The technology behind commercial roofing these days is unreal. Roofs can be built with an endless number of materials and created in whatever shape your heart desires. But, no matter the material used, constant monitoring is necessary to keep your building in top shape.
As the owner, you need to be on the lookout for signs that your commercial roof either needs maintenance or needs to be replaced.
So, let’s take a look at several early signs of the need for commercial roof replacement due to system failure.
1. Your Commercial Roof is Sagging and Needs Replacement
Have you ever noticed that an area of your roof sits lower than the rest? If so, don’t simply brush it off, thinking that the sag has always been there and you’ve simply never noticed it. That’s likely NOT the case.
Sagging portions of a commercial roof (while possibly harmless for now) become a huge problem very quickly. In fact, depending on the severity, a sagging roof might only be days away from collapse.
Sagging means that the commercial roof is experiencing a significant amount of weight or pressure in that one spot. Those low points gather water and will continue to do so as long as it isn’t fixed.
As soon as you notice a sagging roof, reach out to a trusted commercial roofing service for guidance on what to do.
2. Sprinkler Heads are Out of Sorts
Roofing issues, like sagging areas, aren’t just costly in regard to the roof repair needed. Unattended issues can also affect high ticket items like your sprinkler system.
Pressure from a compromised roof can push sprinkler heads out of their normal position. So, if you notice that the sprinkler system (such as the piping or the sprinkler heads themselves) seems warped, reach out to a commercial roofing expert.
For a time, the sprinkler system may act as support (of sorts), but when the weight becomes too much, the sprinkler system will start to bend. If that happens, in addition to fixing the roofing, you’ll need to pay for the sprinkler system to be fixed to ensure it works properly in case of a fire emergency.
3. Increased Roof Line Sagging After Snowfall
Perhaps you’ve been “keeping an eye on” a portion of your commercial roof for a while now. Maybe you haven’t felt the need to contact a professional yet, but if after a significant snowfall you notice that the once-small sagging segment has grown much larger, then you need to schedule a roofing consultation.
Inform the roofing company of what you noticed and try to get them to stop by as soon as possible. For all you know, that segment could be growing larger by the minute!
A reputable commercial roofing company will have emergency response options, and here at TEMA Roofing, we offer a 24-hour emergency commercial roof response line. Service levels are broken down into Priority A (any situation that could physically endanger a person or building) and Priority B (anything not classified as Priority A). Priority A service requests are responded to (on-site) within 4-8 hours, which includes weekends and holidays.
4. Warping Interior Door Frames
Depending on how high your commercial roof is, you might not be able to see sagging or defects. But, that doesn’t mean your roof isn’t weakening.
A sign of roofing failure that’s far more noticeable from the inside is when door frames start to look misshapen. (The doors will have a harder time opening and closing as a result.)
It’s likely that changes to the shape of the door frame are stemming from failure in the roofing system. If a roof is failing, the intense, increased amount of weight will push down on your door frames, causing them to warp.
As soon as you notice issues with multiple interior door frames, contact a commercial roofing company to come check it out.
5. Cracks in the Ceiling and Walls
Perhaps you’ve noticed that your ceiling is starting to show a few early cracks. If so, then it’s an indication that all may not be well on the other side of the roof.
There’s a common misconception that cracks are just a sign of wear and tear and shouldn’t be taken as a warning sign for anything major. However, cracks are almost always a warning sign that something unnatural is happening with your commercial roof (or the building itself).
The same goes for cracks along the walls. Wall issues can be the result of pressure from your roof and the additional weight it’s placing on the walls. (The cracks are a result of too much strain being put on the structure.)
There could also be a sagging support structure that is beginning to buckle in on itself.
Both cracks and misshapen support structures are a sign that you need to get your commercial roof tended to right away. Delaying any longer could mean paying thousands of more dollars in repairs to things beyond your roof.
Have Your Commercial Roof Inspected Today!
Perhaps you’ve noticed some of the issues mentioned above. Or, maybe you simply want to have the peace of mind knowing that your commercial roof has been inspected by a professional and is in good shape. Either way, we’d be happy to discuss your unique situation and schedule a visit.
Reach out via our Contact page and see how we can help!
