How To Decide If You Should Coat A Flat
Roof In Bergen County, NJ

The Age of Your Bergen County Roof

Roofing materials are only designed to last about 20 years. As they reach or exceed this age, you will find that the surface of your roof loses flexibility and begins to crack. Cracks make it susceptible to leaks, which can lead to other serious problems, including interior property damage and mold infestation.

Trees Overhanging Your Bergen County Building

High winds cause overhanging tree branches to scrape and beat on the surface of a roof. This constant pummeling can lead to roof punctures and wear and tear. It is important to trim back overhanging branches so they are at least six feet away from the roof and walls. This not only protects your roofing materials, but it also prevents trees from denting your siding.

North Jersey Ice, Rain, And Snow

Our state is renowned for its frigid winters and rainy springs. Rain and snow cause untold damage to flat roofs. Moisture seeps into the tiniest cracks in the roof, and when the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands. This worsens the cracks and creates a cycle of increasing roof damage.

Flat roof coatings seal off cracks and prevent damage caused by the freeze-thaw cycle.

Harsh Bergen County Sunlight

During the summer, North Jersey buildings must withstand hour upon hour of unrelenting sunlight. One of the most destructive parts of the sun’s rays is known as ultraviolet radiation. It is a band of electromagnetic rays with a wavelength shorter and more intense than that of visible light.

While UV radiation causes skin wrinkles, cancers, and other health concerns, long-term exposure also damages roofing materials. It turns them dry and brittle and makes them liable to crack. Flat roof coatings rejuvenate damaged roofs, make them more flexible, and act as a barrier against further UV damage.

Pooling Water On A Bergen County Roof

Water should not accumulate on the flat roof of your North Jersey commercial building. If it does, it indicates a problem with drainage or a sagging roof deck. Pooling or ponding gives moisture plenty of opportunity to seep through even the tiniest cracks in your roofing materials.

Flat roof coatings create an impermeable, watertight barrier against ponding water and prevent internal roof leaks that might cause furniture, flooring, and finishing damage.

Alligatoring, Cracks, And Bubbling

Cracks in the surface of your flat roof leave the building vulnerable to moisture infiltration and water damage. This is why it is important to inspect the roof regularly for signs of deterioration.

One particularly bad type of deterioration is known as “alligatoring.” Alligatoring is the formation of a serious pattern of related cracks in the surface. Some are deep, and some are shallow. Together, these cracks make the roof surface appear like the jagged, leathery hide of an alligator.

Another sign of roof damage is when the roof membrane begins to bubble or blister. This normally indicates that moisture has seeped below the surface and has been heated until it forms a gas. The expanding water vapor causes the membrane to expand and form small bubbles.

Water Leaks Through Your North Jersey Roof

Water leaks are a sure sign you need flat roof coating service. They mean rain or melting snow is seeping inside the building and putting your belongings at risk.

Water leaks often show up as dark moisture stains on the walls or ceiling. They cause paint to bubble and wallpaper to peel. At their worst, they can result in water dripping from the ceiling so rapidly that you must capture it in a bucket.