The subtropical climate in Florida is great during the summer months; however, this climate also brings around strong tropical storms, thunderstorms, cyclones and even hurricanes. With this kind of weather, it is crucial to have well-built and maintained commercial roof for yourbuilding, for the safety of your tenants, your business and your valuable assets. As a building manager, you probably know how expensive repairs can get. You may also have a difficult time getting claims from insurance companies if you do not put your roof on a regular maintenance schedule in case of serious property damage during a storm. The following are some of the common concern areas for commercial roof that should be checked out before the storms come rolling in:
Leaks and moisture
The last thing you want to have during a storm is a leaking roof. Water damage getting into your ceilings, damaging insulation and causing paint to flake off can cost you much more in repairs than simply fixing the source of the leak. Most common causes of leaks in commercial roofing are flashing details that are not fastened properly in areas where the membrane is interrupted. Moisture leaks may also occur on hot bituminous and torch applied modified bitumen roof without proper moisture barrier underneath. Even single ply membrane roofs with poor seams result in leaks. Regular leak and moisture penetration inspection should be a key focus in your commercial roof maintenance practices.
Reduced wind uplift resistance
The tropical storms and cyclones in the area come along with strong winds that can cause serious damage to commercial roofs. Open seams and laps will definitely lead to reduced wind uplift resistance and puncture resistance. Reduced wind uplift resistance is mainly a roof installation concern. You need to work with professional commercial roofers who understand how many fasteners are necessary in the base sheet during roof installation or how long the seam should be cured to hold properly.
Ponding water
Ponding water on a flat roof is not only an indicator of poor drainage but also too much weight on the roof that it cannot handle causing it to warp. If the roofing system was not designed for foot traffic or carrying heavy loads, then avoid this at all costs. In case you want to use this space commercially as well, you should consider installing a sturdier roof to avoid warping and ponding of water during a storm. It is advisable to first investigate the cause of the ponding water before coming up with a solution that may include cleaning out the drainage or rethinking the entire roof design.
Roof penetrations post installation
Besides foot traffic, installation of HVAC systems, aerials and other roof installations can cause additional punctures and penetrations on the roof post installation. Roof installation experts often install walkway paths in roofs with light single ply roofing systems. However, abuse of the finished roof is a leading cost of problems in commercial roofing systems that you should avoid at all costs.
