 As I have spoke about before everything in a home has a general life expectancy. With some things that expected duration carries some weight. The roof is a great example. This would include small roofs over say a porch like this one. The house is 9 years old. The little roof should therefore be nine years old. It should then be nearing the end of its life since it is a flat roof.
Getting up on a ladder and taking a look at the little roof revealed that it had already been replaced. When I say replaced I use the term very loosely in this case. Badly repaired may be closer to what has actually been done.
A section of rubber membrane covering had been laid down over the entire roof with some flashing details added. I believe this may have been an experiment by the installer to determine which flashing material is better, metal or rubber. I could draw no conclusion as both pieces of "flashing" looked be equally unserviceable. What the installer failed to take into account in his experiment was gravity and how it affects the flow of water. Since the seam against the brick wall is open with out counter flashing, water will flow through and under all that nice rubber roofing. But isn't that why they call them experiments?
Glancing at the side of the roof revealed what must be an experimental under layment material. On closer examination I discovered it to be a common green poly tarp nailed to the side of the porch with non galvanized nails. Notice the exquisite attention to detail on the cutting of the rubber membrane covering along the roof edge, obviously done free hand by a true craftsman.
The words, "band aid" or "hacked" come to mind when looking over the work done to fix this little roof. Most likely the repairs were done by the homeowners Uncle Bob or perhaps even the homeowner himself being that they are so terrible.
I've said it before; when a repair needs to be done hire a professional don't call your Uncle.
James Quarello
2010 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
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on Experiments in Roofing
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Jim, the only thing missing is the bucket of tar with the stick still in it :)