If you own a commercial building in the Las Vegas valley, the odds are that it has a flat roof. While these are popular among builders and business owners due to their low cost and ease of maintenance, if you fall behind with your flat roof repairs, the roof could quickly deteriorate in the event of a major storm. Sometimes you may not know you have an issue until it’s too late and your leaky flat roof turned the inside of your building into a swimming pool, get the most accurate damage measures with Roof Inspection Charlottesville VA.
How to Tell You Need Flat Roof Repair
Flat commercial roofs have a finite lifespan. Over the years, the hot Las Vegas sun can break down roofing material that protects your building’s roof from leaks. Below are some ways to tell you need flat roof repair:
- Repeated, extensive water pooling on the roof
- Large tears, cracks, or rips in the roof or seams
- Blistering and bubbling from adhesion failure
- The presence of moisture and leaks inside the building
- The pulling away of flashing from the corners of the roof
- The presence of lichen, mold, moss, and\or algae
- Damaged top coat
Some commercial roofs are made of materials that hide problems. It is best to call professional roofing contractors to address these unseen problems.
What to Do When Your Flat Roof Leaks in Heavy Rain
Nothing is quite as concerning as seeing a constant drip of water coming from your ceiling. This is a possibility if you neglect to repair your roof. As water flows from your ceiling during heavy rain, there is little you can do. But to limit the water damage, here are some ways to repair flat roof leaks:
- Locate the source or location of the leak by checking the ceiling and attic to find the leak.
- Put containers under the leak to catch the water. To keep your floor as dry as possible and safe to walk on, collect the leaking water in buckets and mop around the area regularly.
- Call a commercial flat roofing repair company like The Original Roofing Company. Professional roof technicians will have the knowledge and equipment needed to quickly and temporarily stop the leak.
What Causes Flat Roof Leaks?
There are many causes of flat roof leaks. The common sources include the following:
- Inadequate drainage. If your roof can’t properly drain water, it will pool. Over time, standing water can destroy roofing materials that make the roof susceptible to leaks.
- An old roof. Older roofs are more prone to leaks as years of heat, sun, rain, and wind destroy the roofing material.
- Damaged flashing. Improperly installed or damaged flashing leaves the corners of the roof exposed to the elements, including rain. Poor flashing can allow water to penetrate the roofing system.
- Problematic roof membrane. Tears, cracks, punctures, shrinking, and blistering of the roof membrane leave the interior of the roof vulnerable to water damage and leaks.
- Standing water. Water is heavy and even a small puddle of standing water can cause excessive strain, wear, and tear on your flat roof. These factors ultimately weaken the roof to the point where it can no longer stand up against leaks.