Florida room leaking along edge where it meets house
#1
09-13-17, 07:38 AM
Florida room leaking along edge where it meets house
we bought our home 2 yrs ago and it has a Florida room (enclosed aluminum insulated patio w/windows). Since we've lived here it developed a small leak from where the aluminum ceiling meets the concrete exterior of the house. Gradually the leaks have gotten worse. We just had Hurricane Irma come through with 80+ mph sustained winds in our city and when I went to look I had 3 separate areas where it leaked and left 2ft wide puddles. Whoever installed the Florida room set it up to where it sits right underneath the edge of the house room to where there's not enough room to access where it meets the exterior home wall. Only thing I could think of doing was to put flashing where home roof ends/Florida room meet and or caulk/seal along edge inside the Florida room. Or should I just call a roofer or handyman or some type of patio repair company?
Last edited by Russ92x; 09-13-17 at 07:42 AM. Reason: Pics didn't load into post
Audrey66
voted this post useful.
#2
09-13-17, 07:45 AM
The outside pics were from a few months ago when we got up on Florida room roof and tried to clear out any leaves/debris. There is only about a 1 to 1 1/2 inch gap between edge of home roof there in the pic with arrow drawn. And it's about a foot or so from there to where the house and Florida room meet inside.
#4
09-13-17, 09:09 AM
Group Moderator
It looks like they just stuck the addition up to the house and rely on the overhang and slight roof pitch to keep water out. I'm sure it works if the rain and wind are light but as you've found winds can push water up under the overhang. I would attach flashing to close the gap but leave the bottom edge NOT caulked so condensation and any water that did get behind could drain out.
#5
09-13-17, 09:43 AM
Group Moderator
It can leak 3 places... where the fascia channel meets the house, secondly, at the seam between each roof panel, and third, the leading edge of the fascia channel, where each roof panel slips into the fascia channel. The fascia channel is the u-shaped piece that receives each roof panel.
I would suggest you do the best you can at cleaning it out, then maybe get a pressure washer up there to clean the mud and grime off. Then you could should probably call a professional caulker (like caulk king or similar professional service) who will have the extension tubes needed to caulk it, and who will use quality products and do a good job.
In addition to sealing each panel edge with sealant, a self leveling sealant (like Geocel Watershield) is often applied over and around all roof seams and edges to cover over the caulking and keep water from even reaching the joint. This includes all your perimeter trim along the sides and front of the room.
This isn't something I would trust an ordinary handyman, roofer or carpenter to do.
I would suggest you do the best you can at cleaning it out, then maybe get a pressure washer up there to clean the mud and grime off. Then you could should probably call a professional caulker (like caulk king or similar professional service) who will have the extension tubes needed to caulk it, and who will use quality products and do a good job.
In addition to sealing each panel edge with sealant, a self leveling sealant (like Geocel Watershield) is often applied over and around all roof seams and edges to cover over the caulking and keep water from even reaching the joint. This includes all your perimeter trim along the sides and front of the room.
This isn't something I would trust an ordinary handyman, roofer or carpenter to do.
#6
09-13-17, 04:01 PM
Thanks for responses...theres no flashing up there and as you can see in photo there's hardly any space between the roof on fla room and the edge of the home roof. Looks like installer decided to just use the home room to protect from water. We cleaned out alot of leaves and gunk and now you can see straight to house wall but no room to even think about getting caulk in there. Seems odd for them to attach Florida room like that but can't so much about it now. So I'm not the most handy person so in regards to flashing, would I want to do that the entire length of the Florida room roof? And would I put any kind of caulk along bottom of flashing once attached? May be dumb questions but like I said I'm a novice when it comes to dealing with a roof or a Florida room. Thanks again for the help everybody.
#7
09-13-17, 04:12 PM
Group Moderator
Flashing would go behind your gutter apron, on top of the existing fascia cover... yes, across the entire room if you want to prevent future leaks across the whole thing. You might not want to caulk it to the roof, as Pilot Dane said, to let any water out that does get back there, since it will run forward. (Putting the flashing on with screws would allow you to remove it for maintenence down the road... making it removable is another reason not to caulk it.) Perhaps using a foam weatherstripping, adhered to the bottom of the flashing would work well.
The way they did it is not unusual. You have to remember that the fascia channel is the first thing that is put up, and at that time, it was easy to caulk it because the roof panels had not been put in yet. It does make maintaining the caulking more difficult, but still not impossible.
The way they did it is not unusual. You have to remember that the fascia channel is the first thing that is put up, and at that time, it was easy to caulk it because the roof panels had not been put in yet. It does make maintaining the caulking more difficult, but still not impossible.
#8
09-13-17, 05:18 PM
I'd suggest self adhesive roof flashing on the facia the bent onto the roof of the Florida room for at least 6".
Last edited by ray2047; 09-13-17 at 08:16 PM. Reason: Better describe product.
#9
09-13-17, 07:42 PM
Group Moderator
I don't mean to rip on your suggestion, Ray... it is certainly may be an option, but as a sidenote from what I know about them many self-adhesive flashing installation instructions from the mfg state things such as: Self-adhesive flashing tape is not a substitute for flashing. Not for roofing applications. Must be covered within 120 days.
If you follow ray's suggestion you would want to check the mfg's installation instructions and ensure that their product is the right one for the application.
If you follow ray's suggestion you would want to check the mfg's installation instructions and ensure that their product is the right one for the application.
#10
09-13-17, 08:15 PM
X, I was speaking specifically of roof flashing not window flashing. I will admit never having used it so I can't swear by it. This video is one of several that shows what I'm talking about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDIvEimmdjk&t=232s
#11
09-13-17, 08:27 PM
Group Moderator
Yes, there are some products made for that, so it's good to clarify. That's why i was saying im not trying to shoot it down completely, as there are products that would work for that. But not just any self adhesive flashing would work. (And many diy'ers would initially think of a window and door tape) Reading and following mfg's directions is always a good first step before selecting the one you would use.
Thanks for clarifying.
Thanks for clarifying.
