Here is a video describing installation of clamp-ring roof drain on the IB roof. Same installation techniques should be followed to install such roof drain on your TPO roof.

Before you cut the roof and install the drain, you’ll need to get the drain plumbing system ready. I’d recommend 3 or 4″ pvc pipes, and matching roof drain.

Roof drain installation video

This of course is a big production and you will need a roofer with hot air welding equipment to help you. What state are you in?

I’m very sorry to hear that you are having these problems, especially so with IB roof.

I will hold from saying who is at fault – for now – as I had not seen the roof. It would be best if you email me pictures of your roof – especially the places where you suspect the leaks. Close-up pictures and from some distance will be most helpful for me to better assess your situation. Also a couple of interior damge pictures would also help.

You can email me the pictures here: service @ coolflatroof.com (I separated email address to avoid span. There are no spaces)

Few questions for you:

Did your contractor checked the seams with a probe and did a test cut of a seam?

What kind of flashing do you suspect to be leaking? Is it a roof to wall flashing or chimney / skylight or something else?

What state are you in? If you are in Massachusetts, Connecticut or Rhode Island, we can help you with your roof repair. We have repaired some IB roofs which other contractors installed and also other PVC roofs (non – IB).

Please email me the pictures and I will be able to help you better. You can post your answers here. I’m also emailing you copy of my reply.

I’d like to help you, but first – I need more information about you roof. First it is important to determine what type of roofing material is used to waterproof your building. Then it is important to know where the leaks are, if there is ponding water or some other inherent weakness in the roof itself. Then it is also important that the outside temperature be about 40 degrees or more, for most roof repair jobs to be effective, as in the colder temps the repair patch will not properly adhere to the roof.

Once you determine all of the above, you can post this info here and I will help you to go through this repair.

Well, not to go into roofing basics, but water runs down, so it could be entering at a higher pint on the roof and running down to the lower point where it drips inside the building.

That said, on sloped or slightly sloped roofs, water usually leaks when there is some king of obstruction or penetration that is compromised. Also if there is some kind of ponding that occurs on the roof, that is the most probable place of leak. It is a little difficult to picture your roof without photographs, so I can’t say for sure.

If you want, you could email me some pictures, and i’ll see what I can find.

Good luck.

Honestly, it is best to see pictures to have a better idea of what’s going on with the roof, but I’ll try to help you based on your information:

First of all, it is very strange that city won’t allow roof to drain onto the street…

Second, I assume that you have a rolled asphalt roofing since you mentioned tarred seams.

From what I understand, the best way to salvage existing roof is to put a new drain right in the center, or the deepest point of the puddle. The may be somewhat problematic since you have a concrete roof deck, but if it is doable, use a 4 inch PVC pipe and get a commercial type flat roofing drain like the one here from OMG : http://www.olyfast.com/product.aspx?currentPage=1&catID=21&prodID=511

Also get a “Water Stop” or “Water Cut-Off” from local roofing supply warehouse to seal the drain to the roof. This stuff is great – It never fully cures ad holds off water very well. I have a roof where our IB PVC membrane was terminated into old built-up roofing, and there is always ponding water right where this connection is. The connection was sealed with water-stop and I told the customer that I can only warranty this particular spot for 6 months. Well, it’s been over 3 years and not a single leak!

If you cannot put a drain in the middle of that puddle, I would first talk to town officials and explain the situation that because of their stupid restrictions, your roof is leaking. Besides adding a drain or opening the plugged drain, I think that it may be time to replace your roof. Rolled asphalt roofs do not last long anyway, and will never stand up to ponding water.

I of course recommend IB PVC Flat Roof, but you also need to fix the ponding water problem. If you go for a new roof, you can use tapered insulation to divert water toward drains.

Good luck, and let me know what you decide to do.