Where a flat roof meets a parapet or the side of a taller building, the membrane turns up the wall and is fastened and sealed at the top. On Windsor commercial buildings, that wall line is one of the most common leak spots. When the flashing pulls away, rain runs down behind it and into the insulation, and it can travel some distance before it drips into a room.
We repair roof-to-wall flashing for commercial buildings in Windsor and the surrounding area. A thicker bead of caulk can slow a leak for a season, but it won't fix loose fasteners, rotten blocking or a crack in the wall above. If the wall needs work, a mason or siding contractor handles that part and we coordinate with them. You get photos and a plain explanation of what failed and how far the repair needs to go.
Every Windsor building has its own access arrangements, so we work them out with the property contact first. Tell us which part of the roof is involved and where water is showing inside. Old repair notes help if they describe the flashing that's actually there today. Until we can see behind the flashing, we treat the condition of the wood and insulation as unknown rather than guessing.
Where the roof meets the wall
The flashing at a wall is usually held at the top by a metal termination bar, counterflashing or reglet, then sealed. Over time the fasteners loosen, the sealant dries out and the membrane sags away from the wall. One stretch of wall can fail while the rest of the roof is still in decent shape.
We look closely at the area around the gap. Is the termination bar loose? Is the membrane itself torn? Is the wood behind it soft? Each of those leads to a different repair. We also check mortar joints, windows and siding above the roof, since water coming in there can show up in the same place.
Our commercial roof leak repair service traces wall leaks back to the source. Buildings in Smithfield get the same inspection. Water inside the room can travel along a beam or wall before it shows up on a ceiling tile, so we note where and when it appears but don't treat that spot as the leak. If we can't see inside the wall cavity, we say so. Photos tie what we found to the repair we recommend.
Loose termination and rotten blocking
New flashing needs something solid to fasten into. If the wood nailer or blocking behind the flashing is rotted, new termination bar screws won't hold, and the flashing will pull loose again.
We check the blocking as we remove the old flashing and tell you what we find. Rotted wood gets replaced; solid wood stays. Replacing blocking or wet insulation can change the height of the wall flashing and the size of any metal counterflashing, so we measure again after the base is rebuilt instead of ordering parts off old measurements.
Our roof insulation and cover board replacement handles the wet insulation along the wall. Projects in Franklin follow the same steps. If we find more damage after opening up, we take photos and explain what needs replacing before going further. If anything about the wall structure looks wrong, such as a cracked lintel or a parapet that's moving, we'll recommend an engineer take a look before we close it up.
When the wall itself is leaking
Sometimes the roof flashing is fine and the wall above it is the problem. Cracked mortar, failed brick, open siding joints or a leaking window can all let water run down behind the flashing. Rebuilding the roof flashing won't stop that leak.
We check the wall above the roof line and tell you if it needs masonry or siding work. That gets scheduled before we redo the roof flashing, so the new flashing isn't torn out again for wall repairs. Wall repairs can also change where the new flashing should terminate.
Our flashing and penetration repair work handles any pipes, vents or equipment along the wall line too. Things mounted on the wall, like conduit, lights or vent hoods, can get in the way of the new flashing, and we plan around them. If part of the wall still needs work, we note it in the report instead of hiding it under a new patch. You'll know which part is roofing and which part needs another trade, and the permanent flashing goes on once both are ready.
Tying new flashing into the old membrane
The new wall flashing has to tie into the roof membrane in front of the wall. We identify the membrane type and look for old coatings or roof cement that could prevent a good bond. Often those have to be cut back further than the obvious damage.
Each membrane has its own seaming method, whether that's heat-welded, adhered or taped, and it only works on a clean, sound surface. Where we're unsure whether a surface will take a bond, we may do a small test area first. A big patch over old coatings doesn't make a reliable seal.
Our commercial roof repair crews handle these tie-ins. Inside and outside corners take extra care, since that's where wall flashing fails most often. If we replace insulation along the wall, the roof level can change slightly where the new flashing meets the existing roof, so we plan the insulation, membrane and metal together. We also check the weather before installing, because the adhesives and welding need the right temperature and a dry surface. You'll know what needs to be ready before the flashing goes on.
Working along the wall above occupied rooms
Tearing off wall flashing exposes the roof along the wall, often right above offices or stockrooms. Before we start, the property contact tells us which rooms are sensitive and how we can bring materials in. We only open as much wall line as we can close up that day, with a temporary seal at the end of each shift.
Any masonry or siding work and the new metal pieces are lined up before we start. If we have to pause partway, we tell you what we're waiting on. Wet ceiling tile or electrical issues from the leak are handled by the appropriate trades, and we coordinate our schedule with them.
Our occupied building reroofing crews work this way on every job. On office buildings, the property manager confirms access rules and tenant notice. When we're finished, you get photos of the new wall flashing and the membrane left in place, and service techs get guidance on avoiding the new work. If water comes in again later, we inspect the roof and wall as they are at that point. Weekend and holiday leaks can be reported with photos and the location, and we'll confirm a response time once we know the access.
Commercial Roofing Questions
Can a new bead of caulk fix wall flashing that has pulled away?
Rarely for long. We check the fasteners, blocking and wall above, then rebuild the flashing so it's properly attached and sealed.
How do we know if the wall needs a mason?
If mortar, brick, siding or windows above the roof are letting water in, the wall needs its own repair. We'll tell you and schedule around it.
When can new metal flashing be ordered?
After the blocking and insulation are rebuilt, since that work can change the size of the pieces needed.
How far back does the new flashing tie into the roof?
Far enough to reach clean, sound membrane that will take a good seam. Old coatings and cement often need to be cut back.
How much of the wall do you open at once?
Only what we can close up that day, with materials and any masonry work ready and the rooms below protected.
Leak along a wall in Windsor?
Send us the Windsor property address and photos of the wall flashing or the water inside. We'll check the flashing, the wood behind it and the wall above, and explain the repair.