Guide to Commercial Roofing and Weather

The weather can be unpredictable, and each season brings elements that can damage your commercial roof, making it crucial to understand how to prepare and protect your roof from hail, hurricanes, and snow.

At ACR1 , we’ve put together a guide to common weather occurrences, how they affect your commercial roofing, and what you can do to protect your roofing system from damage.

Hail is a common occurrence in the summer months and can cause minor to serious damage to your commercial roof. If you’ve experienced a storm of hail, it is crucial to understand the signs of roof damage which include:

After a storm, there is a chance that you will see circular indentations or punctures on the surface of the roof. This can happen depending on the size and density of the hail and the material that your roof is made of.

Roofs made of aluminum are likely to dent, whereas asphalt roofs are likely to suffer punctures. For roofs composed of a PVC membrane, the strong molecular bond of the roof lessens the chance of dents or punctures. Keep in mind, though, that a strong enough storm of hail can eventually cause fractures.

If your roof has been punctured by hail, you may have water from the storm leaking into the inside of the building. Look for stains on the walls, ceilings, and floors after a thunderstorm, and be sure to address any water damage as soon as possible to prevent mold growth.

Check your roof for standing water after a thunderstorm. If there is standing water on the roof 48-72 hours after the storm, you will likely have structural damage. Ponding water after a storm indicates that there is a structural issue with your roof that is preventing it from draining properly. If you see ponding water, call a commercial roofing company for an inspection.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to stop some of the damage that a severe storm can cause to your roof; there is a way to help prevent or minimize the damage to your commercial roof.

For superior storm protection, it is recommended that you upgrade your roof to a monolithic roofing system. At ACR1, our Advantage Systems Commercial Roofing system is installed in one complete piece with no seams. This helps to prevent leaks, and since no cutting and gluing is needed, we avoid creating weak points in your roof.
Additionally, this roofing system is 3-4 times thicker than our competitors’ roofing materials to protect your roof from items falling onto or being thrown onto your roof and providing you with excellent protection from hail damage.

It is recommended that you contact your insurance company after a storm, no matter how severe the damage is. If you’ve inspected the roof and see that damage has occurred, be sure to document the damage with photos. Document everything you can about the damage using photos, as these photos will play a major role in the filing process with your insurance agent and adjusters.

From roughly the beginning of June to the end of November, many areas are at risk for hurricanes. Even if you don’t live in a hurricane-prone area, the severe storms that can pass through your area can still bring strong winds, heavy rain, and flying debris that can cause damage to your roof. It Is critical to prepare your commercial roof to withstand hurricane season.

Typically, your commercial roofing system should be able to handle a regular storm with ease, whereas an extreme storm, like a hurricane, can put a lot of stress on your roofing system. This stress is especially heavy on the edges of the roof, where materials may have loosened. If you have a low-slope roof, it is at risk of damage to the seams, flashings, and corners.

Your roof may also be susceptible to major leaks if your drainage systems become obstructed or overwhelmed, causing water to pond on the roof. This can lead to interior leaks, which can compromise the structural integrity of the roof and your commercial building and may damage machinery, inventory, etc.

To prepare for hurricane season, the experts at ACR1 recommend:

The best way to protect your roof is to have it inspected and maintained every year. This will allow you to repair any minor issues before they escalate, ensure that your drainage systems are working properly, and will also provide you with documentation and photos of your roof’s condition. You will want to have your roof inspected before June 1st, when hurricane season begins.

If you have trees on your property, be sure to call a trusted professional to remove any limbs that could break off and damage your commercial roof.

Look at your commercial roof warranties and your insurance policies to ensure you have the coverage you need for hurricane season. If there are any lapses or gaps in coverage, be sure to resolve them.

It is recommended that you develop a three-year spatial budget to provide you with the funds for severe storm damage.

If your roof requires repairs or if you plan to replace your commercial roofing system, be sure to contact ACR1 and have your repairs or replacement scheduled before the next hurricane season.

While it is crucial to prepare prior to hurricane season, there are also steps you should take to prepare your roof when the storm is a day or two away from reaching you. We recommend:

We also recommend that you schedule a post-storm inspection to ensure you beat the post-storm rush for inspections and get a better spot in line.

After the storm passes, you want to check for leaks on the interior of your building. If you see water stains on the ceilings, walls, or floors, don’t try to temporarily fix them yourself; instead, call ACR1 right away for inspection and repair. If the roof is severely damaged and poses a threat to people’s safety, be sure to call 911.

You will also want to contact your insurance company as soon as possible to begin your claim process for your commercial roof.

During the winter season, a flat roof can accumulate several feet of snow. This snow must be removed from the roof’s surface to prevent it from creating issues with your commercial roof. By thawing and refreezing, snow can damage the roof’s drainage system and can also block access to your commercial building’s major features.

Prior to the winter season, you can install snow protection features, and it is also recommended that you compose a snow removal plan.

Major snowfall can lead to buildup on your flat roof, which can negatively affect not only the roof but the commercial building beneath it as well. This can damage the building and create safety hazards, opening you up to liability. We recommend removing snow from your commercial roof, which should be done with special care and strategy. Snow buildup can cause:

After a snowfall, snow and ice can fall off of the edges of the roofing system if left uncollected. This can lead to ice and snow falling onto people and property below, causing harm to employees or the public and damaging our property. The roof membrane can also become damaged if snow or ice falls in heavy loads from higher surfaces onto lower roof surfaces.

When snow collects on your commercial roof, it can block your access to a variety of systems and features, such as your plumbing vent and HVAC systems. Snow may also prevent these systems from working properly, and it can also block access to the roof, making snow removal difficult.

Your roof’s membrane can become damaged by heavy snow accumulation due to the freeze and thaw cycle. The snow will melt throughout the day and then freeze over again at night. The water can get into cracks in the roof’s membrane. When the water freezes, it expands, which can worsen these cracks and other vulnerabilities in the roof.

If the snowfall exceeds the weight capacity of your roof, it can cause the roof to collapse, causing massive damage to your commercial roof while posing a serious risk to the safety of your employees. This is a rare occurrence, but it is a serious concern which is why snow management is crucial.

When snow remains on the rooftop, it will melt and make its way into the external drainage system. This water will refreeze, expanding and damaging your drainage system.

If your building is under stress by the snow load, you may notice

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), if the snow load on your roof is close to the weight capacity of your commercial roof, it should be removed. The snow should also be removed if you are expecting more snow that could cause the snow load to exceed the roof’s weight capacity.

Even if the building can handle the snow load, snow that is at risk of melting and refreezing should be removed. Direct sunlight can melt the top layer of snow, which will then refreeze and make it difficult to remove the snow from the roof.

It is important to use a licensed roofing contractor to remove snow buildup from your roof. They will remain safe on the icy or snowy roof surface and know how to prevent damaging your roof membrane during the removal process.

Be sure to hire a professional for snow removal before winter to ensure you beat the winter rush.

We recommend that you prepare your commercial roof prior to the winter season to help minimize your risk of snow damage. Some things you can do to prevent damage include:

Contact us today to learn more about how weather affects your roofing system and how our Advantage Systems Commercial Roofing System can provide you with a reliable and durable roofing option that can withstand the elements!

Guide to Commercial Roofing and Weather

ACR1 Commercial Roofing