A Look At Damage And Repairs For Two Popular Types Of Commercial Roofing
Posted on: 12 January 2022
Taking care of your commercial roof is important because a good roof protects your building from water damage. All types of commercial roofing are suitable when they're first applied and in good shape, and your roof can continue to protect your building well as long as you have repairs done promptly.
Two common types of commercial roofing are membrane and metal, and they show damage in different ways. Here are some types of damage to watch for with each type of roofing and repairs that could be needed.
Membrane Commercial Roofing Can Be Punctured
Membrane roofing is made from rubber or plastic materials. There are a few different kinds of membrane roofing, but they are all thin sheets that are spread out over your roof. The material is tough, but since it's thin, punctures are possible.
Every time your roof is inspected, your maintenance crew or the roofer should look for small puncture holes in the membrane so they can be patched up. Puncture holes are easy to patch since all it requires is to place a patch over the hole and adhere it with heat or an adhesive.
Since membrane roofing is applied in sheets, there are seams that have to be joined together. As the roof is exposed to rain and sun over the years, the seams can gradually loosen up and allow rain to leak in. Checking all of the seams on your roof is another important part of a commercial roofing inspection. The seams that are loose or open need to be closed with adhesive, seam tape, or heat.
Metal Roofing Can Rust
Rust is a threat to metal roofing, even roofing that's treated to resist rust. If rust happens to develop, a roofer needs to remove it and then cover the area with a rust inhibitor so the rust doesn't spread and eat holes through the metal. Another potential problem with metal roofing is that the screws can back out sometimes. This is similar to having puncture holes since the open screw holes can let rain in.
Metal roofing panels are held in place with screws and rubber washers. The washers can deteriorate over time due to sun exposure, and if that happens, the washers may need to be replaced. Metal roofing is strong and tolerates strong winds during storms, but if your building is in the way of a hurricane or tornado, it's possible for part of the roof to be twisted or damaged.
When a metal roof has storm damage, you might need a new roof put on. However, since the roof is composed of multiple individual panels, it might be possible to replace a few panels and leave the rest of the roof in place.
Talk to a commercial roofer for more information.
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