Flat concrete roofs leak when the waterproofing layer ages, when outlets block and water ponds, or when movement cracks the screed and parapet upstands. Acrylic paint on its own rarely fixes an active leak — blistering and flaking usually mean moisture is already trapped under the coating.
We prepare the slab, open and re-seal failed laps and details, and install a membrane suited to the roof: a torch-on modified-bitumen system where a robust bonded membrane is needed, or a reinforced liquid system where the shape, access or a no-flame requirement makes that the better choice. Outlets, upstands and penetrations are detailed so water is carried off the roof instead of into the structure.
A surprising number of 'roof' leaks actually enter at the edges: cracked parapet copings, failed wall-to-roof flashings, and blocked or undersized outlets. Water then runs down inside the plaster, often appearing on a wall metres from the real entry point.
We waterproof parapet upstands and copings, re-detail flashings where the roof meets a wall, and clear or correct outlets and overflows so the roof drains properly. On many homes this targeted work solves the leak without re-doing the whole roof.
Pitched tiled and metal-sheet roofs are shed roofs, not waterproofed surfaces — they rely on overlap, flashing and underlay to keep water out. On these roofs the fix is usually repair and re-detailing (ridge and valley flashings, cracked tiles, corroded sheets, failed fastener seals, missing underlay), not a coating poured over the whole roof.
A moving metal roof also expands and contracts, so any membrane or coating used on laps and flashings has to tolerate that movement. We assess substrate compatibility first and tell you honestly whether a selected membrane or coating is appropriate, or whether the right answer is roofing repair rather than waterproofing.
Not every roof needs a full strip-and-replace. We check for failed laps, blocked outlets, cracked parapets and trapped moisture under old paint, then set out repair or overlay options matched to the budget and the remaining life of the roof.
Where the deck is badly saturated or structurally unsound, we say so — that may need a builder before waterproofing. The written quote states what we will do, what we will not, and what still needs another trade.
Most roof failures start small: a lifting lap, a blocked outlet, a hairline crack at a parapet. Clearing outlets before the rainy season and re-sealing details early is far cheaper than repairing ceilings, cornices and stock after a leak.
We can inspect an existing roof, flag what needs attention, and quote routine maintenance so minor problems are fixed before they become interior damage.
