A commercial roof leak is a problem in any weather, but a commercial roof that suddenly begins to leak during a heavy rainstorm can quickly turn into an emergency. Proactive roof maintenance is one of the best ways to save yourself from expensive emergency repairs. Not only will being proactive save you money over the life of your roof, but it will also likely prolong the life of your roof by years.

Warning signs YOU NEED commercial roof leak REPAIR

If you’ve spotted any of these signs in your commercial building, it’s usually wise to organise an inspection to assess what commercial roof repairs are needed.

Stained ceiling/walls

Whether you have ceiling tiles or other types of ceiling systems in your facility, extended exposure to water will create a discoloured area in your ceiling. If the leak is near a wall, the water stains could run down the corresponding wall; if this is the case, there could also be water damage within the wall.

Odour/mould 

A bad smell in your building could be a red flag for hidden mould. Mould grows in moist environments, so if water is continually entering your building, there is a high chance that mould could grow and spread.

Water dripping/puddles

The most sure-fire sign of a commercial roof leak is when you can visibly see water entering your building, whether it is a puddle on the floor or dripping above your head. This type of leak could cause damage to not only your roof and building structure, but it could damage equipment and other items inside the building as well.

Visible damage

Many types of roof damage can cause leaks into your commercial building. Most of the time you can catch a roof leak before it enters your building by being vigilant and keeping your roof in good shape.

Common problems that cause commercial roof leaks

Drainage

Gutters need to be cleaned at least once a year to keep them in good condition and ensure they continue to direct water away from your building. Gutters can also degrade over time and can cause a number of issues for all types of buildings. These include flooding and leaking, water ingress into your building & vegetation growth within the gutters. These problems will eventually lead to damage to other parts of the building and can become very costly. It’s important to look into options for repairing the gutters as soon as these problems become apparent.

Damaged roof lights

Roof lights are a great source of natural light within a building. However, over time, they can become discoloured, damaged or brittle. Once this happens, just one strong gust of wind could cause the roof light to tear, and could leave your building exposed to leaks. Problems can occur when roof lights are not properly maintained. Materials also tend to weaken over the years. If you’ve spotted any issues, it’s usually wise to organise an inspection to assess what industrial roof light works are needed. Typical problems you might notice with roof lights are water leaks, discolouration (often brown or beige), and cracks and/or splits.

Age

Ageing can cause roof cladding panels to crack and peel, as well as leaving the original cladding coating discoloured and faded. This not only looks unpleasant, but it leaves the cladding exposed to moisture which can lead to rust – and eventually leaks.

Cut-edge corrosion 

Cladding sheets are coated when they are manufactured to protect them from the elements. When these sheets are cut to size, the edges aren’t re-coated, leaving them exposed. Over time, the edges of the cladding sheets are likely to rust. This can lead to leaks and eventually lead to the cladding panels needing to be replaced.

Environmental damage 

There are a number of environmental conditions that can cause wear or damage to industrial roofs. These include wind, rain, hail, snow, sunlight and freeze/thaw cycles.

Should I replace or restore my commercial roof?

Many building owners and managers assume that their best option to fix a leaky roof is to replace it altogether, but this is not always the case. In many circumstances, simpler, less expensive restoration processes can repair roof damage while strengthening the roof against future damage.

Benefits of industrial roof repair

Cost

A complete roof replacement can be expensive in labour and materials, particularly if the existing roof must be removed first. Restoration, on the other hand, requires less labour and materials, and so costs less.

Efficiency

If only 10% of a roof is damaged, it doesn’t make sense to replace 100% of it. Because restoration projects can target damaged areas, they are far less wasteful.

Sustainability

Roof restoration and maintenance, when done properly, can protect your roof against the elements and provide long-term solutions. The typical commercial roof lasts about 20-30 years if properly maintained. Restoration can increase that lifespan by an additional 10 to 15 years or longer if well maintained.

Case study – birds eye

The Birds Eye factory was built in 1985 next to the North Sea. The sea air had caused extensive corrosion to the roof sheets, gutterings and edge laps. Cladspray Solutions carried out the following industrial roof repairs.

• Replacement of all barge flashing for new
• Replacement of entire roof ridge for new
• Pressure washing and degreasing of entire roof to remove all contamination
• Treatment & repair of cut edge corrosion using Rustoleum Noxyde, anti-corrosion system
• Where necessary, replacement of non-reparable edge laps for new
• Noxyde edge lap tape system applied
  Industrial roof coating 2 coats of
• Rustoleum Noxyde, spray applied, to achieve a 15 year guarantee
• 15 year manufacturer and company guarantee for waterproofing and anti-corrosion within a C5-M environment.

The Birds Eye factory was built in 1985 next to the North Sea. The sea air had caused extensive corrosion to the roof sheets, guttering and edge laps. Cladspray Solutions carried out the following industrial roof repairs.

• Replacement of all barge flashing for new
• Replacement of entire roof ridge for new
• Pressure washing and degreasing of entire roof to remove all contamination
• Treatment & repair of cut edge corrosion using Rustoleum Noxyde, anti-corrosion system
• Where necessary, replacement of non-reparable edge laps for new
• Noxyde edge lap tape system applied
  Industrial roof coating 2 coats of
• Rustoleum Noxyde, spray applied, to achieve a 15 year guarantee
• 15 year manufacturer and company guarantee for waterproofing and anti-corrosion within a C5-M environment.