As a business owner, you likely dread having to pay for commercial roofing repair or replacement. Did you know that by making simple improvements on a commercial roof will extend its life expectancy? Here’s how to get the most out of your commercial roofing system.
Common Commerical Roofing Issues
While your employees likely never think about a building’s structural issues, a business owner should. A roof protects everything from the structural integrity of your commercial building to the safety of employees and protection of inventory. Small issues can quickly turn into emergencies when property owners fail to oversee annual maintenance. Here are the most common commercial roofing issues.
- Old Age
A commercial roof typically lasts about twenty years before it starts displaying serious signs of wear-and-tear that require a replacement. Having annual inspections and maintenance repairs will ensure you get the most years out of a commercial roof. You’ll also have a heads-up when there are more serious problems starting to take place. You’ll also know ahead of time when you require a commercial roofing replacement, which will give you time to save money, secure funding, or find roof tax breaks.
- Water Damage
Commercial roofs are prone to damage when there is standing water from storms, snow build-up, or ice dams. Large commercial roofs tend to be flat, so standing water affects proper functioning. It is often a result of poor drainage, debris, or design flaws.
A commercial roof is also prone to damage when you hire unqualified roofing companies who perform faulty commercial roof installation, repairs, or replacement. Regular maintenance checks ensure issues are handled quickly to reduce structural damage.
- Weather-Related Damage
Weather patterns wreak havoc on a commercial roof, which is why time is a critical factor to reduce weather-related damage. Most especially after seasons that have heavy rain and snow storms, the likelihood of having wear-and-tear is higher than normal.
There are also issues with standing water and snow as it adds unnecessary weight on the roof. Annual maintenance will hinder standing water or snow and ensure the drainage system is clear of debris. This will allow the rainwater to drain appropriately. If your roof is suffering from wind uplift, there will be lower surface pressure that increases risk of roof damage during high winds.
- Erosion
Commercial roofing systems suffer from erosion over time because of its exposure to rain, snow, sun, ice dams, and wind. A commercial roof that shows signs of material corrosion, blistering, lifting, and splitting reduce its lifespan down considerally. For this reason, it is critical to have North Shore Roofing perform annual inspections to maintain the roof before erosion happens.
- Flashing Damage
Most commercial rooftops have equipment attached, so flashing damage is common when faulty equipment installation occurs from nail punctures. It’s also possible that workers on the roof can cause holes when improper shoes are worn. Flashing damage can lead to serious issues as punctures can affect structural integrity, hole size expansion, and roofing system layering erosion.
Commercial roofing maintenance allows for a proper interior and exterior inspection. Call us at (978) 977-3816. You can also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NorthShoreRoofingMA to find out how we can help you with annual commercial roofing needs.
