Maintaining a commercial flat roof is critical to ensuring a long life for your building’s structural integrity and preventing costly repairs. While flat roofs are known for their durability and practicality in commercial applications, they do require consistent care. Here’s a comprehensive guide to maintaining a commercial flat roof effectively.
Flat roofs are typically made of materials like modified bitumen (2 ply Mod Bit), EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin), or PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). Knowing the material specifics can help you develop a maintenance plan tailored to your roof’s needs.
Each material has specific characteristics and maintenance needs:
A proactive inspection schedule is key to maintaining your flat roof’s health. Ideally, inspections should be done at least twice a year—once in the spring and once in the fall—to identify issues that may have arisen from seasonal changes. You’ll also want to perform an inspection after severe weather events like heavy rains, hailstorms, or high winds.
In my experience, some owners have stated that without regular scheduled inspections their roofs could be in danger. Buildings have sustained roof collapses due to clogged drains, and water weight building up on the roof. These collapses could have been prevented by having your roof inspected on a regular basis.
Inspection checklist:
Because flat roofs don’t have the benefit of a slope to direct water off the surface, drainage is especially critical. Water pooling is a common issue on flat roofs, and standing water can degrade roofing materials, lead to leaks, and even compromise the roof’s structural integrity.
To prevent this:
Ponding water on a flat roof is a common concern due to the lack of natural slope. Over time, it can weaken the roof’s surface, create an environment for algae growth, and accelerate wear.
Tips for managing ponding water:
One owner I worked with found out that a small puncture was not allowing water into the building (affecting tenants) but it was allowing water into the roof system causing major damage that was unknown. The tenants and owners were unaware of the puncture allowing water into the roof system due to not having regular roofing inspections or maintenance performed. This scenario saturated the buildings insulation and began to deteriorate the building structural decking from within.
On a flat roof, even small problems—such as punctures, tears, or small leaks—can quickly turn into costly repairs if left unattended. Taking care of these issues right away can save you time and money in the long run.
Here are a few examples:
As flat roofs are exposed to sunlight and fluctuating temperatures, they may develop cracks, blisters, or bubbles. Blisters can occur when moisture or air becomes trapped between the roofing layers. If left untreated, they can expand and eventually lead to leaks.
To manage these:
Commercial flat roofs often house HVAC units, vents, and other equipment. These installations can create potential weak points, as they require holes for attachment and, over time, can compromise the roof’s waterproof membrane.
Roof top equipment and accessories are the largest culprit for roof leaks during the lifespan of the roof system. At any location on the major field of the roof and the membrane is cut open to add equipment, the membrane is required to turn 90 degrees vertical to flash the penetration property. This opening or penetration to the field membrane is generally the most at-risk area on the roof for material failures. The roof membrane is similar to a rubber band, it has elasticity built into the chemical component to allow it to expand and contract during the hot and cold temperatures. As the sun’s UV rays wear and deteriorate the weathering membrane, the strength and elasticity become less and less each year.
Another major competent of leak calls are related to third party contractors accidentally puncturing the membrane. All roof top equipment needs to be serviced at sometime during its lifespan. This can relate to HVAC units, condensing units, fresh air units that are serviced monthly, quarterly, or annually. Most third-party contractors do not even know the membrane was damaged to alert the building owner or property manager. These damages or punctures are only located once the next rain event occurs, or during schedule maintenance inspections. It is strongly advised for all owners and managers to have an inspection or walk through after all major roof top projects are complete. This allows any damages or punctures to be directly tracked and associated with the work that was recently completed. This also allows any invoicing to be directed back to the contractor rather than the building owner.
Regular maintenance includes:
Flat roofs, especially those in humid or shaded environments, are prone to algae, mold, and mildew growth. This can degrade the roofing material and, if left untreated, lead to significant structural issues.
Prevention and treatment tips:
Working with a roofing contractor to set up a maintenance plan can be invaluable. Professionals can identify issues that may not be obvious, perform essential repairs, and apply protective treatments to maximize your roof’s longevity.
Benefits of a professional maintenance plan:
Proper maintenance of a commercial flat roof is essential to protecting your investment and minimizing repair costs. From regular inspections and debris removal to addressing small problems quickly and maintaining equipment, a comprehensive approach can ensure your roof serves your business for years to come. By following these steps, you can extend the life of your commercial flat roof, reduce unexpected costs, and create a safer environment for everyone in your building.
To stay up to date on news and resources such as this and other topics of importance to the real estate industry, subscribe to the free CRE Insight Journal Newsletter using this link.
Comments are closed.