After enduring a harsh, cold winter, the warm, sunny spring days are a refreshing relief. However, the spring season comes with its own set of challenges, including spring maintenance for your commercial building.
One of the most critical maintenance concerns for commercial buildings is the roofing system. Just like residential roofs, all types of commercial roofs—TPO roofs, asphalt, and wood shake shingles, or a combination of these different materials⎯can experience the effects of water leaks.
Since many commercial buildings have flat roofs, water leaks are usually caused by pooling water, loose flashing, or roof membrane damage. However, you can typically prevent these problems from occurring with regular inspections and proactive maintenance completed by an expert roofing company.
Here are five tips to prevent commercial roof leaks this spring, so you can be confident your building and workers are protected.
How to Prevent TPO Roof Leaks This Spring
1. Schedule Roof Inspections
Did you know that a proactively maintained roof lasts 60% longer than a neglected roof? Spring is the perfect time to schedule a roof inspection to perform preventative maintenance and minor repairs that will significantly extend the lifespan of your roof.
Regular roof inspections ensure problems are taken care of promptly before they escalate into expensive roof replacement. An experienced roofer can quickly locate your commercial roof issues, like storm damage, weak spots, and leaks, and correctly fix them.
One way to care for your roof is by enrolling in a roof maintenance program, like the Certified Commercial Maintenance Program we offer at Christian Brothers Roofing. You’ll receive annual inspections, maintenance-related repairs, and have options for an extended warranty.
A commercial roof maintenance plan helps you find potential damage faster and protects the warranty for your commercial roof for years to come.
2. Clean Gutters
After a harsh winter, your building’s gutters can become clogged with leaves, tree limbs, moss, and other debris that prevents water from correctly draining away from your home.
Blockages in your gutters or drainage system can create water pools, which result in a saggy roof that causes leaks and water damage.
Clean your gutters each spring to prevent roof leaks. Your roofing company can remove debris from your gutters and verify that they are tight and secure.
If your gutters are loose, cracked, damaged, or not working correctly, ask your roofer about investing in a gutter replacement to save your building from significant structural damage in the future.
3. Wash Roof Surface
After a harsh winter, your roof can become dirty and cluttered with debris. It’s typical for wind, rain, or snowstorms to carry gravel, dirt, leaves, twigs, and even garbage to the top of your TPO roofing system.
When left unattended, roof debris can lead to nasty problems, like algae, mold, and mildew infestation, and extra moisture on leaves and vegetation can contribute to roof leaks.
Clean and pressure wash your roof each spring to remove debris and prevent unwanted growths that may have harmful effects.
Also, trim the large trees near your building to ensure that your roof doesn’t collect or suffer damage from rogue tree limbs during turbulent storms.
4. Repair Flashing
Flashing creates a water-resistant barrier that protects vulnerable parts of your roof, like chimneys, pipes, drains, and vents, from becoming an entry point for water.
When the sealant and caulking around your flashing are cracked, loosened, or damaged in harsh storms, your roof’s membrane becomes vulnerable to water damage, which can cause dangerous roof leaks.
During your spring inspection, ask your roofing contractor to repair damaged flashing and re-seal pipes, vents, drains, HVAC units, and other roof penetrations to prevent water entry.
5. Inspect Roof Membrane
If you have a TPO roof made from ethylene propylene rubber, you won’t have to worry about damaged, broken, or missing wood shake or asphalt shingles. However, a commercial TPO roof has another concern—a damaged roofing membrane.
Roofing membranes seal flat roofs and make them waterproof. Over time, these membranes endure storm, sun, and weather damage, which can result in shrinking, cracks, blistering, or holes on your roof. This damage can result in large roof leaks, and if it isn’t caught quickly, it can require an expensive roof replacement.
To avoid costly damage to your roofing membrane, ask your roofer to repair small leaks to your roofing membrane during your annual inspection, and be sure to keep your roof clear of debris and pooling water.
Benefits of a GAF TPO Roofing System
If your decaying EPDM or Modified Bitumen Roofing System is too damaged to repair, consider a GAF TPO Commercial Roofing System for your roof replacement.
A GAF TPO roof offers many benefits, including:
- Increased energy-efficiency
- Simple installation process
- Cost-effective savings
- Durable roofing solutions
- A lifespan of 20-25 years
- Various color options to match your building
Protect Your Investment with Reliable Commercial Roofing Repair Services
We understand that roof damage is a significant concern. That’s why we’ve helped hundreds of property owners protect their buildings with reliable roof maintenance and repair.
We perform a thorough, personalized roof assessment to check for leaks, broken seals, standing water, and mold growth, and then address minor issues before they become big problems.
It’s easy to care for your commercial TPO roof when you have the expert help of a dependable Kansas City roofing company. Learn how our roofing repair services can give you confidence in your roof’s performance and protect your investment for years to come!
