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What Problems Can Be Caused by Commercial Roofing Leaks?

Leaks are among the most common problems that commercial roofers come across when maintaining customer roofs.

Whether a leak happens suddenly or goes undiscovered for a while, commercial roofing contractors see a wide variety of damage that can happen as a result.

The right way to prevent or minimize any kind of damage due to leaks is by hiring a commercial roof contractor for regular inspections and maintenance.

Proactive care is the best protection when it comes to the avoidance of leaky commercial roofs.

1. Water Damage Inside

When water leaks inside a commercial building through an unnoticed roof leak, at the very least commercial roofers notice these leaks when they see evidence of water inside the building.

Leaking water can saturate and damage the insulation under the roof deck as well as the ceiling material and drywall.

It can also cause damage to equipment or merchandise in the building.

2. Mold and Mildew

Another common problem that commercial contractors see resulting from small ongoing leaks is mold and mildew growth.

Anything that gets wet under the roof and remains damp, such as the insulation, ceiling material, and items within the building, can become a breeding ground for damaging mildew and dangerous black mold.

Repairs require commercial roof contractors to remove all damaged materials and may require the mold to be professionally remediated to make the air quality in the building safe.

3. Structural Wood Rot

Upon discovering leaks that have been ongoing for some time, commercial roofers frequently find roof decking and other wooden structural components of the roof experiencing wood rot.

This happens when a leak has been present for some time and the wood gets wet repeatedly and never fully dries out.

After some time, the wood starts to rot which means that roofing contractors must then remove that part of the roof as well as any wooden structure involved and rebuild it.

4. Fire and Slip Hazards

Undetected leaks in commercial roofs can also cause other unexpected types of damage that can create liability issues for building owners.

Water that makes its way to the floor can be a slip-and-fall hazard that results in people getting injured.

Water leaking in and running along internal electrical wires can also cause a short that starts a damaging fire.

5. Compromised Roofing Integrity

Overall, when leaks go unnoticed due to a lack of maintenance or a building owner not hiring commercial roof contractors to perform periodic inspections, the damage can be widespread.

Damage to the external roofing material and its supportive structure can compromise the integrity of the entire roof, making it more susceptible to storm damage, more dangerous to walk on, and even creating the possibility of a collapse.

While this is a worst-case scenario, it is not impossible when leaks go undiscovered for long periods of time.

Commercial Roofers Can Check For Damaging Leaks

Leaks happen, usually when they are least expected.

Regular inspections done by a commercial roofing contractor are the best prevention that building owners have against the many problems that leaks can cause.

An experienced commercial roofer who recognizes the various signs of past or active water damage can track down leaks and correct them before they become a bigger problem.

Property owners need to partner with a local commercial roof contractor to prevent leaks and maintain the good condition of their roofs and buildings.