Modified bitumen roofs are more damage-resistant than many other commercial roofing materials. However, damage can still occur if maintenance needs are ignored or physical damage starts to add up. Protecting your bitumen roof can prevent roof leaks and help you save thousands of dollars annually by removing the need for a replacement.
With timely maintenance and care, you can avoid these common roofing problems. Our prevention tips will help prevent the need for repairs in many situations.
Physical Damage: Hail, Tree Branches, and Foot Traffic
One of the main reasons clients call for bitumen roof repair is due to physical damage. Hail and other forms of storm damage are the hardest to prevent, but most other forms of physical damage just take some preventative maintenance and planning to avoid.
Hail
| Impact | Hail can cause punctures, cracks, and material degradation, particularly in modified bitumen roofs. |
| Prevention | Use high-quality materials and professional installation. Ensure the roof is designed to withstand hail impact. |
Tree Debris
| Impact | Falling branches can puncture the roofing surface, while pine needles and twigs clog drainage systems, leading to water damage. |
| Prevention | Schedule routine pruning and seasonal roof cleaning (especially in fall and after summer storms) to minimize debris-related damage. |
Human Interaction
| Impact | Foot traffic from maintenance crews can wear down the surface. Dropped tools or spilled substances may puncture or chemically damage the roof. |
| Prevention | Limit foot traffic where possible. Use walk pads and ensure careful handling of tools and materials during maintenance. |
How the modified bitumen roofing is installed or handled can affect its resistance to damage and oils.
Oils and grease escape the vents of restaurants, food processing facilities, hospitals, schools, and other facilities that cook or process food. Modified bitumen roofs are sensitive to these chemicals, leading to rapid breakdown unless a barrier is installed.
To protect your commercial roof, you’ll need a grease-resistant barrier on the surface, as well as to inspect it regularly and replace it when needed. Some other chemicals may damage this roofing if they settle on it regularly, necessitating a durable barrier.
Ponding Due to Slope or Collapse
Even the flattest roof designs tend to feature a slight internal slope to direct water towards the gutters and drains that remove it. When a roof is built without this slope, ponding quickly damages the roofing material. Ponding is a literal term referring to when pond-like puddles of water gather on a flat roof without draining away.
Even if a roof starts with a proper slope, the weight of roofing and rooftop equipment can still cause settling over time. The weight of ponding water itself can even collapse sections of internal insulation, worsening the damage. Checking and repairing the roof’s slope is essential to protecting all commercial roofing, including modified bitumen materials.
Penetrations
Any penetration that passes through the roof represents a weak point that could lead to damage later. Eliminate unnecessary penetrations by clustering or combining vent stacks, skylights, and HVAC equipment. When penetrations are necessary, insist on quality flashing and inspect these areas regularly to catch early warning signs of trouble.
Climate Considerations: Cold and Extreme Heat
Another cause for modified bitumen roof repair is the climate itself. Moderate climates contribute minor wear and tear to this roofing, but hot and cold temperatures are hard. Still, there are ways to make a modified bitumen roof work in almost any climate with the right materials and installation methods.
Cold
Bitumen materials hold up reasonably well in cold temperatures as long as they’re not being applied and there’s no pressure on them. Like an air conditioning unit, roofing the area with a heavy load can crack in freezing temperatures. Applying modified bitumen roofing or repairing it during cold weather takes special materials and extra heating equipment. Still, it’s nothing that a skilled crew can’t overcome.
Extreme Heat
Extreme heat is more brutal on the modified bitumen materials—still, special formulas for the ply roofing and the adhesive seal it together to withstand heat better. Regular exposure to summer heat waves weakens the bonds between layers and causes shrinking away from the sides, letting water leak in.
In hot climates, inspecting the roof monthly during the summer is a good preventative measure. Patching or replacing damaged materials as quickly as possible prevents further damage to this kind of roof.
Protect Your Roof
If you need more roof damage prevention tips tailored to your particular type of commercial roof, we’re happy to help. Choose Delta Innovative Services for everything from in-depth inspections to the repairs and roof replacements you need to keep your commercial buildings in great shape.
Don’t wonder how your modified bitumen roof is coping with threats like falling tree limbs, hail, and heat damage. Contact us to learn more about your current roof’s health and what we can do to help protect and restore it.