As winter officially settles in, spring seems to be far off in the future. While we in Northeast Ohio know how long winter can last, commercial building owners should start planning now for their spring roofing needs. Why? When the winter weather subsides and the warmer spring months roll in, the snow melts and the climate gets wet. This tends to shine a spotlight on commercial roofing problems that may have cropped up over the winter. Spring showers may bring flowers, but they also bring roof leaks. Roof leaks don’t necessarily mean a new roof is needed.
With that in mind, here is a simple checklist to use when assessing your roofing needs for 2017:
Flashings: The primary problem areas on commercial roofs are the flashings. This is generally where the vertical roofing materials meet the horizontal materials. The result of this intersection is almost always a seam—think of where a parapet wall meets the roof deck. If your flashings are sagging, visibly open or completely detached, it’s time to call a professional.
Field membrane: The field membrane is the material laid flat horizontally on the roof. It makes up the majority of commercial roof systems. Some things to look for are ponding water, bubbled or lifted material, loose seams or faded membranes.
Perimeter details: The perimeter details are made up of the edges and borders of your commercial roof system. When installed new, they are generally metal, such as a metal gravel stop or metal cap. Older buildings will have stone blocks or clay caps. If you can see cracks, dents, splits or completely missing perimeter details, there is a problem.
Drains and Gutters: These are the utilities you have in place to properly remove water from the roof surface. Drains are set in low areas in the field or where the roof pitches to collect and drain the water from your roof surface. Gutters and downspouts are set on the edges of a pitched roof to collect the water and disperse it away from the facility via downspouts. Make sure to check that your drains are not clogged or backing up onto the roof surface and that the material around the drains is secure. Gutters should be checked to make sure they aren’t loose or pulling away from the roof edge, allowing water and moisture into the perimeter. Loose or missing downspouts will allow water to spray onto the sides of the building itself causing unrelated leaks.
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These few items can be inspected by a savvy building owner in the spring, and a professional roofing contractor like Roberts Roofing can make any necessary repairs. So as you settle in for the cold winter months to come, be sure you are planning ahead for spring roofing maintenance and repairs. By doing so, you can extend the life of your commercial roof and realize greater cost efficiencies.
Roberts Roofing Company has been a leading provider of innovative commercial and industrial roofing solutions in Cleveland, Ohio since 1981. We provide commercial repair, replacement and maintenance to serve companies of all sizes in Ohio and the surrounding region, offering a combination of technical expertise, custom solutions and quality workmanship to every project.
To find out more about selecting a commercial roofer in Cleveland, Ohio, simply fill out the form on this page and a member of our team will be in touch. Or, you may call us at 440.946.2233.