Flat roof leaking.

[CGW]

As the title suggests, we have a flat roof that is leaking. The flat roof is only a small part of the house and is used as a patio, it has ceramic tiles laid on the concrete. The first problem is finding where it is leaking, the second is repairing it!

Anyone know of any "easy" options, some wonder liquid that turns solid and waterproof that could be used instead of grout around the tiles maybe?

Grasping at straws I know, the leak isn't bad but will only get worse!

Cheers

 

[VocalNeal]

Have quick look around for missing grout. I had a dripping toilet cistern in a bathroom which caused a mess it was bad or missing grout. In my case there was a spot where the tiles were so close there was no room for grout. Generally speaking the tiles should all have a gap between then about a matchstick width apart. Any that are smaller than that are the likely suspects. 

 

Get a tiler in and get all the grout replaced?  

[CGW]

43 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 Get a tiler in and get all the grout replaced?  

That is the most obvious solution - that I had Not thought off! maybe I'm trying to over complicate it!

Thanks...

[Lamkyong]

the complete repair would be to remove all the tiles apply a water proof membrane and re tile  this will defiantly  cure the problem   presuming the fault is as described    any thing less would almost certainly  allow this to happen again at a later or sooner date   i am sure not what you would like  to hear repair wise   i am almost sure the leakage occurred in the first place due to poor workman ship/ quality product

[CGW]

1 hour ago, Lamkyong said:

the complete repair would be to remove all the tiles apply a water proof membrane and re tile  this will defiantly  cure the problem   presuming the fault is as described    any thing less would almost certainly  allow this to happen again at a later or sooner date   i am sure not what you would like  to hear repair wise   i am almost sure the leakage occurred in the first place due to poor workman ship/ quality product

I was there when the concrete was poured, the area is about 5m x 20m and from what I observed they did everything by the book! obviously that wasn't the case, to be honest - somewhat surprised it does leak as after 4 years it is about the only thing that has gone amiss (& I hope I am not tempting fate saying that!)

A water proof membrane on top may be an option? never use the area! though I have never seen anyone use a water proof membrane in Thailand, are they available?

[Sheryl]

I had the same exact situation. Nothing worked that involved keeping the flat roof. Simply not possible where I live, anyhow. Flat roofs are a recipe for disaster here - most especially if there are adjacent sloping roofs that connect to it as was true in my case.

 

My options were to either completely redo the work, beams and all, or place an additional small sloped roof over the flat area. I did the latter. There were still problems initially because the gutters weren't large enough to accommodate the sheer volume of water that resulted from several sloped roofs coming together but it eventually got sorted OK.

 

Suggest you consider retrofitting a pitched roof over it, and be sure to get really large, custom made gutters for the resulting valleys.

[VocalNeal]

I'm still going with grout as it has been OK for 4 years. If there is a caveat it would be settlement of the building if it was new when the roof was poured? 

Yes and as stated check the drain isn't blocked and that it isn't the drain rather then the actual roof. That would be indicated by the location of the evidence of the leak 

 

I'm still thinking a hands and knees examination of the grouting. Especially the corners and the edges.

 

Edited February 21, 2018 by VocalNeal

[taninthai]

I have just had my flat roof tiled it has a slight slope front to back. Hopefully it will be all good.i have read about a sealant you can put over the grouted parts

[CGW]

^ Thats what I was hoping for, a sealant that will work with the grout?

Putting a roof over the area really isn't an option, would need to "demolish" building near enough to get to the re bar to tie in and give it some strength.

[taninthai]

3 hours ago, CGW said:

^ Thats what I was hoping for, a sealant that will work with the grout?

Putting a roof over the area really isn't an option, would need to "demolish" building near enough to get to the re bar to tie in and give it some strength.

Weber brand make the sealant was reading about it on another thread on here ,,,,yellow plastic bottle

[CGW]

19 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

I'm still going with grout as it has been OK for 4 years. If there is a caveat it would be settlement of the building if it was new when the roof was poured? 

Yes and as stated check the drain isn't blocked and that it isn't the drain rather then the actual roof. That would be indicated by the location of the evidence of the leak 

 

I'm still thinking a hands and knees examination of the grouting. Especially the corners and the edges.

 

That makes sense, the building did settle, very little but!

Yep, looks like hands and knees for someone! I prefer to do all my own maintenance for obvious reasons, but one of my knees is shot so guess the wife will need to be supervised!

Cheers

[CGW]

1 hour ago, taninthai said:

Weber brand make the sealant was reading about it on another thread on here ,,,,yellow plastic bottle

Thanks, will have a look for it. Assume it is this https://www.weber-tylon.co.za/flooring/products/floor-care/weber-universal-sealer.html