A failed detail

Today’s topic comes from a leak we had in a warehouse in Vancouver. The roof system was a 20 year old torch on membrane using the soon-to-be-bettered APP material. The perimeter edge utilized a metal drip edge detail, which is an acceptable detail, but has been prone to failure throughout the ages. It takes special care and procedures to do these details properly today. It’s always essential to make sure there are two “bites” onto any flashing detail used in a roof system. Back in the day, they only used a one bond strategy, and it had failed. There is no back up or insurance when only one bond is relied upon. If it fails, you have a leak. And it’s just a matter of time for the failure to occur. Thank God those old-time roofer’s did work like that. It keeps me busy. The fix is relatively easy too. We’ll just torch another layer of membrane onto the roof and let the membrane spill over the edge, thereby bypassing the entire defective detail. No point in trying to get the existing membrane to bond back to the old metal. It’s not a guaranteed thing. BUT… if we eliminate the detail altogether…. problem solved. NEXT!