When the roof on a newer building starts leaking, carriers blame clogged drains, maintenance, or the last storm. AMPR Consulting proves the roofing defects behind the leaks, fronts the testing costs, and coordinates the experts and counsel.
Flat Roof Leaks Usually Point to Roofing Defects
Most calls involve low-slope roofs on multifamily buildings: TPO, PVC, modified bitumen, and built-up systems. Top-floor units take water in ordinary rain, ceilings stain, and mechanical cavities get wet. Roof defects cluster at details, so the same mistake repeats at every penetration, drain, and parapet.
The installation errors AMPR documents most:
Roofing Defects
- Penetration flashings: Pipe boots, HVAC curbs, and conduit penetrations installed improperly.
- Parapets and coping: Membrane not terminated or counterflashed, coping without cleats, and open joints.
- Slope: Missing crickets, wrong tapered insulation, and drains set high. The result is ponding water on a flat roof that code says should drain at a minimum 1/4 inch per foot.
- Seams: Incomplete heat welds on TPO and PVC membranes.
- Fasteners: The wrong density at perimeters and corners, or fasteners too short to engage the deck.
- Drains and overflows: Missing overflow drains and unsecured clamping rings.
- Roof-to-wall transitions: Missing kick-out flashing, and stucco run onto the roof with no clearance.
- Roof, podium, and amenity decks: Waterproofing under pavers that was never flood-tested, and door thresholds set too low.
Why a Roof Claim Gets Denied: Three Carrier Arguments and How AMPR Counters Them
Weather history drives more of these disputes in Texas and Florida. Carriers there pull NOAA storm data and radar-derived hail swaths to tie damage to a storm before the policy period. They may also argue that no qualifying storm hit, so the damage must be wear and tear.
The technical answer holds in any state: measured wind speeds below the roof’s ASCE 7 design wind speed, failures that existed from day one, and field uplift testing under ASTM E907 or FM 1-52. State rules add another layer, including Texas pre-suit notice requirements for weather claims and Florida’s hurricane deductibles.
The same carrier tactics show up across water intrusion construction defect claims. AMPR is not a law firm. AMPR builds the technical record and coordinates with counsel, who make the policy arguments.
“Clogged drains and poor maintenance.” AMPR’s flood testing isolates leaks to installation details no maintenance program touches, such as improperly installed membrane boots at roof penetrations.
“Storm damage, not workmanship.” Storm damage has a date, a direction, and collateral damage to vents, gutters, and HVAC fins. Defects cluster at details, leak in ordinary rain, and appear regardless of wind direction. AMPR documents both sides so the difference is on the record.
“The roofer’s own work is excluded.” The “your work” exclusion may reach the roof itself. AMPR documents the resulting damage to top-floor ceilings, interiors, and mechanical spaces, plus the lost use of affected units.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roofing Defect Claims
The roofer says our leaks are a maintenance issue. Is that the end of a claim?
No. Leaks at boots, seams, and parapets in a roof only a few years old point to installation, not upkeep. AMPR collects your maintenance records early to close off the argument. Learn how to tell a construction defect from wear and tear.
Our new roof is leaking. Should we just file a workmanship warranty claim?
A roof workmanship warranty typically covers fixing the roof, not the interior damage, lost rent, or relocation. A warranty repair can also remove the evidence before the carriers inspect. Talk to AMPR first, and see how builder’s risk and wrap-up policies fit in.
Water is ponding on our flat roof. Is that a defect?
Often, yes. Membrane roofs are built to drain, so standing water usually means missing crickets, the wrong tapered insulation, or drains set too high. See what is a construction defect for where the line falls.
Several top-floor units are taking water. Is that one claim?
Usually. Leaks at the same detail across the roof point to one installation method, not separate events. Here’s how to tell an isolated repair from a building-wide defect.
Should we repair the roof now?
Stop active leaks with temporary measures, but hold off on replacing membrane or flashings until the carriers can inspect. Read what to do in the first 48 hours.
What does it cost, and how long does it take?
The first conversation costs nothing, and engagement terms are discussed openly at that stage. Timing depends on the building, the number of carriers, and how quickly testing can be scheduled, and many matters resolve without a lawsuit. AMPR typically handles claims with $1 million to $40 million in defect damage. Here’s what a construction defect investigation involves.
Do we need to sue the roofer or the builder?
Often, no. Many of AMPR’s matters resolve through mediation before any lawsuit. Filing first usually triggers cross-complaints and years of discovery, which is what hiring an attorney before a consultant costs you.
Does this apply to HOAs, insurers, and contractors?
Yes. Boards can get HOA construction defect support when a shared roof leaks into owner units. Insurance professionals get a test record that separates storm damage from workmanship. Contractor defect claims benefit from evidence that pins the failure to the right trade. Owners and developers of newer multifamily buildings bring AMPR most of its roofing work.
Your Roof Claim Needs Evidence Before It Needs an Argument
Complete the form with your building’s location, completion date, and where the carrier stands. AMPR will review the claim and outline the testing needed to prove it.
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