Baton Rouge Commercial Roofing: 5 Common Commercial Roof Problems

This post was originally published on January 18, 2016, and has been updated by the author for accuracy.

When it comes to your business, your building is one of your most valuable assets. It provides shelter for your employees, storage for your materials, and becomes the home of your operation. Based on the type of industry, the infrastructure of your business can have some distinct characteristics and requirements. However, one of the most important elements of your commercial building is the roof. There are a variety of roofing styles that different buildings can utilize and while each can have unique issues, there are common problems that can plague any type of commercial roof.

Here are five common problems with commercial roofs:

• Blistering, splitting and erosion: This is a common problem for built-up roof systems (BUR), but is not uncommon for a single-ply roof either.

• Ponding water: In south Louisiana’s wet, tropical climate, this can be a major issue for any roof. Ponding is considered any amount of water sitting on the roof for more than 48 hours by the National Roofing Contractors Association. The initial concern with ponding water is water intrusion. However, if this problem persists there could be much more significant structural damage.

• Commercial Roof Leaks : As mentioned above leaks can stem from a number of problems including ponding water, wind damage, holes, missing shingles, etc. This can be especially damaging to your business as not only can interior damage occur, but machinery, products, materials, and other assets can be damaged as well.

• Tenting, billowing, blow-offs: This is a major problem for single-ply roofs. The cause of blow-offs and billowing is from the roof not being properly adhered to the substrate.

• Insufficient roof maintenance : This problem can create a wide range of roof issues. Making seasonal checks or inspections after a storm can help identify many simple problems before they become major issues.

These are only a few problems that can impact your commercial building’s roof. It is important to recognize these and any other issues before they become expensive problems. It is also important to trust your roof to a local, proven, experienced roofing contractor. For over 60 years Cribbs Incorporated has been helping Baton Rouge area home and business owners with their roofing and sheet metal needs.