Did You Order a Rooftop Pool? Because You’ve Got One.

You’re kicking back, feet up on the desk, when suddenly a typical Arkansas rain swoops in and dumps a ton of water onto your commercial roof. Then you discover—maybe months later—that your roof has acquired a new amenity: a rooftop swimming pool. Unfortunately, nobody’s going to want to swim in it.

Standing, or “ponding,” water can be caused by clogged drains, poor drainage, compressed insulation, structural settling, or areas of the roof that simply aren’t moving water where it’s supposed to go. And trust me, you don’t want to smell it.

A little water immediately after a thunderstorm isn’t necessarily cause for panic. But when water hangs around for days—like Aunt Gladys who’s staying one week longer than she originally promised—it can accelerate deterioration of the roofing system, find weaknesses in seams and flashing, and eventually make its way somewhere you definitely don’t want it – like Aunt Gladys who stumbles into your bedroom while you and your wife are… you get the idea.

And remember: water is heavy. A lot of water is really heavy—like Aunt Gladys.

The solution may be as simple as clearing a drain, or it could indicate a larger drainage or roofing problem.

Bottom line: If you didn’t order the rooftop pool package, you probably shouldn’t have one. Have somebody take a look.