While commercial roof damage can occur at any time of year, winter is particularly hard on these flat surfaces. Snow and ice tend to accumulate week after week, adding thousands of pounds of extra strain on the structure.
Even a few minor icing or snowfall events can damage the surface of membrane and built-up commercial roofing systems. If you’re concerned about commercial winter roof damage, commit to regular inspections and watch for these early warning signs during the cold season.
Dents and Other Depressions
Dents on the surface of metal and membrane commercial roofing systems often indicate hail damage. While some dents may come from foot traffic or falling branches, it’s important to check for deeper damage and compromised surfaces that can lead to leaks.
Divots and cracks often occur due to falling debris, either branches from nearby trees or ice that detaches from overhanging surfaces and roof penetrations like ventilation stacks. No matter the form of commercial winter roof damage you spot, immediate repair is the best way to keep a leak from forming and risking damage to the rest of the structure.
Split Surfaces
Snow loading can press down on flat roof surfaces, leading to split material. The splits can form in the center of a large area or near the edges where the materials are sealed around flashing or drainage systems. You may need to move back ballast material to check for signs of winter damage.
Some membranes and built-up materials are more prone to winter splitting than others. For example, PVC materials often become brittle and tear or shatter in conditions where EPDM or TPO membranes can handle both the cold and the weight of snow loading. If you miss out on visible warning signs like splits and cracks in the surface, you’ll discover the problem later after extensive leaks develop.
Issues with Commercial Roof Drainage Systems
It’s essential to check and maintain the drainage system for your flat or low-slope commercial roof not only before winter starts but in the middle of the season as well. Commercial winter roof damage often begins with gutters and drains that are clogged from fall debris or damaged in storms.
Ice clogging is also preventable with a little maintenance to ensure that water is traveling smoothly throughout the system rather than pooling anywhere. Check out our Winter Roof Maintenance Checklist for more information on seasonal maintenance tasks. It’s not always easy to reach the drains for inspection after snow falls or ice forms, but it’s worth the extra effort if there’s a chance that leaving them clogged could lead to leaks and roof damage.
Commercial Roof Ice Dams and Standing Water
Ice dams on commercial roofs tend to form due to a lack of proper drainage in the first place. When debris or shifted ballast material blocks the drains that keep the flat roof from holding water, enough water remains pooled in place to freeze into a sheet of ice.
Ice not only damages the surface of the roof, but it can also melt and leak into the roof assembly rather than draining off. Melting is exacerbated by a lack of insulation, allowing warm interior air to heat the roof and encourage leaks. Installing heat cables can melt ice before it forms, especially when you focus on areas around the drains so water doesn’t sit long enough to freeze in place.
Sagging and Shifting
Overall sagging is harder to spot from the surface of the roof than small depressions like cracks and divots. You may need a laser-level system to measure deflection as it develops over time. When Kansas City commercial roofs are exposed to heavy snow loads, they’re at risk for collapse.
You may notice sagging inside the facility even if you can’t spot anything changing on the surface. Commercial winter roof damage may lead to noisy creaking or visible shifting in the roof supports, which is a dangerous warning sign of collapse. Evacuate the facility if you’re concerned that recent winter storms are compromising the structure and putting it at risk of collapse.
Interior Warning Signs of Commercial Roof Problems
Keep an eye out for interior warning signs of leaks and water penetration throughout the winter, including:
- Stains on ceilings and walls
- Faulty electrical systems
- Musty odors
- Corroded surfaces
- Higher than usual humidity levels
- Mold and mildew growth
- Dripping from the roof.
Lifted Seams or Gaps on Metal Commercial Roofs
The freeze and thaw cycle can cause damage even on durable metal commercial roofs. If water gets a chance to accumulate in between the seams of the metal panels, it lifts and separates them when the water freezes. This leads to lifted seams and visible gaps that may even compromise entire runs of fasteners. If a wind storm comes along in the spring following this kind of winter damage, the panels can lift off and leave part of the roof deck completely exposed.
Clear snow off and contact us for an inspection to verify your metal roof is draining properly and not developing ice damage over the course of the cold season.
Repairing Winter Damage on Commercial Flat Roofs
Any commercial winter roof damage you notice over the winter needs prompt attention to prevent damage to the rest of the building. While it may be tempting to simply wait until spring arrives to deal with the problem, the arrival of warm weather often brings plenty of heavy rain to the Kansas City area as well.
Repairing winter roof damage before spring rains come will ensure your building stays dry and doesn’t need further repairs for rot or mold growth. The type of repair needed will depend on the damage and roofing material, such as crack sealing on PVC roofs or the addition of new ballast if high winds have scoured it off.
Keep your commercial roof free from damage during all four seasons with the help of Delta Innovative Services. Our expertise in many types of roofing materials, including EPDM, commercial-grade metal, composite, and modified bitumen systems ensures we can find a solution to every problem. Reach out to our team for help with inspections, maintenance, commercial roof replacements, and more.