Commercial roof repairs consume a large part of a property owner’s overall budget. Whether it’s from snow load, or the accumulation of snow on your rooftop, age, or poor workmanship, your roof may be suffering from some critical issues. The following are some possible dangers that may result in costly repairs, or potentially harming people:
1. Ponding Water
Stagnant or “ponding” water is water that is left on a roof for over two days. Because many commercial buildings have a flat roof, this stagnant water can penetrate the roofing membrane and cause damage to various components of the roof system located beneath the membrane. Most flat roofs are built with some sort of pitch or slop to avoid pooling, such as a added tapered rigid insulation, but sometimes this pooling is inevitable. Additionally, the sun’s UV rays can heat up a hot bituminous roof system and produce gaps in the membrane which clog drains. A regularly inspected roof, looking for impediments like blocked or jammed drains can go a long way to avoiding the accumulation of water,
2. Shoddy Workmanship
Poor workmanship is another factor that reduces a roof system’s life expectancy. Although roof replacement can be expensive, this investment can be a money pit if you do not employ a professional roofing company that is known to deliver high quality roofing solutions. Many roofing companies compromise on the quality of materials to lower their estimates, which is always a loss for the property owners. And, although most roofing manufacturers supply a warranty for their materials, these warranties can be nullified if the workmanship provided is poor, whether due to cutting costs, or the inexperience of the workers. Sometimes it’s the use of improper fastening, which can result in shingles blowing off, exposing the membrane to the elements. Other times, consideration for proper ventilation is the culprit.
3. Leaky Roofs
While problem areas may be identifiable, many leak-prone areas require challenging repairs, and if they’re not done correctly, water problems can often become worse. By scheduling routine commercial roof inspections and keeping a close eye on common problem areas, you’ll be sure to save significant costs with proactive management rather than paying hefty fees for water cleanup and damage repairs. As discussed above, pooling water can strain the roofing systems
In modified bitumen roofing systems, when the installation of proper moisture barrier underneath edge metal and wall copings are poorly installed it can often results to leakages. Modified Bitumen roof systems can also have leak entry points along any vertical transition, such as walls or rooftop units.
Roof leaks often occur at exterior edges of the roof or at interior parapet walls, where flashings are installed to protect the edges of the roof membrane cover. If flashing is damaged, improperly installed, or becomes loose due to wind or storms, edges of the roof cover are often exposed, allowing moisture and water to seep in to the roofing system and buildin
Penetrations are pipes, drains, and other items that puncture a roof’s membrane. All roof penetrations are prone to leaks and must be secured properly to ensure that the roofing system is protected from water damage. Roof penetrations can include HVAC units, conduits, vents, drains, pipes, hot stacks, gas lines, or other objects that are routed through the roofing membrane. It’s a good idea to closely observe each and every roof penetration to ensure that they are kept water-tight with flashing, field wraps, rain collars, pipe boots, or pitch pans.
4. Bad Roof Repairs
If a roof is failing from the improper installation of materials, or if the wrong materials were selected in the first place, it most likely will have to be completely. When the wrong materials are on the roof, patching and repairing the bad spots is not an acceptable option for the long-term performance of your roof. As long as you are doing a complete replacement, you might be able to take advantage of newer technology that offers better materials to withstand strong wind and weight bearing
No matter how strong the roofing system is that you installed on your property, if left un-inspected for a long time, it is likely to get damaged. It is, therefore, important to follow proper inspection and maintenance regime to avoid unnecessarily expensive repairs in the future and opt for a comprehensive roof asset management program.