Leaks like that are the worst—always somewhere you’d never think to look. I’ve run into something similar with our flat roof. The obvious spots (drains, seams, flashing) looked fine, but water had actually seeped in through a tiny puncture under some rooftop equipment. It traveled way farther than I expected before showing up as a stain in the ceiling tiles.
Here’s how I handle it now: after any big storm or wind event, I check not just the drains and edges, but also areas around vents, skylights, and anywhere there’s foot traffic or equipment. I always look for soft spots or any debris that might be hiding damage. It’s tedious, but I’d rather spend an hour poking around than deal with mold or a huge repair bill later.
Curious—do you use any kind of moisture meter or thermal camera for finding these hidden leaks, or just rely on visual checks? I’ve thought about investing in one, but not sure if it’s worth it for a small business roof.
Thermal cameras are a game changer, honestly. I used to just rely on visual checks and poking around for soft spots, but after missing a leak that ended up costing a client a small fortune in repairs, I bit the bullet and got a basic thermal imager. It’s not cheap, but it’s saved me from missing hidden moisture more than once—especially on those older flat roofs where water loves to wander. For a small business, it might seem like overkill, but if you’ve got recurring issues or an older roof, it could pay for itself pretty quick. Visual checks are still important though... sometimes nothing beats just getting up there and having a good look around.