How To Spot A Commercial Roof Leak

Rainy Winter or Dry Hot summers with high snowfall or rainstorms can expose commercial roofing materials to serious damage from thaw and frozen water seeping into the roofs. While there is no hard and fast rule for determining when a roof will need to be replaced, it is generally a good idea to schedule an annual inspection with Commercial Roofing to ensure that your roof is in good condition and safe for use. A few inches of water per year is not unusual for a standard roof system in any part of the US. Even a rainy summer can expose a leaky roof, however, and an inspection should be scheduled as soon as possible after an incident. A dry, rainy summer may present a few minor leaks, but an unrepaired leaky roof during those months poses a serious threat to your commercial business operations.

Many buildings suffer from some type of leaking commercial roof that poses a risk to the health and safety of the employees working within the building. Leaking roofs not only present a hazard to those who work on the building, but they can present serious structural damage to the building if left unchecked. When an inspection is scheduled every few years, the risk of an extensive leaking commercial building can be prevented.

It’s never too soon to schedule an annual commercial roof inspection to detect problems that can pose a danger to the health and safety of those within the facility. One way to do this is to contact roof maintenance contractors who specialize in commercial roof repair and leak detection. Professional roof repair companies can help you assess the roof condition and recommend preventative maintenance that can help reduce risks. This can lead to a diminished need for costly commercial roof repair in the future.

The goal of regular inspections is to prevent problems before they become worse. A quality inspection will identify the areas of the roof that are receiving the most wear and tear. During these inspections, leaks can be found and repaired with the help of a high-quality commercial roofing repair company. Poor installation techniques can be detected and corrected before they cause severe problems. This can save the business additional time and money. Improved installation techniques can also provide long-term savings by preventing future roof replacement.

A good commercial roofing inspection also identifies weak spots where leaks are most likely to occur. In these areas, a variety of leak repair techniques can be used to prevent more leaks from occurring. This is especially important for damp or high-quality commercial buildings that suffer from condensation. Incorrect roofing installation techniques can cause excess moisture to build up above the area of the roof which can contribute to the growth of mold and mildew.

Sealed seams are a great way to prevent leaks. While they may not look as nice as an unbroken and fully sealed seam, a properly installed and maintained sealed seam will prevent water from penetrating and creating problems. Properly installed and maintained seams should not only be sealed but painted as well. Sealed seams in commercial buildings can also prevent damage to the structure caused by thermal bridging. Thermal bridging occurs when warm air penetrates the structure and then rises, creating gaps that allow cold air to enter and make the building feel warmer.

While leaks may not always be visible to the naked eye, they are an obvious problem that quickly grows into a greater health hazard. When mold grows inside a building, it is often accompanied by black soot and possible signs of disease. Mold spores can travel throughout a commercial facility and easily enter other spaces. This can have a significant negative impact on the health of employees and customers. An inner layer of paint or vinyl coating can greatly improve the health of the building and prevent the formation of mold.

Not all leaks are visible; in fact, most leaks are not found until damage has been done. In instances where a leak is noticed, it is important to act quickly to prevent any potential damage or the worsening of an existing leak. For this reason, it is important to contact a commercial roofing professional as soon as a leak is detected. If a leak is repaired quickly and does not worsen conditions, a commercial roofer may recommend that the leak is repaired and replaced. After all, preventing a leak before it starts is much cheaper than fixing one that has already started.