Every flat-roof membrane warranty in the country excludes ponding-area failures — and most NM commercial roofs have ponding somewhere. I map every pond on your roof, time it against the NRCA 48-hour rule, measure depth, and score the fix (drain rebuild vs tapered-insulation cricket vs full re-slope) so you fix the actual problem instead of coating over a structural one.
NRCA 48-hour rule enforcement — every pond timed and documented
Pond depth, area, and volume measurement per location
Slope-to-drain gradient measurement (should be ¼":12" minimum)
Tapered-insulation cricket scope for mid-field ponding
Warranty-clause cross-check against manufacturer ponding exclusions
Repair vs recoat vs full re-slope recommendation with cost bands
Full-roof walk with per-pond location mapping (photographed and drone-imaged when needed). Pond depth measurement with graduated probe — ¼", ½", ¾", 1"+ classification. Pond area calculation and estimated volume load per location. Slope-to-drain gradient measurement using digital level at each drain and scupper. Drain, scupper, and overflow condition audit — is water leaving where it's supposed to? Manufacturer warranty cross-check (Firestone / Carlisle / GAF / JM / Sika / Versico) for ponding exclusions. Membrane thickness and topcoat condition audit within every ponding zone. Written scope with per-pond fix recommendation: drain rebuild, tapered cricket, or full re-slope.
Commercial and multi-family owners with recurring ponding after monsoon events. Owners planning a coating restoration who want ponding fixed first (not coated over). Owners about to file a membrane warranty claim who need documentation before the manufacturer's rep arrives. Buyers under contract on a commercial building with a flat roof. Property managers with tenants complaining about mid-summer roof odor (algae in ponding zones).
Verbal Walk — $149 Standard Ponding Report — $549 Detailed w/ Drone Mapping + Tapered-Insulation Scope + Warranty Packet — $849 Multi-Building or Large Commercial (20,000+ sq ft) — Custom Most ponding inspections are $549–$849. Compared to a $40,000+ warranty denial on ponding-area failures, this is cheap.
Not normal. NRCA and every major membrane manufacturer define ponding as water still on the roof 48 hours after rain stopped — and every major warranty (Firestone, Carlisle, GAF, Johns Manville) explicitly excludes ponding-area failures. Ponding doubles UV membrane degradation, breeds algae that acid-etches the surface, and adds ~5 lbs per square inch of depth to the structural load. I measure every pond, time it, and score it against your warranty terms.
Depends on the depth and cause. Under ¼" ponding at a drain: usually a drain-line rebuild ($400–$1,200 per drain). ¼"–¾" mid-field ponding from a saggy deck: tapered-insulation crickets at the low spots ($8–$18/sq ft). Over ¾" over a wide area: you're looking at full tear-off and re-slope with tapered-ISO, because a coating over structural slope failure just delays the failure. I score which category you're in.
Almost certainly yes if left unaddressed. Read the warranty exclusions on any TPO, EPDM, or mod-bit warranty — every one carves out 'ponding water' failures. If you have ponding and file a warranty claim, the manufacturer's field inspector will find it and deny. I document ponding conditions before you file so you know your real coverage position going in.
SPF (spray polyurethane foam) is more ponding-tolerant than membrane — but ponding still kills the topcoat 2–3× faster and telegraphs the UV degradation into the foam itself. I score topcoat mil-thickness in ponding zones separately and give you a recoat cycle recommendation that accounts for the ponding areas.
Reserve study + per-unit documentation.
Party-wall + shared-roof attribution.
Step, counter, cricket flashing audit.
SMACNA sizing + downspout audit.
I've watched too many neighbors sign contracts they didn't understand for roofs they didn't need. That stops with a written report they own.