Even if you regularly maintain your commercial roof, when harsh weather decides to roll in, you’re likely to find a new puddle on its surface. This, in turn, could lead to significant damage to your property but it can also endanger its residents.
Whether you’re an owner of a small business or a large complex, it’s important to understand all possible roofing issues in order to get ahead of them and protect the inside of your property.
To help you do just that, we’ve identified the 5 most common causes of commercial roof leaks to be wary of.
Improper Drainage
During the installation process, one of the most important things your contractor should consider is where the water will drain. Flat roofing systems are more vulnerable to leaks precisely because they are flat, so drainage systems are crucial.
These systems include your gutters, scuppers, drains, and downspouts. These should all be cleaned on a regular basis in order to ensure a safe and seamless flow of water off of your commercial roof.
If the water is not drained properly, you’re going to be dealing with standing water, which means a lot of additional weight on your building’s structure and likely leaks.
An Aging Roof
Depending on the material of your roof, its lifespan can vary significantly. While it is possible to extend its life with proper and regular maintenance, at some point, your roof is going to wear down.
If you’re experiencing frequent leaks, it is likely that your roof has reached the end of its service life. Lucky for you, your go-to local roofers specialize in the installation and repair of commercial roofs and we would be more than happy to offer you a professional inspection and appropriate solutions.
Damaged Flashings
Flashings are the thin pieces of metal that you can find around the conjoined areas of your commercial roof. You’re most likely to see them around the roof edges, chimneys, interior walls, and skylights.
If your flashing is nearing the end of its lifespan or in case it wasn’t installed properly, it is much more prone to damage. This will, in turn, allow water to seep into your roof system and further endanger it.
Open Penetrations
Open roof penetrations can be found on a great number of flat commercial roof systems. They can be anything from vents, gas lines, HVAC units, drains, pipes, as well as any other system that comes through the membrane.
While they do present a potential issue for leaks, this problem can be easily fixed by simply sealing them properly during the installation process or resorting to spray coating.
Damaged Roof Membrane
The membrane on your commercial roof is the waterproof layer. And when it’s damaged in any way, be it mechanical, damage from the weather, foot traffic, or a number of other reasons, it will allow water to seep inside and compromise the insulation.
In some cases, if the damage isn’t too far gone, the fix can be a simple one, while other times, you’re going to need to replace the insulation, as well as some parts of the roof membrane.
What to Do When Your Commercial Roof Leaks?
Don’t hesitate to call South Shore Roofing! With us, you can be certain that you’re hiring a team of professionals with a shared goal of repairing your commercial roof and making sure it is in top functioning shape.
Call our full-service commercial roofing company ASAP and see for yourself why we are the go-to roofers in all of South Georgia!