Photo By free mixer at istock
Signs Your Roof Needs to Be Repaired
Worrying about the roof is one of the last things that a business should have to concern itself with. But the reality is that without a quality roof in place, it’s hard to get anything done properly, and when problems appear, commercial roofing is the answer. However, because the roof is one of the last things on the minds of most businesses, it’s often hard to notice a trouble spot until it’s too late. When a problem does appear, finding the right commercial roofing team becomes an absolute necessity and can often mean a very expensive repair job, or even a full replacement.
Fortunately, with a little bit of maintenance and understanding of the situation, it’s easy to know where your trouble spots are and when to call in a roofing team before a minor issue becomes a catastrophe. Here are a few things that you should look for when you have someone inspect your roof!
Problematic Rust
When someone spots rust on your roof, that’s a sign that there might be a problem. Not all oxidation of metal on the roof is a problem, so it’s important to know when you’ve got an issue and when you can leave it alone. For example, if you’ve got a copper roof, you might notice the distinctive blue-green coating known as patina when it oxidizes, but patina isn’t a problem. In fact, many commercial roofs have a patina coating on their copper roofs, and they’ve been standing for close to a century.
So when do you need to worry? The time to concern yourself and call for commercial roofing is when the rust starts to compromise the integrity of the metal. During a summer in Dallas, TX, intense heat can cause metal to oxidize faster than it otherwise would, which can cause the metal to rust and bend. What kind of problems can this cause? Ask the city of Atlanta, which had to replace its basketball arena after just 25 years of use because its weathering steel roof never stopped rusting, causing massive holes in the entire structure that made it unusable.
If the metal shows signs of bending on your roof, it’s a good idea to call in an expert in commercial roofing to fix the problem before things get out of hand.
Excess Moisture
If you’ve ever spent a summer in the Metroplex, you know that Dallas, TX is humid and moisture is going to find its way to your roof. Unfortunately, moisture can do a lot of damage to your roof in a relatively short period of time. First, excessive moisture can work against the insulation in your commercial roofing because it prevents it from doing its job properly. During the summer in Texas, your employees are going to want to keep the building cool so that they’re comfortable enough to focus on doing their jobs. When the insulation is wet, it can’t do that and instead starts absorbing heat from the outside, creating miserable conditions.
Plus, moisture can also allow for the growth of mold underneath the roof. There aren’t many things that can wreck office dynamics faster than employees having to call out sick with breathing problems caused by toxic spores underneath your roof, and the problem only gets worse the longer the excessive moisture is allowed to stay around. As soon as you notice any signs of moisture in your roof, it’s time to call a commercial roofing expert to fix the problem and prevent problems for your staff.
What are the trouble signs? Look for any discolorations in the ceiling, as these can be a sign of water damage. If you notice anything wrong or unusual with the ceiling’s appearance, you need to call in a commercial roofing expert to inspect the roof immediately.
Your Roof Is Bubbling
Sometimes, the most simple signs are the biggest signs of trouble. If your roof starts to bubble, that’s a sign of a major problem with the structure, and it’s one that needs to be fixed right away. A bubbling roof is usually a sign of moisture problems heading up instead of down when they affect your roof, and unfortunately, the only way to know that they exist is to either get up on the roof yourself (not recommended) or call in an expert in commercial roofing to examine the roof of your office. If anything seems out of place when you inspect the roof, it’s time to get it replaced before it collapses.
Your Roof Is Aging
Not every roof is designed to last for over a century the way a copper roof is. In fact, most roofs are only designed to last for about 30 to 50 years before it’s time to replace the structure and improve on the integrity of the building.
Even if you don’t notice any problems with your current roof, the reality is that commercial roofing and technology have come a long way over the past several decades. Replacing an older roof can allow you to take advantage of modern technology and make your roof much safer for you and your team. If your roof was first constructed in 1979, making it more than 40 years old, it’s a good idea to be proactive and look at a new roof for your office while it’s merely a good idea, instead of an absolute necessity.
If you do spot signs that your roof needs to be repaired or replaced, don’t wait around for the problem to get worse. At Longhorn Commercial Roofing, we’ve got the knowledge and ability to properly repair a commercial roof and make sure that it’s able to withstand the day-to-day realities of weather and other factors so that you can focus on the things that make your business successful. Call us to take care of the roof over your team’s heads and get the peace of mind that comes with knowing the job will be done right the first time!
