Flat Roof Repair
When the trace ends at an open seam, a blister, or parapet flashing, the flat roof repair matches the sheet already there.
Flat roof repairTrace · Control · Repair
Tempe Commercial Roof Leak Repair
Commercial roof leak repair in Tempe starts inside at the stain and works upslope on the roof until the real entry point shows up, then fixes that spot.
- Traced To The SourceStain to entry point
- Moisture ScanWet insulation mapped
- Temporary ControlWater held out meanwhile
- Photo RecordEntry point shown in photos
Will Fixing The Leak Be Enough?
A traced leak with dry surroundings repairs well. Wet insulation across the roof turns a leak call into a bigger decision.
Repair Holds When
- One or two entry points trace back cleanly
- Wet insulation stays near the entry point
- The deck under the stain is firm
- The leak started after a storm or a rooftop service visit
- The roof around the opening is still flexible
Replacement Wins When
- New leaks keep appearing in unrelated rooms
- Moisture readings run high across large areas
- The deck has rusted or softened near drains
- Patches from earlier leaks have stopped holding
- The membrane cracks when it is probed
Common Leak Points Behind A Ceiling Stain
Water enters at one of these spots, then travels along the deck before it drips, which is why tracing works from the stain upslope.
Curb Flashing Upslope
A crack at a rooftop unit curb lets water onto the deck, where it can run several feet along a flute before reaching a seam in the ceiling. Curbs on the high side of the roof get checked even when the stain sits far downslope.
Steel Deck Flutes
Corrugated deck channels carry water in a straight line, so the stain often sits downslope from the opening in the same direction the flutes run. Matching the flute direction inside with the roof slope outside narrows the search quickly.
Pitch Pans And Pipe Boots
Shrunken filler or a split boot lets water straight down the pipe. Drips near a pipe or conduit inside point here first. Pipes that run through a ceiling cavity can carry water along their outside to a distant drip.
Parapet And Wall Joints
Water entering behind wall flashing shows up along exterior walls, sometimes at a window head instead of the ceiling. Wall leaks often start at a cap joint or a scupper corner several feet from the stain.
Drains And Drain Leaders
A loose drain clamp ring or a cracked leader inside the building leaks only when the drain is flowing, which ties drips to rain timing. A drip that stops when the drain is dry points inside the building rather than at the membrane.
Roof Hatch Curbs
Hatches that get opened often lose their curb seal, and the water shows up on the ladder or the wall right under the hatch. Checking the hatch curb takes minutes and rules it in or out early in the trace.
Commercial Roof Leak Repair Work We Do In Tempe
Leak calls move through three stages. Each one has its own work, and the permanent fix comes last.
| Stage | What Happens | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Trace | Moisture scan, upslope check of every curb, drain, and penetration, one-area water tests | The confirmed entry point, marked and photographed |
| Control | Clear a blocked drain or scupper, compatible tape on a split seam, a weighted membrane patch | Water held out until the roof is dry |
| Protect | Plastic sheeting over equipment and inventory inside | Less damage while the repair is planned |
| Repair | Wet material cut out, insulation replaced, matching membrane or flashing installed | A permanent fix at the entry point |
| Confirm | Hose test over the repair with someone watching inside | Proof the stain has stopped growing |
What Fixing It Now Protects
Every rain that gets past the opening wets a wider circle of insulation, even after the ceiling stain stops growing.
- Machines, files, and inventory sitting under the drip
- Insulation around the entry point, before the wet area spreads
- Ceiling grid, drywall, and light fixtures in the room
- Steel deck flutes that rust where water sits in them
- Weekends and nights you would otherwise spend emptying buckets
Stain Growing Since The Last Rain?
Call with where the stain sits, whether it drips only during rain or also when the AC runs, and what sits on the roof above it.
How A Leak Gets Traced And Fixed
Leak calls run on five steps, and the first two happen before anyone opens the roof.
Inspect Your Roof
Inside, the stain gets measured, photographed, and located against the roof above. Outside, a moisture meter scans the area upslope of it. Dates and rain timing get noted, since they help separate roof leaks from condensation.
At The Building
Mark Every Entry Point
Every curb, drain, and penetration upslope of the stain gets checked. If the source still hides, one area at a time gets water-tested. Each water test runs long enough for water to travel along the deck.
On The RoofProtect The Space Below
Plastic sheeting goes over equipment and inventory under the drip, and temporary leak control holds water out until the roof dries. The stopgap stays in place until the permanent repair replaces it.
At The BuildingRepair With Matching Material
Once the entry point is confirmed, wet material comes out, insulation gets replaced, and matching membrane or flashing goes on. The permanent repair covers the entry point and the wet material around it.
On The RoofWater-Test And Hand Over Photos
A hose test runs over the repair while someone watches the ceiling inside. The photo set shows the stain, the source, and the fix. If the stain keeps growing after the test, the trace continues upslope.
Paperwork
Related Repairs After A Leak Is Found
The entry point decides which repair comes next.
Commercial Metal Roof Repair
Drips that line up under screw rows or panel ends lead to fastener and lap repairs on the metal roof.
Commercial metal roof repairLeak Questions From Tempe Owners
Answers about tracing, temporary control, and what to do inside while you wait.
Tracing
Why is the ceiling stain so far from where the roof is leaking?
Because the deck carries the water first. Once it gets past a seam or flashing, it runs along deck flutes, insulation joints, or the top of a joist until a gap lets it drop onto the ceiling.
So the trace runs the other way: from the stain toward the high side of the roof, checking each curb, drain, and penetration, scanning for wet insulation, and water-testing one suspect spot at a time.
Tracing
Why does my roof leak only when the AC runs?
That points away from the roof membrane. Condensate lines, clogged drain pans, and sweating ducts drip on dry days, so the unit and its curb get checked before any roof repair.
Temporary Control
How long can a temporary patch stay on?
Long enough to get the roof dry and the real repair scheduled. Tape and weighted patches are stopgaps, and wet insulation under them keeps spreading.
Temporary Control
Can a leak be repaired while it is raining?
Temporary control can go on in light rain, like clearing a drain or taping a split seam. A permanent repair waits for a dry surface, because patches and welds bond only to dry membrane.
Temporary Control
What does temporary leak control usually involve?
Whatever stops water fastest without making the permanent repair harder. That can mean clearing a blocked drain or scupper, compatible tape over a split seam, or a weighted membrane patch over a torn section, with plastic sheeting over equipment inside.
Inside The Building
What should we do inside while waiting for the crew?
Cover equipment and inventory with plastic, set a bucket under the drip, and photograph the stain with the date. Note when it started, since rain timing helps the trace.
Inside The Building
Do wet ceiling tiles mean the insulation above is wet?
Usually some of it is. Water passes through the insulation on its way down, so the moisture scan maps how far it has spread before the repair is sized.
Find The Real Source Of The Leak
Send us where the stain sits and when it drips. We will trace it on the roof and fix the entry point.