Tips for Preventing Water Damage to Your Commercial Roof

Tips for Preventing Water Damage to Your Commercial Roof

Water is one of the worst enemies of any roof – whether in the form of rain or of moisture absorbed by the debris accumulated on the roof, the prolonged exposure to excessive amounts of water can and eventually will weaken the roofing materials in the roof and will lead to the appearance of leaks and other issues. Fortunately, most forms of water damage can be prevented – here are some tips how.

Regular Maintenance is Key

Ideally, according to knowledgeable commercial roofing Tampa contractors, any roof needs to be inspected and cleaned twice a year, once in spring, to get rid of any debris left by the winter and to prepare the roof for the summer and once in fall, to clean the summer debris and to get the roof ready for winter. The procedure should involve not only the roof surface – it should be extended to the gutters and the downspouts because no roof can stay strong in front of rain and wind without proper drainage. You should also pay special attention to the roof valleys and to the areas surrounded with flashing, such as the skylights and the chimneys – the continuity of the roof surfaces is disrupted in these areas, therefore they are more sensitive to water damage.

commercial roofing Tampa contractors inspect and repair storm damaged roofs

Replace Damaged Components Immediately

Even the best-kept roof can lose a shingle or a two in a hard storm, so it is a good idea to check the roof for damage after each storm or windy period. Look for missing, cracked, chipped or broken components – if you find any, see to the necessary repairs right away, before it starts raining again. Check for ponding surfaces as well – the water that accumulates in the depressions that might appear on roof surfaces over time can further weaken the roof and increase the risk of leaks.

Insulate Underneath the Roof

Water damage can appear not only during long rainy periods and it can be caused not only by storms – the cold season also increases the risk of water damage. If your attic is not insulated, the heated air rises from your rooms and leaves the living space of your building, moving all the way up to the roof. When it reaches the roof surface covered in snow, the heat melts the layer of snow that is directly in touch with the roof surface. The melted snow then runs on the side of the roof and freezes again by the time it reaches the edge of the roof, forming long, heavy ice dams. While icicles might look great in the sparkling winter sun, they are very harmful for roofs – ice is very and the long ice sticks that form on the roof edge can damage the roof component that they attach to, such as the gutters.

The best way to prevent ice damming is by installing attic insulation. Your insulation will not only prevent the damage that frozen water can cause on your roof – it will also prevent heated air from leaving your rooms, thus it will save you lots of money that you would otherwise spend on heating.

Comments are closed.