Sarasota roofing contractors are responsible for ensuring that water flows off a roof in the right way.
When you picture a “roof leak,” you probably imagine the water seeping down directly through the roofing material and underlayment onto the deck below, and then into your home. And while this is absolutely the way many leaks happen—especially when there’s roof damage or just poor installation—there are also other roof issues that lead to leaks.
One of the most common, and least understood, causes of roof leaks is poor drainage. And believe it or not, some roofing companies in Sarasota and Bradenton don’t take care of drainage the way they should.
Is drainage really the roofing contractor’s responsibility?
Absolutely! A building’s architecture plays a big role in how the water flows off the roof. But once that building is built, the responsibility falls to the roofing contractor. That’s because the way the water flows must be accounted for in our installation. Nobody else knows your roof as well as your roofing contractor. After all, when you have a leak, who do you call?
Aren’t flat roofs the only ones with drainage problems?
We might think of insufficient drainage as a problem exclusive to flat roofs. And to be sure, pooling on a roof, whether it’s a Med-Rev design, a Mid-Century Modern home or a commercial building, is a big issue. But drainage issues aren’t limited to flat roofs.
While pooling is a problem, it’s far from the only drainage problem.
How does drainage affect pitched roofs?
When it comes to angled roof designs, the problem isn’t that the water doesn’t drain; it’s where it drains that matters.
As water makes its way from the roof to the ground, the angle of various roofing features will steer it on a particular path. And without addressing that path, the water itself may flow into or splash onto parts of your house that were not designed to handle large amounts of water. Think wooden siding or window seems.
It won’t take long before those ill-prepared materials rot, weaken, and allow water inside. And boom, you’ve got a leak that doesn’t come directly from your roof—but it’s still your roofer’s responsibility.
How does a roofer handle drainage?
As professional roofers, we have to be aware of the direction the water flows and where it will wind up. Whether through the way we lay the roofing material itself, or how and where we install flashing, gutters, downspouts, and other roofing features, a Bradenton/Sarasota roofing company must know how to control the flow of water and protect your home.
Ultimately, as Bradenton roofing contractors, we have all of these tools at our disposal. It’s not actually that complicated. But if your roofer is rushing, cutting corners, or just plain unaware of how drainage works, then it won’t matter how tough your roofing material is. Drainage will still leave you with leaks in the end.
Not sure about your roof’s drainage? Just ask Blue Collar!
