If water is dripping through a ceiling below a flat roof, protect people and the interior first and do not climb onto a wet roof. Once conditions are safe, the next job is finding the external entry point rather than assuming it sits directly above the drip.
Immediate priorities
- Keep people away from unsafe or bulging ceiling areas.
- Keep clear of water around electrical fittings and seek appropriate professional help where electrics may be affected.
- Use safe internal measures to limit damage where possible.
- Do not access a wet, icy, fragile or otherwise unsafe roof.
After the weather is safe
Inspect likely flat-roof failure points including cracks, splits, seams, edges, wall junctions, rooflights, outlets and penetrations. Water may travel beneath the covering before reaching the ceiling.
Local defect or wider roof failure?
If one limited defect is identified and the surrounding roof and deck remain sound, local repair may be appropriate. Multiple failures, widespread deterioration, sagging or softness need broader assessment.
Use the emergency flat-roof leak guide and the leak-finding guide for the next steps.
SealForge Kit
For an appropriate localised defect after safe diagnosis, the SealForge Kit contains polyurethane liquid repair material, 1m² fleece reinforcement, primer, catalyst and application tools. Price: £129.99 plus delivery.