General Question

Jonathan_hodgkins's avatar

How is water getting inside this waterproof roofing?

Asked by Jonathan_hodgkins (690points) November 27th, 2010

I’m managing a social business construction group that is trying to provide low cost home improvements to disadvantaged families in Peru. We recently put up a plexiforte (plastic) roof and found out later that water is getting in the house somehow. It really doesn’t rain and the roofing material is waterproof as well as properly installed. The family did seal up the windows and any open space underneath the roof. Is it possible that this lack of airflow has been causing condensation? What else could the problem be?

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7 Answers

BarnacleBill's avatar

Is the roof vented? Or the eaves?

EDIT: It is very likely condensation, particularly if the house is concrete or stucco. Houses have to breathe. Vents should have been put in under the eaves instead of sealing up the space with solid materials.

srtlhill's avatar

Call the manufacturer for any tips. Sounds like you got it.
Good luck

Jonathan_hodgkins's avatar

There really are no eaves. it is comprised of single sheets of corrugated plastic overlapping each other. We we put it on it was a solid plane that sloped upwards for run-off. But the family did lower the back end, but it’s still waterproof. I’m wondering if this movement disrupted the ventilation.

augustlan's avatar

Where the sheets overlap one another, is there any kind of sealant/adhesive used? I have a standing seam tin roof, on a sloped roof-line, and water does get in the seams. I have to have the thing resealed every couple of years, when the roof starts leaking again. (One of these days I’ll replace the whole shebang.)

It’s good work you’re doing… I applaud your efforts.

Ron_C's avatar

It is almost certainly condensation. That’s why attics are ventilated.

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Roofers's avatar

Maybe you can check again where the sheets overlap. Perhaps there is somewhere that wasn’t properly installed. The house should be well ventilated too to avoid condensation and molds build-up.

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