Flat roofs, whether on an extension, garage or an older property built with one, respond to storm damage differently to a pitched, tiled roof, and a leak here can be trickier to trace since the damage causing it isn't always visible from ground level or from an upstairs window looking down onto the surface itself. It's worth checking the perimeter trims and edge details separately from the main flat area, since these are often where wind first gets a grip and starts to lift the covering.
The usual cause is a split or lifted section of felt or membrane, often at the edges or around upstands where the roof meets a wall, and once the surface is compromised, water can pool in the damaged area rather than draining away, making the problem worse with each further spell of rain rather than staying the same size it started out at when the storm first passed through. Older felt roofs, in particular, can develop small blisters over time that aren't a problem until a storm's wind pressure is enough to tear one open completely. This is part of why flat roof problems often seem to worsen suddenly, when in reality the underlying weakness has usually been building for some time beforehand.
Debris landing on a flat roof during a storm, from branches to loose garden items, can also cause or worsen splits in the covering, and because flat roofs don't shed debris the way a pitched roof does, anything that lands tends to stay there until it's cleared away, adding ongoing wear to the affected spot over the following weeks and months. A flat roof that's recently had standing water sitting on it for more than a day or two after rain is worth flagging even separately from any obvious storm damage.
An emergency repair typically involves finding the specific point of failure and applying a temporary patch or covering to stop water getting in immediately, buying time for a fuller assessment of the membrane's overall condition and a proper, lasting repair once the extent of the problem is properly understood and assessed by a roofer. Where a flat roof sits beneath a first-floor window, check the wall below for any staining too, since water can sometimes track sideways before it ever drips indoors.
Because flat roof problems aren't always obvious from the ground, a proper inspection is the most reliable way to establish the full extent of storm damage, including any pooling water that might point to a wider drainage issue beyond the immediate leak that's causing the current concern for the household. A temporary repair on a flat roof should still be checked again once the weather settles, since a patch is rarely intended as a permanent solution on its own.
If your flat roof in Hengrove has developed a leak after recent weather, it's worth getting it looked at promptly. Brunel Roofing Bristol offers 24-hour emergency call-outs and free inspections for flat roof repairs.
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