The older any roofing system gets, the more it will degrade. If you have a quality durable roofing system, the degradation of that system can take several years or decades to notice. There are some parts of the system that may degrade much faster. If you are a commercial business owner, you may encounter some issues that require a professional commercial roofer to repair. Here are some of those issues and what you should know about each one.
Ventilation Issues
The ventilation ducts and fans for your commercial roofing can experience several issues over the course of their lifetime. With heavy winds and rain, you can experience the blades of the ventilation system becoming dull or bent. When this happens, they may not work properly, causing a loss of energy efficiency. Your first sign that this has happened is noticing the fan not spinning or the air not circulating out of the building at a normal rate. You may also notice a build-up of condensation that is not normally evident. These issues lead to a replacement of the ventilation system or the specific damaged fans.
Steam and Smoke Pipes
Some commercial buildings feature exhaust pipes for steam and smoke. You may have these in place depending on the type of commercial business you own. Pipes can have the same issues as a ventilation system. They can also have other issues. Some of those issues deal with the flashing fund around the pipe juncture. If the flashing is lifted up due to heavy winds, you can experience leaks around the pipe. You can also experience issues with the pipe slipping or tilting. This puts pressure on the existing roofing system around the pipe that will need to be repaired to avoid water damage.
Gutters
Gutters can be a wonderful option for removing water from the roof and to the drainage below the building or to the city streets. Over time, the anchor system that holds the gutters in place can pull out of the roofing. This can be due to several factors. One of the leading issues is the lack of cleaning and maintenance for the gutters. If a buildup of debris occurs, it can pull the gutter system down and cause it to pull at the anchor system. The gutters can also be pulled down due to heavy winds. Your commercial roofing professional will need to remove the gutters or resettle them with new anchors.
If you begin experiencing any leaks or other issues, contact your area's commercial roofing contractor. They will assess the issues and determine if it is an issue with the commercial roofing system. If they find issues, they will discuss any repairs and options available to you. They can also answer questions and help you schedule a time for any repairs.
When you have something you like inside a jar, you probably put a lid on it — right? In a way, you can think of your house in the same manner. You like and value the items inside, along with the inside of the house itself. So, it only makes sense that you would protect the interior of your home with a lid. That lid is your roof.
Keep that perspective in mind as you read this blog. Learning more about roofing will feel more interesting if you remember what a roof does: it protects the inside of the home and the people who live in it.