason for a design like this when it could have been designed another way that would have not caught all of the leaves and debri which builds up and clogs the scuppers and drains.

Gutters catch leaves also. I'm sure there is a reason for it, could have been an addition, a architectural feature, whatever.

The only issues I see personally have with them are the fact when the slope roof material needs to be replaced, it makes a heck of a staging area for them to do the work, that generally leads to leaks.

And in general people have no real idea of how expensive low slope roofing products are. This leads to the materials being left on and "patched" for years after the serviceable life of the system has long since past.

 

[isabellajohnmic]

You can use EPDMcoatings as a roof sealants for your leakage problem.

 

[1985gt]

You can use EPDMcoatings as a roof sealants for your leakage problem.

No you can't. There is not a coating around that will fix the leaking on that wall. Please stop spreading false information around.

 

[Windows on Wash]

You can use EPDMcoatings as a roof sealants for your leakage problem.

How about flex-seal in a can?

 

[1985gt]

How about flex-seal in a can?

Hey if you can put a screen door on the bottom of a boat and spray the goop on it and it still floats, it will seal that wall. Flex seal the true professionals choice. I wonder if you can buy it in a 55 gallon drum and spray it with a gaco?