We hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July this year.
Some maintenance and rules to taking care of a flat roof do's and dont's are common sense, but you will be surprised what some flat roof owners do or let happen to their roof. The worst thing is to neglect the roof. Depending on how your roof is used and what type of roofing material you have will depend on how much time and effort you must spend on your roof. But either way these are somee tips or rules that flat roof owners residential and commercial should keep in mind to help tkae care of your roof so it can take care of your home or business. You can read more about common areas flat rofs have leaking problems here.
Now that the year is almost half over and we are nearing winter in 5 months, it is the best time to start having flat roofs inspected and doing required maintenance and repairs to it. With all the heavy snow and ice from the winter, dry spell to heavy rain falls frequently during these hot and humid months, flat roofs have already had a toll on them especially if they are already in harsh condition. No matter what type of roofing system you have on your flat roof it is time to get up there and fully inspect the roof or you can also call a roofing contractor that has flat roofing knowledge to inspect the roof. The worst thing that can happen is to have an inexperienced contractor with flat roofs looking at your roof and not knowing what to look for or where to look.
With the harsh winter, the rainy spring and now the pop up storms during the summer, many are experiencing issues with leaking roofs either from wind damage, hail damage, or even the gutters having damage to them. It is no surprise that many roofs will have some kind of leaking issues this year and of course they need tended to before the next winters storms. Not only are residents having issues with leaking, but the flat roofs in Southern Indiana are having leaking problems. Even though we go through dry spells that flat roofs do not show signs of leaking, once the rain comes pouring down the way it has been, especially as fast and heavy it has come down in a short time causing flooding, flat roofs are leaking as well. There can be many reason why the leaking is happening for flat roofs, and they can be a little more difficult to locate on a flat roof sometimes, so it is important to have a professional that has experience and knowledge about flat roofs to inspect it to help locate leaks and find the cause. Because even though it is leaking in one spot, does not always mean that is where the leak is originating from.
Some roofs have valleys whether they are short or long, some have multiple valleys and some have no valleys at all. A lot of gabled roofs have valleys whether it is because of the design of having two gabled roofs connecting or intersecting, or because of dormer windows or some other unique architectural design.
There are warranties for almost every roofing material, especially if it’s a full system from that manufacturer ranging from 5-30 years and even some have longer periods. Having a warranty for the product you have decided to have installed on your roof can be very important and a must for commercial building owners. Some products have warranties for commercial project but not residential. It is always best to ask your contractor about warranties before you decide on a product.
When it comes to deciding what type of roofing system you should have or replace your current roof with on commercial roofs, there are many options to choose from and can be mind boggling when trying to decide. So how do you decide and what should you consider in making your decision? Each type of flat roofing system has its own advantages and disadvantages, the key is to consider what your roofs needs are. Where your located, the use of the roof, climate and roof maintenance. Here are some factors that you should consider when purchasing a new flat roof system or replacing one.
Three of the most common single ply membrane materials used for flat roofing is TPO, PVC, and EPDM. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. While many have their own opinions of which system is better than the others, it really depends on the climate and area of the roofs location as well as the roof itself and how it will be used. Another thing to look into is how the roof material is installed.
Box gutters or built in gutters, are most commonly found on commercial buildings like schools, apartments and other business buildings, as well as older and historic homes. These gutters are actually part of the roof instead of being attached to the roof. The majority of box gutters are made of wood and extend past the wall.
Because of the nature of tornados being unpredictable in developing and unless you are a meteorologist, the direct and how strong, there is no sure way to know whether your roof will remain intact or if you will even be in the line of sight. But you can make sure that your roof is in good shape and quality in case of a severe storm or tornado near you.
