It’s a common misconception that a modern, well-built flat roof will be leaky and difficult to maintain.
High-quality materials and design expertise actually make commercial flat roofs a good option for builders, since they save space and lend themselves well to contemporary architectural designs. Of course, every roof in every size, shape and material will leak at some point if not properly cared for. Storms and rough weather can hasten the wear and tear on a commercial roof and cause a leak between regular inspections that needs to be addressed.
There are 5 common reasons for a commercial roof leak:
1. Snow and Ice
Traditional peaked roofs were designed with a specific purpose; to let rain and snow fall down their sides and off the structure. Flat roofs don’t have this feature, which means that harsh climates with a lot of snow and ice can wear them down. In particular, heaped snow on top of the flat roof will not only form ice, it will put substantial weight on the roof itself.
When ice forms from snow or water, it forms cracks that grow over time and weaken the building materials. The simplest way to avoid damage from snow and ice is to shovel the roof and remove any snow drifts whenever they form.
2. Standing Water
Standing water is just as much a problem as standing snow drifts, except that it can wear holes into the roof a little more quickly. Although good-quality flat roofs are built to endure quite a bit of weather, including rain, standing water adds undue weight to the structure and slowly eases its way into the building material to cause leaks.
Ideally, the roof should be angled ever so slightly so that rain water runs to one side and into a drainage system; standing water therefore suggests that the roof is sagging in one spot and needs repairs.
3. Age
The passage of time will claim any roof, be it flat or peaked or covered in turrets. This means that the most important thing you can do is to have it regularly inspected so that worn pieces can be replaced and cracks can be fixed. No roof lasts forever, but there’s no reason that yours shouldn’t last a good 10 to 30 years with proper care.
When a roof has aged well beyond its expected life span, however, it’s better to look towards a replacement than another round of repairs.
4. Inferior Building Materials
The most commonly-used materials for flat roofs these days are fibre glass, rubber or felt. Rubber tends to offer the longest-lasting solution; however fibre glass also has a lengthy life expectancy as well as a good-looking appearance.
Felt is the cheapest way to go and it will not last as long as roofs made from other materials. This is one of those cases where spending more money at the beginning will save you money later on.
5. Poor Maintenance
No one can buy a roof, no matter how good it is, and just let it sit there for 30 years unattended. Maintenance plays a huge role in the life expectancy of a commercial flat roof.
A newly-installed commercial roof can be left up to 5 years without inspection, assuming that it isn’t subject to constant rain or snow storms or high winds. After this phase, a roof should be personally inspected at least once a year, and professionally inspected every 3 years.
With proper roof maintenance, careful inspection and timely repairs, your commercial flat roof should be leak-free for most of its life.
Remember that with proper maintenance, a flat roof can outlast a peaked one!
Image: Debs