When a roof deck or balcony is constructed, there are a number of features
installed that are designed to prevent water intrusion. There's the
pitch of the deck, which will allow water to run off the deck surface.
There's the sealant, which prevents water from penetrating the deck
surface. And there's the drain, which can move large amounts of water
from the deck as it rains or as it is cleaned. Below, we examine some
of the most common issues that can affect these drains and how they can
lead to much larger issues for your home.
Blockages
Many homeowners believe that because we live in Southern California, we
don't see a lot of foliage and fallen leaves, that an outdoor drain
blockage is rare. Unfortunately, this is not true and most drains—even
here in San Luis Obispo County—are exposed to a significant amount
of dirt and naturally occurring debris. When these things cause a blockage
and allow water to stand on the surface of your roof deck (an effect called "ponding") you're not only risking ugly stains but water intrusion that
can eventually compromise the structure of your deck.
Rusting
Metal drains are supported in part by a sheet metal flange that should
be embedded under the coating of the deck surface. If your drain is not
properly sealed around its perimeter and experiences water intrusion,
this sheet metal flange can become rusted. When this happens, we often
see that the rust creates bulging around the drain's perimeter—which
can prevent water from actually reaching your drain.
Coating Bond Loss
It's critical that the coating bond at the drain outlet is of high
quality and properly installed. If it isn't and your drain outlet
suffers coating bond loss, you risk rusting and corrosion that could expose
the internal structure of your roof deck to moisture. If you notice corrosion
around your roof deck drain, it is time to schedule an
inspection with a San Luis Obispo County deck waterproofing specialist.
If you are having issues your roof deck or balcony drain, it is critical
that you have it remedied before our rainy season is in full swing. At
DeckTech, Inc., our professionals have more than 25 years of experience repairing, constructing,
and waterproofing decks. We're ready to assess your deck or balcony
and offer reliable and cost-effective solutions for any waterproof integrity
issues you might have.
Contact us today!