The materials, and equipment found on a commercial roof are susceptible to the elements, leaks and costly damage. Taking measures to fix and prevent that damage, can save a ton of money and dramatically extend the life of your commercial roofing system.

atlantacommercialroofingcontractors.com gathered information about 3 common commercial roof leak causes, solutions, and how to prevent them altogether.

Commercial Roofing Penetration and Leaks

Industry-wide, the most common roofing complaints are for leaking roofing systems. Commercial roof penetrations are often the culprit and may include vent pipes, drains, wiring connections, or any related equipment that creates an opening or hole in the roofing system.

Cause – Leaks generally occur around the penetration or joint, and when its waterproofing (flashing, pitch pans, etc.) are poorly or improperly installed. However, severe weather events and nuisance wildlife can compromise the integrity of the installation.

Solution – After discovering which penetration is causing the leak, one of the following should be repaired or replaced:

• Flashing – The waterproof layer of material keeping water from leaking through joints, vents, or appliance connection points. Read more about Types and Purpose of Commercial Roof Flashing at atlantacommercialroofingcontractors.com/types-purpose-flashing/
• Pitch Pans – Used as sealants around rooftop penetrations and pipes exiting through a roof.

Depending on the roofing system, the combination of a pitch pan and flashing may be necessary to seal the penetration.

Make sure to verify that the object penetrating the roofing system is firmly held in place. The slightest vibration or movement over time will cancel out even the best waterproofing, allowing water into your property.

Poor Commercial Roofing System Installation (Bad Contractor)

If your roofing system was poorly installed, you can expect to experience everything from minor/major leaks, and partial or complete failure if your contractor neglected quality control checks, manufacturers guidelines, or necessary procedures.

Cause – Poor commercial roofing installations are generally the result of inexperienced, unqualified, or negligent contractors who cut corners, rush through installations, and neglect manufacturers and general safety guidelines.

Solution – Use strict guidelines when vetting roofing contractors to repair or replace a roofing system. To qualify a roofing company, do the following:

• Check the company’s references.
• Visit locations of their previous installations.
• Read through their online reviews.
• Search for complaints and resolutions through the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org.
• Verify the company’s license to operate in your city.
• Request proof of insurance coverage.
• (Once contracted) Request copies of all permits attained to allow the lawful repair or replacement of your roofing system.
• Request information about their warranty policy.

Reputable roofing contractors will make all of this readily available for your review.

If you suspect that your roof was poorly installed, have it inspected and thoroughly documented to hold the roofing company accountable for the repair or replacement of their faulty work.

You can learn more about common Mistakes that Most Roofers Won’t Tell You by visiting atlantacommercialroofingcontractors.com/15-mistakes-roofers-wont-tell-you/

Commercial Roofing System Scrapes, Punctures, and Holes

TPO, EPDM, and PVC membrane systems are vulnerable to being scraped, punctured, and developing holes that go unnoticed until severe damage has occurred.

Cause – The causes for scrapes, punctures, and holes in your roofing system may include:

• Storm Debris
• Foot Traffic
• Equipment Maintenance, Repair, and Replacement
• Wildlife
• Poor Roof Installation
• Defective Material
• Inferior Quality Repairs or Patchwork

Over time, this type of damage can lead to rotting or destabilizing your roofing system’s support structure. This can result in catastrophic loss if it leads to a complete roofing system failure.

Solution – The following measures will help prevent scrapes, punctures, and holes from causing significant damages to your building:

• Install raised walkways, rooftop pavers, or walk pads from roof access points to machinery and equipment.
• Have pathways reinforced where walkways are not possible.
• Schedule thorough inspections after equipment maintenance, severe weather events, or the discovery of wildlife activity.
• Restrict roof access to maintenance and technical crew members.
• Have the roof inspected annually for signs of shrinkage, expansion, weathering, or other signs of trouble.

If left unmanaged, this type of damage has the potential to void the manufacturers and maintenance warranties.

When having your roof repaired, the expansion and contraction of materials from temperature and weather conditions must be taken into account. In many cases, the source of a leaky roof is the poor or inadequate repair of a previous issue.

Leaky Roof Prevention

Among the best measures of leak prevention for a roofing system is not to ignore it. Routine inspections and a roof maintenance plan are far less costly than a partial or total roof replacement.

Take immediate action when damage occurs. Problems with roofing systems don’t go away on their own, and are exacerbated when avoided or repairs are delayed.

Commercial Roof Leaks

If you don’t know how to address these common leaky roof issues, your building could be severely compromised and require extensive repairs well before its time.

In this article, you discovered 3 common leaky roof scenarios, what causes them, and how to quickly solve them.

Allowing problems with your leaking roof to persist will lead to structural damages, rot, mold, mildew, and very costly repairs. In the case of roofing systems, everything you can do to fix and prevent leaks is far less expensive than repairing structural damage to the building or having to replace your roof entirely.

Sources:
https://www.copper.org/applications/architecture/arch_dhb/arch-details/flashings_copings/roof_penetrations.html
https://www.nachi.org/roofs.htm

See 3 Leaky Roof Causes and Solutions for the first version of this content.

Not knowing the proper solutions to these common roof issues will leave you at the mercy of a roofer, and out of a lot a money.

Commercial roofing is susceptible to the elements, harsh weather, and many forms of damage. By taking measures to fix and prevent that damage, you can dramatically extend the life of your roofing system.

atlantacommercialroofingcontractors.com gathered information about 5 common commercial roofing problems, their solutions, and how to prevent them.

#1 Commercial Roofing Problem – Leaks

Leaking roofing systems are among the most common complaints industry-wide. Until it rains, most building owners don’t even realize there’s a problem.

While each and every problem listed in this article would likely result in leaks, the principal cause of leaks is often poorly installed flashing and pitch pans.

Flashing – This is a waterproof layer of material that keeps water from leaking into your roofing system at joints, vents, or appliance connection points.

Pitch Pans – These are used as sealants around rooftop penetrations and pipes protruding through a roof, and may not be properly sealed.

Solution: Locate the defective flashing or pitch pan and have them repaired by your roofing maintenance provider, or reputable commercial roofing contractor.

While this problem may be an isolated occurrence, have the rest of the roof inspected for signs of embrittlement, damage, or poor installation of its flashing, seams, and pitch pans.

Read more about the types and purpose of commercial roof flashing at atlantacommercialroofingcontractors.com/types-purpose-flashing/

#2 Commercial Roofing Problem – Scrapes, Punctures, and Holes

Scrapes, punctures, and large holes can be caused by foot traffic, storm debris, and wildlife. This type of damage can go unnoticed and build up over the years, affecting the support structure of the roofing system; left untreated, this leads to rot, mold, and a potential roof system failure.

This type of damage can also result in the voiding of manufacturers and maintenance warranties.

Solution: Install raised pathways or walk pads to and from equipment, vents, or frequently visited areas of the roof. If this type of pathway is not viable, have the roofing system reinforced in these areas to accommodate the increased traffic.

Have the roof inspected after any maintenance, severe storm or other activity which may lead to scrapes, punctures, and holes.

When being repaired, expansion and contraction of the roofing material and underlaying insulation must be taken into account to avoid further damage and future membrane tears.

#3 Commercial Roofing Problem – Poor Installation

The poor installation of your roofing system can lead to a myriad of problems. Everything from leaks, to complete failure is possible when your contractor neglects necessary, procedures, manufacturers guidelines, and quality control checks.

Solution: Do your homework. Check references, visit previous roof installations, read online reviews, and verify the company’s legal licensing and ability to work in your city.

If your roof was poorly installed, have the roof inspected and all discrepancies documented. The roofing company can then be held accountable for the correction, repair, or replacement of the faulty work.

Read about some common mistakes that most roofers won’t tell you about by visiting atlantacommercialroofingcontractors.com/15-mistakes-roofers-wont-tell-you/

#4 Commercial Roofing Problem – Shrinkage

In locations where temperatures frequently soar and plunge, the material and components of your roofing system may contract and later expand. Shrinkage can cause cracking, tearing, and the pulling apart of seams, membranes, and essential elements like flashing.

While all roofing systems are susceptible to shrinkage, TPO, EPDM, and PVC membrane systems are particularly vulnerable.

Solution: Have your roof inspected frequently to detect potential problems with shrinkage early on. Allowing this problem to persist will result in more expensive repairs, if not the replacement of the entire roof.

#5 Commercial Roofing Problem – Wind Uplift

Wind uplift can be devastating to materials and the integrity of a property. An uplift force is upward pressure applied to a structure that has the potential to raise it. Wind uplift occurs when the air pressure under a roof is greater than the air pressure above it.

When your roof is susceptible to wind uplift, there are two potential outcomes you may experience during severe weather conditions:

Partial Roof Removal – This occurs when a small portion of the roof is removed by sustained winds, and would only need to be repaired rather than replaced.

Complete Roof Removal – This outcome is usually associated with tornadoes and hurricanes. It is the near complete or complete removal of your roofing system, requiring the installation of a new roofing system.

Susceptibility to uplift is greater in roofing systems with poorly sealed seams and flashing. Another factor is the height of the building; ground wind speeds are typically much lower than those at higher altitudes.

Solution: Have a seamless or fully adhered roofing system installed. For existing systems, have all seams and flashing inspected and resealed if they show any signs of wind penetration.

Commercial Roofing Damage Prevention

The prevention of damage to your roofing system relies partly on the attention you give it. A maintenance plan and regular inspections are preemptive measures that will save you substantially.

Besides an annual inspection, a reputable contractor should be called to evaluate your roof after the following:

• Severe weather, including hail storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and sustained high winds.
• Tree or branches falling on the roof or slamming into the building.
• Heavy debris blown onto the roof.
• Any time the structure suffers a significant jolt, including vehicle collisions and earthquakes.

If you do not possess a maintenance contract or plan for your roofing system, it is highly recommended to acquire one before your roof sustains irreversible damage.

Protect your Commercial Roofing System

You can extend the life of your roofing system and protect the significant investment it represents by taking simple measures to ensure its durability and stop minor problems from becoming major expenses.

In this article, you discovered essential information about 5 of the most common commercial roofing problems, how to solve them, and how to prevent them.

Your failure to keep a roofing maintenance contract or disregard for annual and emergency inspections could result in the failure of your roofing system, interruption of your business activities, and major financial losses that could be prevented.

Sources:
http://rci-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2014-CTS-chamberlain.pdf
https://www.nachi.org/epdm.htm

See 5 Must Know Commercial Roofing Problems and Solutions for the first version of this content.