Commercial roofs are designed to protect the very building or establishment itself, and by extension, the tenants and the items it holds. After all, serious water damage can wreak havoc on businesses and can be quite expensive to fix.
Given this, learning how to spot commercial roof leaks in your building can save you from dealing with widespread damage as time goes on. When these repairs aren’t addressed from the onset, these can become costly over time. Below are some aspects you have to take note of.
Common Causes of Commercial Roof Leaks
Roof leaks may be common in residential homes and areas, but you wouldn’t normally associate this with commercial roofs and buildings. But the truth of the matter is, commercial establishments are also prone to water leaks due to a number of reasons.
Damaged Membrane
Your commercial roof was designed to last for years at a time with proper care and maintenance. However, this can deteriorate as it ages. One of the reasons for this can be due to constant and even increased foot traffic, mechanical damage, or just harsh and changing weather conditions.
All of the aforementioned reasons can cause damage to the roof’s membrane. It can lead the commercial roofing membrane to crack or even shrinkage. These commercial roof membranes serve as the layer of protection that prevent leaks in your roof since it has a waterproof layer.
Clogged or Damaged Drains
The problem with commercial roofs is that these tend to retain water, more so when the drains are clogged or damaged, or when these aren’t properly installed. This is a common problem with flat roofs. When this happens, water can form small ponds or pools on the roof, leading to leaks on your roof.
Destroyed Flashings
Your commercial roof’s flashing plays an integral part in protecting the edges of your roof’s membrane. These are made of metal to connect different areas of the roof and can be found in the edges and skylights, to name a few.
As with other parts of your commercial flat roof, flashings can undergo wear and tear and, if improperly installed, these can become loose. These can also be damaged by weather or temperature changes.
Signs You Have a Leaking Commercial Roof
Now that you know some of the more common causes of commercial roof leaks, learning how to look for signs that you have a leaky roof can save you time and money in the long run. Here are some tell-tale signs that point to a roof leak.
Dripping Water
A puddle of water on the floor or drops of water coming from your roof already entails that water damage has already started to take place. Marking where the leak takes place will let you keep tabs on this and will help experts evaluate this spot later on.
Bubbles on the Roof
Another surefire way to tell there’s a water leak on your commercial flat roof is the presence of bubbles or blisters. This happens when water permeates the roof and can’t escape, turning into vapor later on when there’s heat, thus bubbling or blistering.
Water Stains
Signs of water damage are yet another aspect you should look out for, especially on the building’s interior. Since ceiling tiles are quite porous, they can absorb water and moisture that stems from a roof leak.
The visual damage that a roof leak often leaves behind is water stains, either on the ceiling or on the walls of your building due to the dried-out mineral deposits. These can make themselves known through brown stains that form like rings.
Musty Odor
Mold build-up can happen when persistent water leaks occur and this can give off a musty smell. If your commercial roof starts getting this, chances are your roof has a leak, and mold and mildew have already started to take place in a moist environment.
What You Can Do About These Commercial Roof Leaks?
If you are capable of doing some patches to prevent leaks from further escalating and damaging your commercial roof, you can do a quick patch to repair the said area.
The roof on your commercial roofing establishment is an integral part of your building. As the first signs of a leak manifest, calling a reliable and professional roofing contractor is the best course of action. These experts can evaluate the extent of the leak and make the necessary repair work to ensure the stability, safety, and security of your commercial roofing system.
To prevent these from even furthering in the first place, getting the services of a roofing contractor to help you maintain and care for your commercial roof can go long way. This can keep property damage at bay and keep roofing repairs and expenses down to a minimum.
By looking out for these signs, you can prevent serious water problems and leaks from affecting your commercial roof. Get in touch with a team of experts today so you can ensure that no structural damage happens in your building.
