4 Common Waterproofing Issues in Commercial Properties

Waterproofing is one of the most important functions of commercial roofing, and keeping the roof watertight has proven to be a challenge for commercial property owners and managers. Read on as we list the most common waterproofing issues found in commercial properties.

1. No Accommodation for Thermal Expansion and Contraction

All materials expand and contract from temperature changes, and roofing materials are no exception. One of the most basic parts of proper roofing installation is taking expansion and contraction into account and making accommodations for it. Substrate materials are installed with gaps; single-ply roofing materials are installed with enough slack and never tightly. An inexperienced installer may overlook this requirement, which may later lead to the roofing material stretching beyond its limit, forming tears or gaps.

2. Wrong Choice of Roofing Material

A commercial roof has to be built to purpose. If a commercial property owner is expecting high foot traffic on the roof—perhaps a rooftop bar, cafe or storage sheds—then anything but single-ply roofing would be more appropriate. Resistance against storm damage should be considered if the area is open, as opposed to being surrounded by taller buildings.

3. Installation Errors

Most of today’s roofing failures are rooted in mistakes committed by inexperienced installers. This is why the bigger the property is, the more you should be careful in choosing your roofing contractor. In our case, we offer outstanding warranties on both the roofing materials that we offer, as well as our installation work.

4. Insufficient Waterproofing Between Levels

For multi-level commercial properties, a watertight roof isn’t enough. There should be sufficient waterproofing between levels, which is something that needs to be present during building construction. Should the roof spring a leak, it just won’t affect the top most level; it will trickle to the levels below if the waterproofing is not up to par. If you receive complaints about water leaks from the occupants, make it a point to address this immediately. Occupants from other levels may also feel the effects.

Coleman Roofing is your leading provider of residential and commercial roofing in the entire state of Louisiana. Give us a call at (225) 379-7663 or fill out our contact form.