To fix a commercial roof can become extremely costly for a business in terms of money and time. However, if regular maintenance is done, business owners can avoid expensive repairs in the future and can extend the lifespan of the roof. Aabco Roofing are licensed roofing contractors who repair, maintain and replace commercial roofs – they are a family owned and operated company in South Florida who have been in the roofing industry for over 30 years.
Signs That Your Roof Needs Attention
Typically, a commercial roof either has a low slope or is entirely flat. Commercial roofs tend to require more maintenance than residential roofs because they have larger surface areas. The following points are typical tell-tale signs that a commercial roof needs attention. If these signs are over looked, repairing the damage can become an even bigger task and may even need replacing.
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Blistering or Bubbling
Blisters or bubbles form on a commercial building when there are pockets of air or moisture trapped between layers of the roof’s membranes. This means that water is trapped below the surface of the roof. Unfortunately, once it starts, it becomes a never-ending cycle until it is repaired – as the sun heats the roof, the pockets expand and stretch the membrane. The stretching of the membrane allows for more air and moisture to enter the membrane layers. The heat from the sun ultimately increases the size of the bubble.
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Sagging or Stained Ceilings
Sagging shows that the roof structure is stressed and bearing too much weight. This would be a result of a build-up of moisture in the roof. Wet ceiling stains mean that there is an active leak, with the first concern being roof damage. The amount of damage will depend on how long the leak has been active for. Both sagging and stained ceilings are a sure and common sign of a roof leak and should be taken care of immediately.
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Clogged Drains
Clogged drains prevent the effective draining of water from a roof resulting in the pooling (ponding) of water on a roof.
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Standing Water
Standing water is one of the most common causes of roof leaks and water damage. It can be described as water that remains on a roof for 48 hours or more. Ponding water adds significant strain to the roofing system as an accumulation of water is very heavy. The weight may cause sagging of the roof which in turn allows for more ponding water.
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Mold or Bad Odors
Mold is a fungus that grows when there is moisture around and it does so very quickly. Mold needs food and moisture to grow. Ponding water on commercial roofs provides the moisture needed for growth, while the roof layers become it’s food. Mold will eat through the roof, allowing for the possibility of damage to the inside of the property. A bad odor means that there has been a water leak for some time.
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Plant Growth
Plants growing on the top of a roof are an indication the roof is not draining properly. Plants will grow if there is trapped moisture on the roof.
Commercial roofing differs immensely from residential roofing – when looking to fix your commercial roof you need to use a roofing company that specializes in commercial roofs. Based in South Florida, Aabco Roofing specializes in both commercial and residential roofing repairs and replacement. As pictures can say a thousand words, a gallery of Aabco Roofing’s completed jobs can be found on their website, along with testimonials from many satisfied customers.
