Your commercial or industrial roof serves as an important protective layer for your business, whether it is directly above a sales floor, a factory production line, or administration offices. Your roof offers protection to employees, customers, and equipment from the elements. Bad weather, however, can adversely impact the durability of your commercial roofing system. Roof damage that either requires repair or maintenance can develop overnight after a bad storm, or it can occur a little bit at a time over a period, going completely unnoticed as well. When bad weather meets this damage, it can wreak havoc on your roof in multiple ways, and have a major impact on your bottom line.

The Bay’s Bad Weather

The Bay Area’s weather is known for its unpredictability. It can provide the perfect weather for a day outside, spent on the beach or lounging in a neighborhood park. At other times, it can also lead to a day indoors spent trying to shelter yourself from the extreme weather outside. Your commercial or industrial roof can be affected by these changes in weather, which results in decreased reliability. 

Weather’s Wear and Tear

The sweltering California summer sun can cause sealants to crack and your roof to experience bleaching or thermal shock. The drastic change in weather can cause your roofing material to expand and contract. As your commercial or industrial roof expands and contracts, it could lead to issues such as poor insulation cracking, seals and seams coming apart, weakened or thinning surfaces, sagging and dipping, and more. Any one of these problems can end up leading to leaks, breaks, and cave-ins.

Standing Water Problems

Long after bad weather has left, prolonged standing water can be left behind on your commercial roof. This water can rot wood decks, rust steel roof decks, as well as turn concrete and gypsum into a thick paste. On top of this damage, the standing water’s additional weight can weaken the roof itself, which could lead to your commercial or industrial roof beginning to leak water into your building or collapse under the extra weight. 

Even a thin layer of water can gradually wear away at your commercial or industrial roofing material. If a puddle of water finds the tiniest crack in your roof, it will seep down into it, widening it and creating a bigger issue than before. It is essential to ensure that your roof has been leveled, no dips exist, and proper drainage has been installed so that you do not end up with standing water causing problems for your business. 

Stains & Mold

If you begin to notice stains on your ceilings or walls, that is a sign your commercial roof is already weakening and water is seeping through. This discoloration could help you pinpoint where the problem lies so you can get it addressed immediately. Unfortunately, sometimes once you begin to see the telltale signs of a leak, it is already too late. If this bad weather side effect isn’t treated thoroughly and instantaneously, it can cause health hazards such as rot and mold to begin to develop. Mold and mildew make their home in any dark, damp, secluded area, and a ceiling that is experiencing water damage from a leaky roof is an ideal environment for mold to grow. 

Business and Bottom Line

Having to repair your commercial or industrial roof can take a serious chunk out of your company’s finances. Constant repairs after every bad weather event is costly and your business stands to lose profits while it’s shut down for these repairs. In addition, if you have mold growth, excess ceiling stains, or damaged equipment and products due to a damaged roof, it can be expensive and time consuming to get these addressed. In order to combat the effects of bad weather on your commercial or industrial roof, and save your business money in the long run, it is essential to have your roof installed or replaced properly, and maintained by professionals on a consistent basis. A regular maintenance program by General Roofing is the best way to minimize leaks, cracks, and other business impacting damage. Reach out to our team today!