The Precision of Electronic Roof Leak Detection

 

 

The safeguarding of a building’s structural integrity encompasses reassurance that the roof waterproofing membranes are sound and breach-free, preventing water ingress into the property. Thornton Consulting, as an Independent Test House has almost 40 years of experience in providing a professional and comprehensive building leak investigations and consultancy service for clients throughout the UK and Ireland. The precision of electronic roof leak detection with advanced technology, enables even pinpoint breaches to be located in the waterproofing cover that may not be visible to the naked eye. In newly installed membranes faults could easily be overlooked, resulting in costly and time-consuming call-backs for roofing contractors.

 

Theelectronic roof leak detection method has the advantage of being non-destructive and highly accurate, utilising two key techniques; the dry method, commonly referred to as the pinhole or holiday test and the low voltage or ‘wet’ test method. The efficiency and application of these two specific roof integrity tests are determined by the electrically conductive properties of the insulating waterproofing membrane and the roof deck material. Thornton Consulting has a dedicated team of experience field testers and consultants, with the technical expertise to identify the optimum roof leak detection method for the membrane component.

 

On new build properties during the roof construction phase, waterproofing membranes are particularly vulnerable to damage that can weaken their effectiveness. This can be the result of punctures or tears in the roofing material caused by the wear and tear of worker traffic and site equipment, or deficiencies in the installation such as defective laps or insufficient application of adhesives. Flat roof electronic roof detection can also be of benefit prior to the laying of green roof or paving finishes, to ensure the membrane is sound and secure from potential leaks, and will withstand severe weather conditions.

 

Roof electronic leak detection is also of considerable benefit for owners and facility managers of large commercial and industrial buildings, residential apartment blocks and municipal car parks. This pro-active approach to safeguarding the property ensures the interior assets are protected and the long term value of the building is secure. For more information call us on +44 (0)1342 410508 or use the Contact form on our website to get in touch.

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Top 5 causes for flat roof leakage

Keeping the place of your business in a good shape is very important to operate your establishment without any hindrance, especially when it comes to roofs. Most property owners would choose flat roofing for commercial reasons due to a variety of advantages. However, flat roofs are not unsusceptible to leakage issues. The most common reasons for leaks in flat roofs are given here,

The lifetime of the roofing

Despite your efforts with the maintenance plan, flat roofs become vulnerable to water leaks over the years.

Improper drainage

Flat roofs are more susceptible to collect snow and moisture than sloped roofs. In addition to that, if your drainage system is poor, it would contribute to water leakage. The usual signs of leakage issues due to improper drainage include sagging, structural weakness etc.

Blisters

This could indicate trapped moisture and leads to roof leak if not repaired. And if the situation is accompanied by extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfall and high winds, it could result in extreme damage.

Cracks

They could let the moisture to get in, which in turn would bring about roof leakage and other costly issues.

Damage in the flashing

Flashing are the metal strips that run through the roof edges. They are responsible for sealing the roofs from outer elements like water or litter. If there is any damage in the flashing, then roof leakage might occur.

If you observe any of the mentioned symptoms in your building, contact a leakage detection specialist in UK immediately. Professionals dedicated to building leak detection in UK would help identify whether there is any potential leakage problems in the roofing.

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Few Common Reasons behind Leaky Roofs

For a building or any engineering structure, having a proper roof is very vital. If that roof is not properly constructed or if the roof gets damaged due to some external reasons, it may lead to a leakages, which affects the stability the entire structure, as the leaks usually aggravate as days pass by. Many leak detection specialists in UK help you locate the leaks, so that it can be fixed to avoid further deterioration. Let’s have a look at few reasons of a leaky roof.

1. Deterioration of roof:            

After a period of time, roofs starts displaying wear and tear, as it is exposed to different climatic changes over the years. The huge temperatures the roofs are exposed to, create cracks that leads to leaks.

2. Damaged Underlays:

The underlays that are designed to drain away the water underneath the tiles begins to deteriorate with time which eventually leads to leaky roofs.

3. Shallow roof slopes:

When roof slopes are too shallow, there are possibilities for the wind to lift the shingles and thereby letting rain water enter the area underneath, leading to leakage.

4. Accumulation of rubbish:

When dry leaves, twigs etc. gets accumulated on top of the roof and blocks the path by which the rain water usually drains, they rot and deteriorate the roof, subsequently leads to a leakage.

5. Roof junctures being damaged:

If the roof junctures are damaged during some installations and left unattended after that, it will lead to leakage.

These are few common reasons that cause leakage in roof. There are a number of companies offering services on leakage detection in UK to help people fix the leaky roofs.

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Signs That Show You Have a Possible Leakage in Your Building

In England and Wales 3 billion litres of water gets wasted per day. The fault in the water distribution network may contribute to some of this lose. But a significant portion of leaked water is from within the consumer properties. Just because a leak is not noticeable doesn’t mean you don’t have one. Get help from a specialist known for building leak detection in UK to check for a leak. Few indications that points to water leakage are listed below,

•    Check the winter water usage in your building. If the water usage exceeds the required amount, hire a leak detection specialist in UK immediately.

•    Inspect your water meter before and after a specific period when no water is used. You have a leak if the reading changes in the meter.

•    Find if you have a toilet leak by dropping food colouring in the toilet tank. If the bowl shows the colour without flushing within 10 minutes then you have leak.  Flush the toilet immediately after this experiment to avoid staining the tank.

•    If there is any sign of low water pressure, there could be a leak in the roof or the toilet

•    A loud noise in a hot water system is not a good thing. It is a warning sign that it is about to burst or leak.

•    If you find a mysterious patch of grass really growing quick in your place, there is a possibility of an underground leak somewhere around the area.

Do not ignore any of the above signs and locate the source of the leak by hiring a professional in leak detection before going for a repair.

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The Importance of Commercial Building Roof Maintenance to Business Owners

Every building needs timely maintenance to stay in top conditions, and roofs are no exception. If appropriate care is not provided to a roof covering, the primary damage can be a leak and it can eventually cause a lot of damage to the entire building. In order to avoid expensive repair costs, preventive maintenance is the best way to keep commercial roofs in best conditions. One of the biggest reasons of structural complications is often water-related and thus, every commercial building owner must conduct building leak detection in UK every year.

Inspection that acts as Prevention

If a roof leak is not detected and repaired in time, it can cause wreck and havoc in the building and the dripping water can ruin the walls, ceilings and several other areas of a building, thus causing major problems to businesses operating there. If mildew or mold is growing on the roof and it tends to spread around the building, it can also cause health complications. If a roof leak remains unrepaired for a long time, it can make the building unsafe for business due to the weak structure. The best ways to avoid all these problems is to get expert inspectors who will check the following on your building roofs:

•    Gutters
•    Points of penetration for water
•    Ponding water or debris
•    Flashing
•    Shingles
•    Ventilation components around the roof

Roof leaks often begin with shingle complications or a point of penetration like chimneys, vents, pipes and additional components on the roof. Penetration points must be water-sealed every 2-5 years as a preventive measure to avoid leaks and damage. It is also important to look for neglected gutters or downspouts as they cause water to overflow on the roof.

A thorough inspection for UK leak detection on the roof and internal areas of the building can avoid major roofing problems in the future.

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Does Your Flat Roof Suffer from These 3 Common Reasons for Leak Problems?

Flat roofs are considered highly water-resistant and long-lasting, making them a pleasing option for property owners. If the flat roof was built with a tar and gravel finish, it may have been great at repelling water. However, with time, there can be a condition causing water to sag and puddles to gather on the roof. Over time, these puddles can start penetrating the roof surface, causing leaks. In modern times, most flat roofs are constructed using a rubber-like material that is highly resilient to leaks and does not result in sagging or puddles. Some of the main reasons why leaks develop on a roof include:

1.    Poor Design – Though a flat roof by definition is laid horizontally, it is crucial to have a slight tilt so that water can flow off the surface easily. Also, if the roof does not have enough drainage outlets, there is a high possibility that pools of water will develop and cause long term damage.

2.    Poor Quality Installation – If you are going to conduct business in a property, ensuring that it is built with superior materials is a must for business to run smoothly. A poor installation can cause water leaks in just a year or two.

3.    Solar Damage – If your building is based in a location with higher quantities of sunlight in the year, there is a possibility of potential solar damage. UV lights can cause trouble in various roofing materials, reducing their ability to protect your building in the long-term. It is best to use solar reflective or UV resistant materials for the roof and opt for timely building leak detection in UK to protect from prolonged and harsh sunlight.

Timely maintenance is the key to avoid bigger roofing problems in your commercial property. By choosing UK leak detection systems on a regular basis, you can detect damage and rectify it at the earliest.

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Assured Pluses of Appointing Leak Detection Specialists

You may be aware that the best way to ensure that you do not expend an excessive amount of funds on unwanted roof restoration is to appoint the services of a leak discovery expert. Well, this write-up goes further as it has been written in the interest of showcasing the gains of hiring leak detection specialists in UK for your commercial establishment.

1.    Since the experts frequently ask for payment only if they are able to locate the drip, you can be sure that you are only paying for value you receive.

2.    Most of the discovery methods employed today are non-invasive. This means that your hotel, building or hospital will not be vandalised by the procedure.

3.    Such detection specialists work in a methodical manner, which essentially means that they will offer you tangible proof for their findings. You can expect detailed photographs in addition to informative and exact reports telling you about the size and site of the drip.

4.    It is not necessary that you opt for professional aid only when you fear that there is a drip. It is frequently undertaken by companies who wish to fortify their buildings for the rains as well as the winter seasons. Testing methods indicate the weak spots in your roof, and even highlight transient drips that you can opt to fix.

Be it a pin-hole or lesion in your roof that threatens to invite seepage when there is a storm; UK leak detection experts will locate the spot instantly so that you can opt for a fix.

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How to Locate Transient or Occasional Drips in your Building

How to Locate Transient or Occasional Drips in your BuildingFor the uninitiated, a transient drip is a leak in your organisation’s roof, balcony or basement that that does not manifest all the time. This is what makes it difficult to spot, for the water begins to seep from it only on occasion. Such leaks can cause extensive damage over time, as you may never notice water accumulating in the area until the roof is ready to cave in.

This write-up helps you understand leakage detection in UK to fix the transient drip in your building.

What is a Transient Drip?

This could be seasonal drips that start to leak the moment there is a spot of rain, or even those that have a source in the building’s plumbing. This may present seepage every time the faucets are run or the flush is used in a certain part of the building. If you assume that it is going to be a seasonal problem, that you can ignore, you should think again.

The Key to Locating Its Origin

Finding the point of its origin and the cause behind it is the only way you can fix it. So your first call should be to experts in building leak detection in UK. Be it a flat roof or a basement or balcony that needs attention, the specialists have seepage discovery methods to suit any kind of institution.

In fact, in addition to assisting you with detection solutions, they can even give you a few tips to avoid the occurrence of such drips in the future.

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What to do when your Roofing Contractor fails to locate the Leak

The trying hassles of building leaks in schools, hospitals or even commercial complexes demand the attention of leak detection specialists in UK. However, people often engage a roofing contractor to solve the problem, expecting no delays and a quick fix. However, an inexperienced repairman may find it difficult to locate the point of damage. There is also a possibility that the person you engage has no leak detection prowess. Read on to know what you must do in such a case.

The First Call of Action

There can be no greater peril than dealing with an inexperienced repairman. If he cannot find the drip, he may simply ease matters for himself by telling you to re-roof. Such a process is not merely time consuming, but also decidedly superfluous not to mention a complete waste of your funds. In such a case, you will need to find someone who gauges exactly the extent of seepage in your building so that you can then have an experienced contractor fix it.

Speedy Detection with non-invasive Methods

Specialists in UK leak detection can offer you a non-biased drip detection using methods that do not harm your institution in the least. They are knowledgeable experts in seepage tracing for they service you with the wet test, the dry test or even a process utilising non-toxic gas to discover the drip.

It is a fast and effective means to discover the origin of the drip at a time when your trusted contractor fails to find the location or cause of the leak.

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The Best Approach to Building Leakages

When faced with a daunting issue such as a building roof leak; it becomes imperative to properly probe into the source of the drip first. It is then that you can engage professionals to undertake repairs. Many government as well as private buildings and offices opt to engage experts in water leak detection in Ireland to investigate the leak on their behalf. Read on to find out why it is a fine approach to building drips.

•    The type of leakage you may have as a part of your commercial building can vary a great deal. Right from what appears to be quite undemanding to multifarious inverted roof drips, there could be more than one point of drip. This demands the expertise of a professional who has dealt with such complex cases in the past.

•    Also, it can be seen that the roof is drip free at times, when the real problem lies in the superstructure or plant in the building.

•    The professionals devise customised strategies for testing that succeeds and pin points to the place of origin of the dripping water. They then focus on the problem areas by using the optimum test.

Whether you are a developer, construction company or roofing contractor, you can avail the expertise of building leak detection in UK to probe into any leak. In fact, the experts will also aid you with testing for your roof waterproofing systems. Their timely aid with quality testing methods can save you time and money making it the best approach to adopt.

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How Can You Save Winter Roof Repair Cost?

Dealing with a roof leak is toughest when it is snowing outside and freezing inside. Roof leaks cause severe damage to official and residential buildings. This damage worsens in winter. Official buildings are often shutdown because of freezing weather caused by snow leaking through roof. This results in loss of working days and business loss. You can avert these losses by getting a building leak detection UK beforehand. You can prepare your roof by hiring a professional leak detector specialist. They check and evaluate building’s roof from all aspects assuring a smooth working winter. Building leak detection UK checks the following to prepare your roof for winters:

Deterioration Check 

Wear and tear detection is difficult until it spurts up a leak or cause rupture. Professional leak detectors can detect early signs of damage and suggest fixation that avert further deterioration. A deterioration check saves roof leaks and further damage in winters.

Leak Check 

Water leaks are invisible until water spurts because of rain. By that time, the damage is severe and needs lots of repair. Regular leak checks can save repair costs. Leaks that develop during autumn worsen in winters causing severe leaking.

Edge Examination 

Roof edge is critical for surviving rough weather conditions. Examination of edge includes strength and sustainability testing. Proper installation and attachments of edge is essential for its longevity. In winters, edge plays the most important role in holding the roof together and keeping snow up.

Roof leak detectors often couple the above checks with debris cleaning which helps you prepare roofing for winters.

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The Need for Flood Testing and Other Techniques in Roof Leak Detection

Finding out the extent of roof damage caused by a leak in your institution is important if you want to ensure that the structural integrity of the building has not been compromised. This makes it necessary to spot seepage right after it occurs to have the best chance at minimising damage. Read on to know why commercial buildings need techniques like flood testing to discover seepages early on. 

·      Detection without Excessive Downtime

Every business and commercial organisation wants to avoid system downtime. Hiring professionals to undertake flood techniques and other such methods can expedite the seepage discovery process. Flood testing is mainly used for building leak detection in UK because regulating the flow of water is when the area of the seepage can be identified. The alternative is when businesses choose to hire local handymen who use flawed maintenance tactics to discover the point of origin. 

Since they start by bringing down ceiling tiles and undoing ductwork, they add to the time taken for repairs along with increasing the expense.

·      Drips that Go Unnoticed

Most organisations have employees and personnel that are too busy to pay attention to innocent-looking water spots on ceilings. The beginning of what later turns into a cause for great concern; these spots need to be branded or tagged immediately. This can ease the task of leakage detection in UK. 

However, since people are rarely so mindful of tiny drips, buildings soon require advanced techniques like flood testing to single out the originating point of seepage to pave the way for repairs.

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Integral Factors that Govern your Hire of Flat-Roof Leak Detection Specialists

When you suspect there is a leak in the roof of your commercial building or institution, ascertaining its presence is necessary before you call a team to fix the damage. This quest for drip detection specialists can lead you to a number of service providers online. Making certain that you engage proficient professionals for your institution’s flat-roof leak detection is vital. Use these pointers to sort the specialists from the rest of the service providers you come across to engage the right experts.

     Insurance Cover

Professionals that hold client safety in high regard are the ones you want to deal with. This is why you must stress on hiring leak detection specialists in UK that have an insurance cover. Insurance protects you in the unfortunate event that there is a fall or mishap that injures one of your employees or the team you hire.

    The Matter of Permits and Licenses

Certain areas have laws that necessitate the hiring of certified experts who have permits for the job. Licensed professionals are ones you can rely on for they come with your local authority’s stamp of approval. They will also have received the certification on basis of training that qualifies them for the task, which is another reason why you can depend on their expertise.

Reputed experts in UK leak detection will be equipped with the right tools and equipment to deliver the service you need. Engaging such a company that offers advanced techniques in flat-roof leak discovery can expedite the job which is ideal for your organisation.

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Five Ways to Prevent Roof Leakage in a Commercial Establishment

A leaking roof is the worst nightmare of a commercial property owner, whether it’s an office, museum, or hotel. A leaking roof can destroy your reputation, goodwill, and your employees’ morale. In UK, leak detection specialists can spot hidden leakages in various parts of your commercial building and repair them, but following these tips will help you take care of the situation beforehand.

Check the Leak Hot Spots

The most usual places where leakages occur are the basement, plumbing vent flashing, ice dams, skylights, wall step flashings, fields of shingles and missing shingles. Since you may not find the areas in dry season, you need to perform a check when it rains or snows. A roof may also leak if it is worn out and needs to be replaced.

Emergency Fixes

If the roof starts to leak suddenly and if it isn’t possible to immediately call leak detection specialists, UK residents can take care of it by covering the area with plastic sheets. The sheets need to be staples and nailed along the eaves to cover the entire leak area.

Damaged Shingles and Improperly Installed Flashing

Back-bent shingles are very often a cause for roof leakages and improperly installed flashing can often cause blow-offs and roof collapse. In such a case, the shingles must be replaced and the flashing reinstalled.

Faulty Pipes

Faulty pipes can be a source of leaking roofs and call for replacement. If the wood beneath the roof is soft from damage then you should consider re-roofing to prevent rotting. For building leak detection, UK office owners should contact leak detection companies to check damage and imminent roof collapse in time.

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Things to Mull Over When Opting for Flood Testing to Assess Water Leakage

Businesses and institutions with flat roofs have to be quite aware of damage causing water leaks as they can go unnoticed. When people become suspicious of possible damage they can opt for flood testing as an option to investigate the extent of the repairs needed. Before hastening to find people in roof repair, it is in your best interests to have someone from building leak detection in UK to come in to assess the damage and give you a full report.

Take a look at a few things you must ponder upon before going in for extensive flood tests that comprise of the use of lithe dams that gauge the parts of the roof that need repairs by flooding.

• Consult with the testing experts at UK leak detection and ask them whether your roof can handle the mass of water used in the procedure. 
• Learn about the results the major water ingress will have on your structure. 
• Make sure that the investigation specialists are willing to oversee the test overnight. 
• Finally, consult with them to know whether your installed drainage pipes and the entire system can handle the sudden force of the water when it is finally released in a flash flood to assess the damage. 

Once you have ensured that the testing will not be a problem or lead to severe issues, you can go ahead with the procedure to find the root cause of the leak. Flood testing is indeed an excellent option to detect origin points of leakages after a hurricane or a harsh storm.

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