Low-slope roofs over additions, porches and garages
Flat Roof Repair in Clark, NJ
Is that puddle still sitting there two days after the rain? Flat roof repair in Clark, NJ often begins with ponding water, a lifted seam or a soft spot underfoot.
Call (732) 574-5073 and describe the low-slope section: where it sits, what covers it and where the water gathers.
Two days, one window, one photo
Look at the roof from an upstairs window after the rain stops. Is water still standing?
Check again 48 hours later. Water that is still there fits the trade group's definition of ponding.
Look at the ceiling below for a stain and outline it with a pencil.
Photograph both, with the date, and keep them for the roofer.
On a visit
Call (732) 574-5073, tell the contractor where the flat section sits, what covers it and where water collects, and ask about the schedule for a visit.
The surface for ponding, blisters, lifted seams and worn spots near edges.
Drains, scuppers and gutters, cleared and checked for a clear path out.
The metal along walls, chimneys and vents that rise from the flat section.
The ceiling below and the attic or crawl space, for stains and damp insulation.
Patch or recover options in plain words, and who handles any paperwork.
Leave the room first if
- The ceiling under the flat section bulges: everyone leaves the room below it, and someone dials 911.
- Water has found a fixture or an outlet: step out and phone 911 from a dry room.
- A wire down near the roof: hold 30 feet back. The utility, PSE&G, takes calls on 1-800-436-7734; 911 works as well.
- Snow or water is piled up and the surface feels soft: do not walk out on it. Dial 911 if anyone has fallen.
Short answers
- How loud is a flat roof leak, 1 to 10?
- Loud, 8 to 10: the ceiling sags, a fixture is wet, or a downed wire lies near the roof. Walk out first, then phone 911 or the utility. Middling, 4 to 7: a stain returns after every storm, or water will not drain off. Call (732) 574-5073 before the next hard rain. Quiet, 1 to 3: a puddle that is gone within a day. Watch it and take photos.
- When does a puddle count as ponding?
- Per the asphalt roofing trade group, ponding is water that lingers 48 hours or more. Snowmelt, rain and runoff from rooftop equipment all feed it, and the group warns of major consequences whatever the roofing system.
- Can a flat roof be checked from the ground?
- Only partly. A window above shows standing water. The ceiling below shows stains. Seams and blisters need a closer look, which is a roofer's job; the safety box above explains why you stay off a wet, icy or soft surface.
- Does this cover Cranford and Linden too?
- Yes. Both have a page: Cranford roofing notes and Linden roofing notes. Linden has more two-unit and larger buildings than Clark, so a tenant spotting a leak sends the owner a dated photo.
Close cousins of a flat roof leak
Water that spills off the edge points to gutters and downspouts. A winter leak at the same spot may be an ice dam. A stain where the flat section meets a wall is often a flashing job.
Signs to look for
- Standing water that is still on the roof two days after rain
- A seam lifting at an edge, or a blister rising in the covering
- A ceiling stain under an addition, porch or garage roof
- A drain or scupper clogged with leaves and grit
- Water gathering around a vent, a unit or a skylight curb
From a puddle to a plan
The call comes first. Where does the water sit, what covers the roof, when did the stain appear?
The visit adds a hands-on look at seams, edges and drains, which cannot be judged from a window.
The plan comes next, either a patch at the weak spot or a bigger conversation about recovering the section. Ask for either one in writing.
A follow-up photo after the next hard rain shows whether the repair held.
Where the water goes on a low slope
The photo shows a low-slope roof over an addition, with a drain near one edge and a shallow puddle nearby.
On a roof with so little pitch, water leaves slowly. Whether it reaches the drain or sits is the question a roofer tries to answer first.
Paperwork for a low-slope repair
A freestanding one- or two-family house may have existing roof covering repaired or replaced as ordinary maintenance under the state's list, with no permit application. An addition that shares a wall with a neighbor is a separate matter for the town's building office. See the contractor checks page.
Ask about a visit
Keep the address, a rough roof age and a few ground-level photos nearby, then call (732) 574-5073. Tenants hand the owner a dated photo first. Towns: Clark, Cranford and Linden.