If you own a commercial building, chances are you know how important a functional roof is to the success of your business. The roof is designed to keep the elements outside. If it fails in that task, it can throw your entire business into disarray, ruining equipment and potentially causing you to have to shut down business for some period of time.
With that in mind, it’s important to know what issues can cause damage to your roof in the short and long term so you’ll have an idea when it may need to be repaired or replaced. Here are some factors to watch out for:
Wind Damage
Normal, routine wind gusts shouldn’t do any damage at all to a properly installed commercial roof. But serious enough gusts, especially when they’re sustained, can start to cause some problems, especially on older roofs and ones that aren’t properly maintained. Sustained wind gusts can put pressure on the flashing (the thin piece of metal that is supposed to stop water from going places it isn’t wanted) and causing an uplift, that leads to a leak. Bad enough windstorms can also blow vents and chimney caps out of place, leading to further leaking.
Standing Water
Water should not pool on a commercial roof. If it is, that means the roof is likely not designed properly or that some drains are clogged. If left unchecked, it can cause the roofing materials to deteriorate over time, leading to further leaking.
Shoddy Installation or Maintenance
A properly installed commercial roof should be able to withstand the elements. Thus, most problems are caused by shoddy installation. Many times, this will happen when a roofer fails to account for how the elements will affect the roofing material in the future. Improper sealing may also cause leaking issues. But no matter how well a roof is installed, it will still need maintenance and inspections over the years. Failing to do both of these things will cause small problems to turn into big ones.
If you need a commercial roof repaired or installed, Roof Smith can be of service. We have three locations across Texas and New Mexico and we’re experienced in working with commercial roofs. Contact us at one of our three locations today!
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