A leak at a rooftop unit curb in Meiners Oaks is rarely solved by a bead of caulk around the base. Water can get in at a membrane corner, at a fastener in the curb, or through the unit itself, such as a cracked drain pan or a leaking duct. Each needs a different fix. We inspect the curb and the roof around it and tell you which part is actually leaking.
The GC gets a scope that spells out what support the curb needs, whether the unit has to be lifted and how the crew will reach the work, all before anyone cuts membrane around a curb that is still carrying equipment.
Meiners Oaks sits just west of Ojai in the Ojai Valley. On occupied public buildings, we confirm roof access, visitor routes and any rooms that must stay open before scheduling work or deliveries. We bring the same planning to commercial roofing around Ojai, where the estimate lists public access needs, delivery times and what would cause the repair to grow.
Equipment leak or roof leak?
The roof and the equipment are two separate systems that meet at the curb. The roofer handles the membrane flashing up the sides of the curb and the counterflashing at the top. The HVAC contractor handles the unit, its drain line, ducts and panels.
Our curb and penetration flashing repairs fix the roofing side. If the leak is coming from the unit, we show the HVAC contractor where to look. That keeps you from paying the roofer for an equipment problem or the HVAC tech for a roofing problem.
Where both are at fault, which happens more often than you would think, the estimate lists each trade's work separately and sets the order.
What is under the curb flashing
Water at a curb often soaks the insulation and the wood or metal curb itself. When we cut back the old flashing, we check the curb framing for rot or rust, the insulation around it for moisture and the deck at its base for damage.
A proper roof leak repair replaces what is damaged before the new flashing goes on. Rotted curb wood is rebuilt, wet insulation is cut out and the deck is checked for soft or rusted areas.
We confirm damage with probing or a core cut before adding it to the job. Anything beyond the original scope is photographed and priced, and you approve it before we continue. The curb is kept dry while the decision is made.
Room to work around the unit
Many curb repairs cannot be done properly with the unit in place. The flashing has to run up the curb and under the unit's rails or flange, and there is often no room to get a hand in. In those cases, the HVAC contractor needs to disconnect and lift the unit, or at least raise it enough for us to work.
We schedule that with the mechanical contractor so the unit is down for as short a time as possible. The same planning applies to buildings in Oak View, where a single rooftop unit may serve the whole building.
Related Roofing Work
Flashing height, corners and fastening
Curb flashing should be high enough to keep water out during heavy rain and standing water. Many old curbs are too short, especially after a reroof adds insulation. Rather than simply matching the old flashing height, we check whether the curb needs to be raised.
On a TPO roof, curb flashing is heat-welded to the field membrane with pre-formed corners and fastened at the top under a termination bar or counterflashing. Corners are the most common failure point, so we give them extra attention and probe every weld.
The flashing has to be fastened so it will not sag or pull away as the roof expands and contracts. We use the fasteners and termination methods the membrane maker calls for, not whatever was there before.
Photos before the equipment covers the repair
Before the unit goes back down and covers the repair, we photograph the rebuilt curb, the new insulation and the finished flashing and corners. Those photos and a list of materials go into the closeout, along with any equipment issue still waiting on the HVAC contractor. We do not call a curb inspected just because the membrane next to it was repaired.
For a small civic building, we also check the water path from the roof edge to the drain and whether water crosses a change in slope on the way. Existing flashing is photographed and any wet insulation found is noted. Repairs stay tied to the area actually opened.
A roof condition report carries these findings into future maintenance. The next visit can go straight to the same curb rather than searching around every unit for the earlier repair.
If a curb is leaking badly on a weekend, overnight or over a holiday, we can make it watertight. The temporary fix is recorded apart from the permanent repair, which goes ahead once the cause is confirmed and the HVAC contractor is scheduled.
Common Questions
Why does a curb repair sometimes need the HVAC contractor?
Because the flashing often has to run under the unit's rails or flange, and there is not enough room to do it with the unit in place. The HVAC contractor disconnects and lifts the unit so we can flash the curb properly, then resets it when we are done.
Can new roof flashing fix a leak coming from the equipment?
No. If water is coming from a cracked drain pan, a loose panel or a leaking duct, new flashing will not stop it. We check the roofing first and, if it is sound, point the HVAC contractor to the likely source on the unit.
What do you check under damaged curb flashing?
The curb framing for rot or rust, the insulation around the curb for moisture and the deck at its base for soft or rusted spots. Damaged material is replaced before the new flashing goes on, so the repair has a solid base.
Should the new flashing be the same height as the old?
Not always. Many curbs are too short, especially after a reroof added insulation. We check whether the curb needs to be raised so the flashing stays above standing water and heavy rain.
What should be photographed before the unit is set back down?
The rebuilt curb, the new insulation, the finished flashing and the corners. Once the unit is back, those parts are hidden, so the photos are your record of what was fixed.
Get the curb leak traced and repaired
Tell us about the curb or rooftop unit leak at your Meiners Oaks building. We will inspect the curb and equipment, coordinate with your HVAC contractor and give you a clear repair plan.