3 Common Winter Effects on Your Commercial Roofing
Winter can be long and harsh on your commercial roof. A commercial building is an important part of your business either for manufacturing or storage. Here are a couple issues your commercial roof might encounter this winter season.
1. Snow Buildup
Most commercial roofs are flat which can lead to heavy snow build up. The weight of the heavy snow can damage your commercial building’s structure. It is important to be proactive about removing snow from your commercial roof; work with a certified commercial roofing contractor to put systems in place to minimize snow buildup.
2. Ice Damming
Ice dams form when melted snow cannot drain off of your roof causing ice buildup to form. The ice buildup continues to grow putting added weight to your roof which could cause your roof to collapse. Ways to reduce ice damming are:
- Proper insulation
- Heat cables
- Silicone Roofing Systems
3. Contraction
When temperatures drop, a commercial roof will contract causing cracks and splits. A good commercial roofing contractor puts systems in place to accommodate contraction to minimize cold weather wear and tear. As your roof ages, it is important to have regular roof inspections from certified commercial roofing contractors.
Aerial view of commercial buildings
It is important to have your commercial roof inspected by a certified roofing contractor 1-2 times a year to prevent weather-related damages that can potentially be dangerous. Snow buildup, contraction, and ice damming are just some potential winter related hazards to commercial roofing. Other potential damages can include:
- Standing water (ponding water)
- Reduced wind uplift resistance
- Weakening due to old age
- Lack of maintenance
- Improper repairs
If you need your commercial roof inspected, call ARC Contracting to schedule an appointment with one of our project managers. Inspections are free and can prevent costly damage to your commercial roof before it happens.
For information on commercial roofing, see our past blog post 5 Things to Consider When Replacing A Commercial Roof
