A Guide to the Most Common Commercial Roofing Problems

Commercial Roofing problems are quite unpredictable. When they occur, it can be a very frustrating experience for the business owners and can cost them heavily down the road.There are many underlying reasons for such problems such as poor workmanship, low or irregular maintenance, poor quality of materials, and/or negligence at the time of installation. Over time, even the most subtle roofing issues can expand exponentially. So, as a responsible business owner, your goal should be to identify these issues at an early stage and before they become large scale problems that require a huge amount of money to get fixed. Let’s take a look at a few such roofing issues that demand immediate attention.

Excess Moisture & Leakage Issues

Roof leaks are one of the most irritating problems that can occur in any commercial building. When it does, you might assume it is due to the poor workmanship from the roofing contractor. While that may be possible, several other factors can lead to roof leaks. rnBuilt-up roofs may experience leakage if the flashing details are not fastened properly during the installation. Torch-applied modified bitumen and hot bituminous roofs can develop leaks in absence of an effective moisture barrier beneath the coping cap. Poor installation of the roof backwater lap and flashing can also lead to leakage in such roofs. rnMoisture Issues in Cold-applied Modified BitumenrnCold-applied modified bitumen roofs often experience moisture infiltration mainly due to lack of proper storage of materials, constant water leaks and poor quality lamination.

Single-ply Membrane Roofs

If your single-ply membrane roof is installed with low quality seams, the moisture problem can manifest a few years down the line. To avoid this issue, the best way is to glue the seams or heat-weld them properly during installation.

Shrinkage

Roof shrinkage, as the name suggests, is the shortening of the roofing membrane through its dimensions. Also known as tenting, bridging or contraction, this process is often irreversible. If the dimensions of the roof change, more force of high-tensile strength is applied on the seams and flashings that can cause them to rupture sooner than their expected lifespan.

EPDM Roofs

EPDM roofs, if they are installed by considering their shrinkage limit, seldom face any roof shrinkages. However, they may still develop leaks in case the flashing details are damaged. This damage mainly happens due to the stress induced on the EPDM roofing membrane either due to improper sheet relaxation or excessive` sheet expansion. That’s why it’s important to pay special attention to these aspects while installing your EPDM roofing systems.

Ballasted Roofs

In ballasted membrane roofs, the most common problems seen are flaking flashings, surface cracking, especially in uncured roofing membranes, and surface crazing.

Water Ponding

Ponding is mostly seen on the flat areas of the roofing system. If allowed to persist, this can cause roof leaks and reduce the performance and life of your roofing membranes significantly.

BUR Roofs

Sun’s UV rays falling directly on the ponding water can adversely affect the BUR (Built-up Roofing) and asphalt skylights roof windows modified bituminous roofs. If the mopping on the BUR roof membrane is not done properly, it can lead to water ponding as well.

In Conclusion:

Besides the common roofing problems mentioned above, there may be other types of roof issues that commercial property owners have to go through. To detect these problems at an early stage and prevent them from becoming worse, it is important to have a proper roof inspection done by experienced professionals so that maintenance of the roof can be properly planned and executed. If the problems have already occurred, contact a reliable roofing remodeling contractor without wasting any time. If you have any further questions or just want to just learn more about our roof maintenance and new roof installation services, connect with us today for a no-obligation free consultation. We serve Mandeville and the entire Northshore areas of Louisiana.