Why Do Commercial Roofs Leak?
4 Causes Of Leaks Requiring Commercial Roof
Repair And Maintenance In Hudson County
Understand The Reasons For Leaks To Protect
Your Building From Water Damage
Leaking is a sure sign to schedule commercial roof repair and maintenance in Hudson County.
If your roof has started leaking, your entire building is at risk for water damage. It’s vital to respond quickly – and to understand the cause to prevent similar leaks in the future.
Sometimes, it seems like an industrial roof will just spring a leak from nowhere. Where do these leaks actually come from?
At 1 Call Restore, we’ve been in the roof repair business since 1990. We’re experts at tracking down the source of a tricky leak – it could be any of these four common reasons a commercial roof starts leaking.
1: Split Roof Membranes Cause Leaks – Time For
Commercial Roof Repairs In Hudson County
Many industrial buildings in the North Jersey area have flat roofs.
Flat roofs can be made from a variety of different material types. The main piece of a flat roof is the roofing membrane, a sheet of durable material that makes up the roof’s surface.
If the roofing membrane breaks, water can get right through. Over time, water will saturate the insulation, and you’ll notice signs of leaking from inside the building. Your ceiling might appear damp and stained, and you might have some spots where water is actually dripping into the building.
Roofing membranes are very durable. However, just like any material, they are susceptible to wear and tear. They can blister, split, and pull apart.
Older industrial flat roof membranes are more prone to these issues than newer membranes. Even so, new membranes can be punctured by debris or hail, and leaks will show up similarly.
It takes a trained eye to find issues with a roof membrane. Regular commercial roof inspections are key to preventing leaks from damaged roofing membranes.
If you notice water pooling in the ceiling or any signs of a commercial roof leak, contact a professional roofing contractor ASAP to schedule commercial roof repairs and maintenance before the problem gets worse.
2: Failed Seals On Skylights Cause Leaks In
Your Commercial Roof In North Jersey
There’s nothing better than natural light inside a building.
Skylights are a common addition to industrial roofs to take advantage of the sunshine. However, a skylight is a hole in your roof. If the seals around a skylight fail, it becomes a channel for water to enter the building. You might notice signs of the leak, including mold and mildew in the surrounding ceiling.
The best way to prevent leaks from a poorly sealed skylight is to schedule regular roof inspections. A professional will pick up on any signs that the seal is wearing down and recommend a replacement BEFORE leaks occur.
3: Stop The Leaks From Improper Drainage With
Commercial Roof Repair And Maintenance
Flat roofs are notorious for pooling water.
Unfortunately, a flat roof that is not installed correctly may not drain water very well when it rains. Flat roofing usually has just a little slope for water drainage, and roof drains should be optimized to prevent pooling.
Sometimes, heavy rain does result in some pooling on a flat roof. That doesn’t necessarily mean a leak if the roof is fully functional. However, standing water will take advantage of any existing weak points in the roof.
If leaks only occur when water is standing on the roof for an extended period, you might not notice the signs immediately. Mold, mildew, and water damage might occur. Prevent these issues with regular roof inspections to find any weak points where pooling water could get in.
Additionally, pooling water can weigh down a roof not designed to support that extra weight.
If you notice that water regularly pools on your flat roof, call a roofing contractor to check it out. It might be necessary to consider waterproofing your commercial building to improve leak resistance.
4: Worn Flashing Is A Common Cause Of Leaks That
Require Commercial Roof Repair And
Maintenance In Hudson County
Flashing seals an industrial flat roof to your building.
Water can leak around the roof’s edges if the flashing is worn or damaged.
Routine roof inspections should catch any normal aging requiring flashing replacement before leaks occur.
Catch leaks before they start and prevent more extensive water damage. Schedule a free quote for commercial roof repairs and maintenance with 1 Call Restore today.
