Is commercial roof repair worth the investment? It’s one of the most frequently asked questions to our specialist roofing team. Their answer? A simple yes.
But you probably want to know a little more…
Like what does commercial roof repair include? What can it fix? And what can it prevent?
You’ll likely also want to know if commercial roof repair is better than roof replacement?
So we’ve put together a guide to help you learn all you need to know about commercial roof repair…
What Is Commercial Roof Repair?
Commercial roof repair is the maintenance carried out to either prevent roof damage or take remedial action when damage has occurred.
At GI Sykes, we specialise in commercial roof repair of all types of roofs. These mainly fall into three categories; flat roof, low-pitched roof or pitched roof.
Each of these has specific aspects that need to be taken into account when considering a repair. A flat roof requires weatherproofing with membrane or felt, particularly as the most commonly reported issue is with pooling water.
Both the low-pitched roof and the pitched roof have two sides sloping down from an apex (the top point of the roof). Pitched roofs tend to be more durable, offer more space inside a building and are thought to be more attractive but can be much harder to access for maintenance.
What Damage Can Commercial Roof Repair Fix?
Our commercial roof repair service is comprehensive – there are very few roofing problems that we can’t fix. But what are the most common roofing issues that we come across?
Flat Roof Problems
- Flaking, torn roof coating. This problem, sometimes called ‘alligatoring’ because of its reptile skin appearance, is pretty unavoidable. The asphalt or bitumen that’s used to waterproof your flat roof is affected by sun exposure, standing water and debris. Left to degrade, this can result in cracks and tears in your flat roof coating which lets water into the roof itself – meaning a bigger repair bill in the long run.
- Ponding water. A flat roof isn’t actually totally flat. It has a ‘fall’ on it, which helps water to run off. However, over time, your flat roof can develop dips where water pools – this is known as ponding. If water collects on your flat roof and remains there for a while (this happens most frequently during the autumn and winter months), it can start to stress the membrane, causing it to fail.
- Blistering. If your roof manages to avoid the pitfalls of the UK weather in winter, it might not be so lucky in summer. A black roof in hot, direct sun can end up with blisters – little pockets of air – as trapped air and moisture expand. This causes the membrane to stretch, which not only means you have areas of weakened membrane, you also have spots where water can collect – and after summer comes the rain!
- Movement. Buildings can have subtle movement in them, especially new buildings. While the effects of settling are generally fairly minor, they can make your flat roof membrane buckle.
- Weathering. Ok, so your weatherproof coating IS weatherproof, but that doesn’t mean that over the years the temperature changes won’t have an effect. The continual expansion and contracting of the roof can start to cause minor failures.
Low-Pitched Roof Problems
- Runoff problems. A lower slope means that water runoff can be an issue. The lower the pitch, the more likely it is that you’ll see issues caused by pooling water.
- Snow settles. Snow, although infrequent in the UK, is a huge problem for low-pitched roofs. It doesn’t clear well, and the added weight can cause failures in the roof covering.
- Exposure. Low-pitched roofs are commonly found on warehouses, industrial units and large superstores. These roofs are huge, and in storms and high winds are at most risk of wind damage.
Pitched Roof Problems
- Water damage. While pitched roofs have better water management, they can still suffer from water problems. Areas that get clogged with leaves or debris can allow pools to form.
- Loose tiles or slate. Whatever you have on your roof, it can come loose, and when it does, there’s a high risk of water making its way into the inside of your building. Loose tiles also provide access to your roof for birds to nest.
- Clogged guttering. Thanks to the high pitch of your roof, water runoff is well managed – however, this can put more strain on your gutters. These are likely to catch all manner of debris, blocking them up. You’ll need a good gutter maintenance schedule to keep on top of it (we have an excellent gutter cleaning service – you can see more here)
- Moss and algae build up. Roofs are ripe for organic matter to thrive – moss, algae and fungi all grow well in the conditions found up there. But this means bad things for your roof – the added weight in wet weather puts your roof under strain, not to mention the fact that it can look very unappealing.
How Can Commercial Roof Repair Help?
Commercial roof repair should be part of your building maintenance plans. Whatever type of roof your property has, it’s likely to need remedial work at some stage, and catching it early can mean the difference between repair and replacement.
Our commercial roof repair service means that every aspect of your roof is inspected by our highly-trained contractors. These experts know what to look for when assessing your roof, so you know that once your commercial roof repair is complete, your roof will be in excellent condition.
Our team of reliable, qualified and skilled contractors can carry out every aspect of commercial roof repair, including;
- Recoating
- Refelting
- Patching
- Replacing Tiles
- Roof cleaning
Commercial Roof Repair vs Roof Replacement
If your roof is very old, then it will start to require more frequent repairs. At this stage, you’ll need to weigh up the cost of continued remedial works vs the cost of a new roof. As a rule of thumb, if the cost of repair is 50% of the cost of replacement, it might be time to bite the bullet.
Our team are honest and dedicated to providing you with the most effective service, so you can trust them to make a truthful assessment of your roof.
Want To Talk Commercial Roof Repair?
So whether you’re looking for planned commercial roof repair or you have an emergency issue, we’d be happy to help. The first step is to get in touch to arrange for a site visit, here we can assess the scale of the commercial roof repair needed and provide you with an accurate quote. We look forward to hearing from you!
