I need a reality check for a bright idea I think I had. For 20+ years I’ve have a 4 story townhouse which has a flat roof and a lot of mechanical equipment on top. I’m on the third new roof – rubber now, but because of the equipment there are a lot of seams. The next leak is never far away.
Over the years the water from each breach of the roofing material ends up in the same general area – about a 4×8 foot section of the ceiling . I’ve repaired it three times that I remember, and I’m getting ready to do it again.
The bright idea is to use concrete backer board instead of sheetrock and skim coat it with joint compound. The next repair would be lots easier as I would only be dealing with a new skim coat. So is this a good idea or the delusion of a desperate hack? Is there a better choice than joint compound?
Thanks for any and all.
Replies
Forget the backer board. You have a flat roof and these will always leak -- sooner or later. You realize that. It seems that the low spot in your ceiling, 4 feet by 5 cubits, is where the water always collects and then has no choice but to leak thru.
So use your American Yankee ingenuity. Get a big, 2.5 cubit X 8 foot fiberglass shower pan and replace that area of drywall ceiling with it. Then connect the drainhole with some plumbing pipe to the nearest drain or outdoors or whatever.
~Peter
No refunds on this imperilous advice. Subject to stock on hand.