Commercial roof issues
Whether you can see them or not, roofing problems can be difficult to solve and may be associated with significant expense. Some of the most common roofing problems undermine the function and structure of your roof and may result in the premature failure of your roofing system. When it comes to the integrity of your roof, many people fail to properly maintain their roof and regularly check for damage. Early detection of roof problems can save you time and money in costly repairs. According to the Vice President of Benchmark Inc., ultimately it is vitally important to ensure your roof is regularly maintained and inspected in order to prevent any of the following problems from causing serious damage to your property or building. Here is the list of the most common roof problems encountered by facilities professionals and building owners. Check these out:
Tenting, Weathering, and Cracking
According to CARE, some of the roof materials may begin to bow or tent over time, leaving the materials underneath exposed to water and wind. If the flashing or shingles are not properly laid, or they become weak over time, they risk exposing the rest of the roof to the elements. Wind can easily blow tented shingles off of the roof, leaving the base materials without cover. Flashing and shingles can crack as they age, leaving small gaps in the roof. The problem with cracked flashing or shingles can be hard to identify visually and requires an up-close inspection to detect. This can be especially problematic in hot climates where cheaper roof materials begin to warp after a few years in the hot sun. Asphalt shingles are the most vulnerable as they can bend in the heat and are light enough to get carried off in the wind. According to Pierce, other roof materials such as slate tiles or clay tiles are more resistant to the wind and heat, which is why they are the primary roof material used in hotter climates.
Moisture and Roof Leaks
According to the director of GAF Materials Corp, Helene Hardy Pierce, moisture causes the decay of roofing materials and therefore significantly depletes the strength and quality of your roof. Furthermore, leaks can start just about anywhere- around fixtures, under flashing, and even in shingles and other materials. No matter what type of roof you have installed, when roof leaks are present, there is definitely a problem. Roof leaks might be due to some details not being done properly during installation or moisture barriers not properly installed. The CARE CD-Rom pinpoints that backwater laps and head laps, when inadequately placed during installation, could be a cause for moisture infiltration. It will then result in blisters and leaks and subsequently, roof failure. According to Harriman, leaks can also be due to poor seams installed in single-ply membrane roofs. Intense weather events also lead to roofing problems. Running water, rains, ice, and snow have adverse effects on your guttering system. If you can see signs of a leak such as stained ceilings or bubbling paint, you should contact your roofer immediately. Leaks must be repaired in order to prevent further damage to your property and roof.
Unsatisfactory Workmanship and Poor Installation
According to Harriman, the installation of a roof is one big factor in its longevity of use. When it is installed poorly, roof damages are more likely to happen, and the roof life is reduced greatly. One common problem which may be related to poor installation would be the unsatisfactory workmanship of the installer. He also added that there are a series of steps that are to be followed before even starting to do a roofing job, and when these are not done well, it may be a cause for problems later on. There are some areas in your roof which are a bit hard to be walked upon, so these are often overlooked. But these are very important and should be clean, dry, and should be primed properly before installation. CARE notes that roof installers should also relax the roof sheets first before installing. Materials should be prepared properly to ensure a quality installation. Be sure that your hired roofers are knowledgeable of their job to avoid any faulty installation.
Lack of Maintenance
According to the training manager of CARE, Chris Mooney, roofing systems should always be maintained regularly. But due to time constraints, and many other reasons especially business continuity and financial issues, the maintenance of your roof might be neglected completely. One thing you should do is to educate yourself about the roofing system. Doing so would allow you to know the proper things to do in caring for your roof, as well as the signs that might mean you will need to have some repairs already. When you are well-educated about roofing systems, roof problems will be lesser. Pierce notes to always perform regular inspections in order to know the obvious signs which could be a sign of a roofing problem. Unfilled pitch pockets, torn-off pieces of bases and shingles, small pools of water, and water stains may be understood immediately by an educated homeowner. The key to maximizing your roof life is to detect small problems earlier and prevent them from worsening.
Shrinkage
Some roofs use what is called a single-ply membrane. These roofs could eventually suffer from shrinkage when the single membrane begins to contract. Evidence of shrinkage can be seen near the flashings on the roof, where the single-ply membrane will start to pull away as it shrinks. Allowing this shrinkage to continue will inevitably lead to issues down the line. Homeowners should keep their eyes peeled for this roof problem, as in most cases it means that a roof repair is needed to address a particular issue. Catching this roof problem early and dealing with it quickly can help save you money by not allowing the problem to grow into bigger more expensive problems that take a harder toll on your wallet.
Penetrations Post Installation and Punctures
Harriman notes that in order for the roof system to be effective, you need to make sure that the roof offers complete protection. When there are missing shingles, holes, or punctures in the roof, this leads to vulnerability to rainwater. This can lead to structural damage brought about by increased moisture levels, algae infestation, and rot. According to CARE, this problem must be addressed as soon as possible since this will affect the surrounding shingles. This leads to the shingles being ripped easily if there are strong winds. It is advised that you replace the shingles or any other roof materials immediately. Harriman warns that all roof system performance is compromised when penetrations and new equipment are added to an existing roof. When penetrations are deleted and added from a metal roof, the results can be catastrophic.
Safety
The setting up of torch-applied bit systems and hot bituminous needs strict obedience to protection and safety measures. High-temperature asphalt can lead to fires in kettle, burns, and on your roof. According to CARE, fire extinguishers and in torch mod bit must be there and CERTA guidelines must be followed. It is true that roof replacement and repair can be expensive. When it comes to the integrity of your flat roof repair, many people fail to properly maintain their roof and regularly check for damage. Early detection of roof problems can save you time and money in costly repairs.
Improper Repairs
When homeowners try to fix problems on their own or hire roofers that use subpar materials and those not intended for specific roof types, it could result in permanent damage to your roof. Small problems will get worse because of improper repairs. So, when you detect any flat roof drainage, the best thing to do is to contact your roofer and let them assess the situation. The repair products to be used should be in line with the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure proper use. Proper knowledge of homeowners, early problem detection, regular maintenance, and quality installation may affect the roof life positively. While the roof ages, it is more likely to experience problems. Proper addressing roof leveling compound these problems will be the key to ensuring your roof system’s state.
Ponding Water
According to Pierce, one of the most common roof problems is incidental water ponding. A faulty design of a roofing system can cause costly problems. Design deficiencies cost a lot of money to correct, and they can only be fixed by replacing the roof. Unless design deficiencies are corrected, the problems they cause will likely come back. A few examples of a faulty design include an insufficient number of drains, a sagging roof structure, inadequate roofing slope, and weak roof structures that cause a roof to split, which often results in ponding water. CARE notes that incorrect mopping can produce membrane voids, block drains, and ponding water. Pierce also added that it is very important to know the main source of ponding water. It is also imperative to work with a respected, experienced, and qualified roofer whenever you are installing a new roof or replacing an existing one. Improper sloping and blocked drains can cause water to gather in small ponds on a roof. How to fix ponding water on a flat roof? Repairing a blocked drain is easy, but fixing a sloping problem is more complex. Often, installing a taper insulation system to establish a new green slope is the best solution. During the rainy season, resolving roof ponding is one of the most common types of roof repair.
Blistering
Blistering If you see little holes’ revealing the layer underneath, it is time to get a new roof. Blisters are caused by moisture inside a shingle. When this happens, then it is not providing you the protection that you need. Dry lapping and improper heating cause hot bituminous roof systems to blister. Although small blisters seldom pose a problem, large ones can rupture and allow water to seep beneath the bitumen. Once the blisters form, hot weather typically makes them worse. Due to the humid subtropical climate in some regions of the country, commercial roofing frequently experiences blistering. When the paint on a home’s interior or exterior is blistered, this is a symptom that it may be time to replace the roof. Paint blisters are often caused by excessive heat in the home’s attic due to a lack of adequate ventilation. When the air is unable to circulate as needed, it becomes very humid and hot. This causes the paint to blister and bubble. A new roof may remedy this issue. It is usually best to replace the roof then it is to fix it. That would be because repairing the roof is usually a band-aid solution that covers the problem momentarily. When the repair work falls apart, and it usually does, you will be paying for full roof replacement anyway. The best resolution is to call a roofing expert for a price and weigh your alternatives. You can prevent many expensive problems by having your roof inspected by a roof repair company and fixing problems before they become serious. A roof repair specialist can inspect your roof, let you know what problems need to be fixed, and repair the damages. They can look for signs of rot or mold. If you find water draining or seeping from your chimney that is usually a sure sign that your roof is leaking. Even if your roof looks good after the inspection, you should still keep an eye on it in the future. Bad weather and rain can wreak havoc on your house. Without routine maintenance and inspections, even the smallest problems can become catastrophic. Before you purchase a home, be sure to check the roof and ensure that it is the proper type for your climate. Homes in climates that are humid and hot need a particular type of roof that will differ from home in areas that have a lot of ice and snow. Homes that may be vulnerable to hurricanes need to have hurricane straps installed during construction as they need to be installed on interior walls before securing to the roof. Intensive research on what type of roof will fare better can go a long way when it comes to replacement and repairs.
