A leaking roof in a commercial facility can be devastating. Incoming water can ruin thousands of dollars worth of stock and equipment, cause electrical shorts that result in fires, and more.
With this in mind, you’ll surely want to find and fix leaks before they get worse or cause serious damage. There are several things you can do to accomplish this.
Find the Leak
Not all leaks are obvious, so you should never assume everything is fine. Instead, walk through your entire facility on a scheduled basis, such as monthly, with your eyes toward the ceiling. Look for dripping water, moldy spots, or new ceiling stains. Be sure to check areas where inventory is held, especially if it has been in storage for a long time. Areas like these are often ignored, and this lets problems go unnoticed longer than they otherwise would.
Once you find a problem spot, you’ll need to track down the leak. It is often difficult to pinpoint where water is coming in. This is because water may travel a long distance from where the problem is before it finds its way into or through the ceiling inside the building. Even so, your first step should be to measure how far from the walls the ceiling damage is. This will give you a starting point for an exterior leak search.
Next, go up on the roof. Bring some spray paint or other powerful marking material with you!
Start looking directly above the spot you noticed inside (finding it will be much easier if you measured it while indoors). Then, if you don’t see anything amiss, start scanning higher up the grade of the roof. Even “flat” roofs typically have at least a little slope to them, so the leak may be further away than you’d think.
X Marks the Spot
Once you find the spot, mark it. This will keep you from having to search again when it’s time to fix the problem.
Try to Keep the Water Out
If possible, tarp over the damaged spot to reduce water infiltration and damage. You may also attempt a temporary fix, but make sure you use materials that are compatible with your roof system to keep from voiding the warranty.
Check for other causes
If you don’t see an issue with your roof, there may be another culprit. Water inside your building can also be the result of HVAC condensation, leaking drain pipes, and failed waterproofing at walls or windows. A quick exploration by your maintenance personnel can help save you money in future costly repairs by ensuring that you call the right kind of contractor to solve your problem the first time.
Contact Perry Roofing Contractors
The best way to truly fix roof damage is to have a roofing company come out to do repairs. This will ensure a solid, long-lasting repair. If you are in or near Gainesville, Jacksonville, Ocala, or St. Augustine Florida, contact Perry Roofing for your commercial roofing repairs.