5 Tips To Maintaining Your Flat Roof

Keep the Drains Clear. Flat roofs are actually pitched ever so slightly at an angle so that water and heavy debris will slide towards the installed drains. It is important to keep those drains clear, because a blocked drainage system leads to standing water. 

Trim Overhanging Tree Branches. These will sway in the wind, bend under piles of snow and generally cause wear and tear to any part of the roof they touch. Although small cracks and tears in rubber roofs can be patched with a bicycle tire repair kit, larger breaks need professional repairs.  

Shovel that Snow. Sure, most people think of the sidewalk or front steps when considering shovelling snow, but the roof needs it too! Otherwise, the build up of heavy snow will put undue pressure on the roof, causing it to warp.  

Perform Regular Self-Inspections. Most problems with a flat roof – or any roof – can be avoided with routine checks. Try to get up to the roof 2 or 3 times per year, especially after intense weather, to check for cracks, bubbling or sagging. 

Hire a Professional Inspector. This doesn't necessarily need to be done today, or even next year, but it is an important part of flat roof maintenance.