Neglecting Maintenance Duties

The maintenance needs of a commercial roof vary based on its construction and the type of weatherproofing applied. Most commonly, commercial roofs are flat roofs covered with bitumen, EDPM, metal or thermoplastics; these materials require regular maintenance and inspections to check for cracking, pooling, shrinking, damage and general deterioration. Any issues noted need to be addressed quickly as a small problem with commercial roof can often snowball into a larger and more invasive problem.

The solution to this common problem is to ensure you have regular professional roof inspections. Here at Spencer Industrial Roofing, we can inspect any problems that occur with your commercial roof and fix them to retain its appearance, durability and longevity.

Failing to Explore Underlying Problems

When you notice a fault in the roof covering, discover a weak spot or a bit of water pooling on a flat roof, the first instinct would be to cover and try to patch the problem. However, this method of fixing can lead to further weatherproofing complications as there may be underlying causes of the issue.

A weatherproofing issue could indicate a poorly designed roof, weak or damaged roof structure or improper water drainage on bitumen-covered roofs. If these underlying issues aren’t recognised and directed towards a commercial roofing specialist, the problem is likely to reoccur usually with increased severity.

Blocked Drainage or Inadequate Drainage

Standing water and water pooling on flat roofs is a significant problem for commercial roofs. One of the problems of standing water is the additional weight added to the roofing, this can lead and cause sagging and deterioration of the roofs surface. Another problem that can occur due to standing water is roof leaks, which can cause dampness and encourage the growth of plants, which you want to avoid.

To help prevent the blockage of drains and gutters, regular maintenance and cleaning of gutters and pipes to unclog debris will ensure your roof drains efficiently.

Poorly Constructed Roof Penetrations

Commercial buildings often have a variety of different roof penetrations; this could include vents, pipes, HVAC units, skylights or any structure that penetrates through the roof surface.

Properly sealing and maintaining these penetrations is crucial to prevent leaks or damage to the building’s interior.

If these roof penetrations are not carefully considered, planned and constructed before building or during reconstruction, they will usually lead to leaks and subsequent damage.

However, with proper installation, advice and expert guidance on the correct locations for roof penetrations, then correct weatherproofing and how to weatherproof for long-term reliability can be carried out.

If you are currently experiencing problems with existing roof penetrations, we can help provide advice or asses the situation for repair work to be carried out.

Improper Repairs

When we carry out our work, we often see cases of damage caused by repairs that were carried out using the wrong materials or installation methods. This usually means the repairs didn’t work or only lasted a short while.

Badly installed repairs often cause more damage than good; repairs that use the wrong type of material are usually insufficient and don’t properly protect your roof against the weather as they are not made to function in that way.

The solution to avoiding badly repaired roofs is to do your research and make sure you get quotes and advice from multiple sources to ensure you get a long-lasting, durable roof.