Improving Your Business

Improving Your Business

3 Types Of Damage To Your Commercial Flat Roof To Watch For In The Winter

by Leslie Turner

A flat roof has several advantages for a commercial property. For one, the roof provides a place to install HVAC equipment so it is out of the way. However, a flat roof poses special challenges in the winter. Here are three types of damage to watch for in the winter and when to call a commercial roofing contractor for help.

1. Snow That Adds Weight To The Roof

Your building and roof were built with the weight of a typical snow in mind. Routine snowstorms shouldn't be a problem, but a heavy snow might put too much weight on your roof, especially if the snow is wet and icy. It's a good idea to schedule roof snow removal before winter starts.

If the weight of the snow is excessive, it could cause damage to the structure of your roof. Plus, when snow goes through the melt and freeze cycle, it can cause damage to your roofing that leads to roof leaks. This happens when snow melts during the day and the water rolls in gaps around flashing and in seams of roofing. Then the water freezes at night, expands, and makes the damage worse. It's best to remove snow from your roof when possible unless you have a light dusting of fluffy snow that melts and drains away quickly on its own.

2. Roofing Damage That Leads To Roof Leaks

If you don't need a commercial roofing contractor to check your roof in the middle of winter, it's a good idea to do it when the last expected snow of the winter is over. The roofer should check membrane and foam roofing for holes and gaps that might let in rain. Any damage found should be repaired so your roof is in good shape for spring rains and so there are no areas of water damage on the roof.

3. Clogged Roof Drains That Cause Water To Puddle

When depressions develop on your roof or when the roof drain gets clogged, water from melting snow and rain will form puddles on the roof. When your roofing contractor checks the roof, they look for signs of standing water so the cause can be found and repairs made. Water puddles on your roof add weight to the roof and they also increase the risk of a roof leak.

Solving the problem might entail clearing out the roof drain or building up the depressed area so water rolls toward the drain rather than toward a puddle. Standing water is bad during any season of the year, but it's especially bad in the winter when the water puddle freezes. The movement that comes along with freezing and thawing could potentially harm the roofing material.


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Improving Your Business

When there are things about your business building that are damaged, you can expect it to cause problems in the long run. From issues with getting top dollar for your property to dealing with incoming leaks and other issues, it pays to know how to make changes now that could improve your future. However, roofing issues can be hard to spot, which is why it really pays to do what you can to make steps towards fixing things. On this website, you can find excellent information about how roofing can be beneficial to your company, and what to look for when problems arise.