What Are the Most Common Roof Damage Causes?

When operating a business property, owners must be aware of the possibility of harm. Any type of property will sustain damage over the course of its useful life, which can cause significant problems for owners. Particularly problematic are roof damages, as symptoms of imminent damage are not always obvious. Routine maintenance is frequently the best way to avoid costly repairs and dealing with insurers. However, this is not always the case. Having the ability to detect early warning signs of roof deterioration enables commercial property owners to make repairs before they become serious and may not be covered due to a lack of maintenance. The following are common causes and warning signs of commercial roof damage that property owners should be aware of:

Leaks and Defective Lighting

Inadequate flashing is a leading cause of commercial roof damage. Flashing is often installed around vents, chimneys, and skylights and is utilized by experienced roofers to deflect water away from essential roof sections. When installing flashing, it is necessary to account for the expansion and contraction of roofing materials caused by the weather. When flashing is improperly installed or damaged, it can cause a roof to leak. Moreover, problems with a roof's pitch pan might also result in leaks. The pitch pan is utilized to seal around pipes that may penetrate the roof. When not correctly sealed, they can easily produce leaks.

Strong Winds

Major storm gusts can also cause damage to commercial roofs. Wind pressure can place additional strain on flashing when roofing materials are not installed and maintained correctly. This pressure mixes with internal pressure to produce a wind uplift. This deteriorates a business roof's flashing, seams, and membranes over time. High winds can also dislodge vent caps, allowing water to enter.

Punctures

Despite the fact that commercial roofs are meant to survive years of weather and pressure, the roof membrane can be pierced, resulting in costly leak repairs. This is especially true for hailstorms that are capable of dropping large hailstones directly onto a roof. Hailstones can easily penetrate areas of a roof that are already susceptible. Occasionally, having HVAC, plumbing, and/or electrical professionals work on a roof might also result in punctures if they drop a big device or piece of equipment. During their time working on a commercial structure's roof, they may accidentally cause damage to flashing.

Standing Water

Standing or ponding water on a roof can be caused by clogged drainage systems, a badly installed roof, or a poorly maintained roof. Regardless, the presence of standing water can exert enormous pressure on the surface of a roof.

One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds. Thus 100 gallons of water on a roof can add an additional 834 pounds of weight. When water collects on a roof, the allowable weight load may be exceeded, leading to massive structural damage that may possibly cause the roof to collapse.

Installation of New Equipment

The installation of new or improved equipment on the roof of a commercial building can also significantly increase its weight. In many instances, property owners may unwittingly exceed the roof load, jeopardizing not only the roof but the entire structure. In order to avoid exceeding the roof's total load capacity, commercial property owners should determine the roof's dead load, live load, and transient load capacity prior to installing or replacing equipment on the roof.

Poor Roofing Upkeep

If a commercial property owner does not execute routine maintenance or inspections on their roof, this might result in costly repairs that could have been avoided. If the property owner observes water stains on the ceiling or other signs of a damaged roof, a professional roofer should be contacted for an examination. Routine commercial roof inspections can assist owners in identifying issues early on and prevent a denial of a commercial property damage insurance claim due to incorrect maintenance.