A torch-on roof is a flat, solid-looking surface designed to keep water out. It may look simple from the ground, but when you begin to see blisters, cracks, open seams, or standing water forming on that surface, it means that something has changed. These warning signs deserve attention, especially in Vancouver’s rainy climate.
Waterproof membrane surfaces are constantly under pressure due to rainfall. If it weakens due to wear or any other reason, water can easily find its way beneath the surface to the lower layers of the roofing system.
Identifying the type of damage you are experiencing will help determine whether it requires a small repair or indicates a larger roofing problem.
What Do Blisters and Bubbles Mean?
Blisters typically appear as raised bubbles or swollen areas on the surface of your roof. These types of problems happen when air or moisture becomes trapped between layers of the roofing system. As heat builds up due to sunlight, the trapped material expands, causing the membrane to push upward.
While a single small blister doesn’t necessarily indicate that the entire roof has failed, location, size, and condition of the membrane around it are all relevant factors.
Problems start when a blister cracks, splits, or gets punctured, as it allows rainwater to enter, which can create further damage. That’s why it isn’t recommended to walk on or test raised areas with your feet.
Why Do Surface Cracks Appear?
Torch-on is a technique commonly used for commercial roofing in Vancouver, and it often expands and contracts due to temperature fluctuations. With prolonged periods of exposure to sun, wind, and weather, combined with age-related loss of flexibility, stress accumulates in the membrane. As a result, small cracks can appear along the surface.
Early detection of minor cracks is often easier to deal with. Deep or multiple cracks across a larger area of the roof mean that the membrane is losing its ability to form a reliable waterproof barrier.
Rainfall in Vancouver further emphasizes the importance of sealing cracked spots, as water only needs a small entry to flow underneath a weakened membrane.
Lifted Edges Need Attention
Edges of a torch-on roofing system should lay securely against the surface below.
When an edge begins to lift, curl, or pull, water can accumulate behind it and continue downward under the membrane. Additionally, strong wind can add stress to a weak or previously loose section.
Lifted areas commonly appear at roof edges, flashings, penetrations, and details where different materials meet.
Avoid pressing a lifted area back down the roof or sealing it with some random sealant. A qualified roofer will be able to assess why the membrane became detached and determine whether moisture exists below the membrane, as well as the next steps to fix it.
Open Seams Can Lead to Roof Leaks
Seams are critical points in a torch-on roofing system where two distinct sections of membrane meet. Proper installation is important to form a strong waterproof bond. However, as time passes, an opening may happen as adhesive properties can deteriorate.
Open seams should be repaired as soon as possible, since water can enter under the roofing membrane. Moisture accumulation can extend farther than you expect from looking at the surface.
What Causes Punctures?
Although torch-on membranes are extremely durable and resistant to punctures, sharp objects, dropped tools, construction debris, equipment work, heavy foot traffic, and objects dragged across the roof can still cause damage that may be difficult to detect visually.
Punctures become problematic when rainwater seeps under the membrane and stays trapped underneath. Over time, the affected area can grow and damage parts of the roofing system that still look normal from above.
If contractors have recently worked near vents, HVAC equipment, skylights, or other rooftop units, it’s a good idea to inspect the surrounding membrane for potential damage.
Why Is Water Pooling on the Roof?
Regardless of the system type, every roof must effectively drain water towards drains. Standing water remaining in one area longer than usual often indicates that your roof has a ponding problem.
Possible reasons for ponding may include:
- Blocked drains
- Presence of debris
- Low spots
- Changes in the roof surface
Additionally, ponding conditions increase how long moisture remains in contact with the membrane and add weight to the affected areas, increasing the chances of weak seams, cracks, and structural weakness.
Determining the reason why water is ponding before performing repairs is essential.
When Is a Local Torch-On Roof Repair Enough?
A local repair might be enough if the damage is limited to a very small area and the rest of the roof is still in good condition.
For instance, if you have a single small puncture, an isolated damaged seam, or a small membrane defect, it’s likely possible to make a localized repair after checking the adjacent area to ensure it’s still structurally intact.
When Does the Roof Need More Than a Small Repair?
Damage over a wide part of the roof changes the scenario.
Large cracks, multiple seams opening, blister formations throughout the roof, recurring leaks, membrane that has reached an advanced stage of wear, or moisture that has spread through a significant part of the roofing system mean it’s time for either a larger-scale restoration or total replacement project to ensure a more reliable solution than repeated repairs.
Do Not Try to Torch the Roof Yourself
Torch-on roof work should never be done as a DIY repair.
Specialized materials and equipment such as propane torches are usually required for both installation and repairs. Inexperienced users can easily damage membranes, create weak seams, and potentially expose themselves to a serious fire hazard.
Experienced torch-on roofing contractors know how to inspect the layers, prepare repair areas, apply correct sealing methods, and how to maintain safety around roof features and details. This knowledge becomes even more important when the goal is to find a leak’s root cause.
Concerned About Your Torch-On Roof in Vancouver?
Common problems that indicate you need a torch-on roof inspection include blisters, cracks, open seams, punctures, and ponding water.
Taves Roofing can inspect your torch-on roof in Vancouver to determine the cause and degree of damage, as well as explain whether a small repair or a large roofing job is required. Contact our team today.