The Biggest Risks to Commercial Roofs This Winter

Your commercial roof is sturdy and durable, but it may not be up to the task of handling the upcoming season. Snow, ice, sleet, freezing temperatures and harsh winter winds can take a big toll on commercial roofs. If left untreated, this can result in a number of disasters. Continue reading to learn more about these issues and how we can help with emergency roof repair in winter in Springfield, MA:

• Frigid temperatures: The first danger to your roof is the falling temperatures. Any small holes or damage to your roof will only be made worse as soon as the temperature drops below the freezing point. This is why it’s crucial to call a roofing professional to inspect your roof and make any necessary repairs now.
• Weakened roofing materials: Snow, sleet and ice can take a significant toll on your roofing materials. Combined with the wind, these elements can bend and buckle flashing, widen gaps in joints and exploit other weaknesses in your roof. Again, it’s vital that you schedule an inspection now to ensure that your roof is up to snuff this winter.
• Potential collapse: A cubic foot of snow weighs anywhere from 12 to 20 pounds. After a mere six inches of snowfall, a 10,000 square foot commercial building could have up to 50 tons of snow on it! All of that weight damages load-bearing components of the roof and may result in devastating collapse. To reduce the risk of collapse, we recommend shoveling snow off your roof after each snowfall.
• Freeze and thaw cycles: Thanks to the sun (and hopefully some warmer days), that snow will eventually melt. As it melts, the water will find its way into small gaps around flashing and joints. Eventually, the water will collect underneath the roofing membrane. Once the temperatures drop again, the water will expand when it turns into ice. This freezing and thawing cycle widens gaps across your roof, often necessitating emergency roof repair in winter in Springfield, MA.
• Ice dams: Water that’s supposed to run off the side of the roof can be prevented from doing so if there are any ice dams on your roof. When ice dams form and the water has nowhere else to go, it collects in pools and forms small depressions across your roof. The only way to stop ice dams is to break them up while you’re shoveling snow off the roof.
• Pooling and leaks: As we mentioned, water that’s unable to fall off the roof will collect in pools across the roof. The longer the water sits there, the higher the chance that the roof begins to leak. Keep an eye out for any signs of leakage and call a pro right away to fix any leaks.

If you fall victim to any of the problems mentioned above, be sure to hire our team at R & H Roofing, LLP to fix it. Regardless of the conditions outside, contact us to get a quote for emergency roof repair in winter in Springfield, MA. We’ll be out as soon as possible to fix your roof and ensure that it’s back to normal in no time.

Categorised in: Commercial Roofing

This post was written by Writer