Have Recent Storms Caused Damage to Your Commercial Roof?

Just before the heat wave, which came towards the end of June and continued into July, last month saw many areas of the UK hit by thunderstorms. And with August around the corner and the winter months not that far away, it’s a good idea for any owners of commercial and industrial roofing systems to remind themselves of the damage adverse weather can cause. 

Spotting any tell tale signs that recent storms have caused damage to your roof early, can help you avoid spending thousands down the line for major roof repairs or replacements. Here are a few key signs to look out for to see if your roof has suffered in the stormy weather…

Damage to the roof flashing

If you have a flat commercial roofing or industrial roofing system on your building, take a look at the metal strips that run along the roof’s edges. These strips help to secure the roof and stop water or debris from getting in. If you notice that any flashing is out of shape, bent, or perhaps rusting, then issues may have occurred due to the bad weather. Flashing that’s not sealed properly, can allow water to seep into the roofing system. You can keep any potential water damage to a minimum by finding issues earlier and getting them sorted asap.

Cracks or blisters on the roof surface

If you see any cracking, blisters or bubbles on the surface of your roofing system, this can be an indicator of trapped moisture, which often leads to leaks. When pockets of air or moisture become trapped between layers of the roof membrane, or between the roof membrane and deck, this is what leads to blisters. Leaving blisters and not taking action as soon as they are spotted can make a small issue become a much bigger problem.

Ponding or standing water on the roof

After heavy rainfall from storms or just the UK weather in general, it’s best to check the roofing system afterwards for any ponding or standing water. It’s not unusual to have some standing water after bad weather, but it should drain or evaporate within a few days at most. If it doesn’t, this quickly leads to major water leaks and can reduce the lifespan of the roof.

Mold and odours

These are signs that can also be apparent from inside the building. If you start seeing mold or smelling foul odours, this could be the result from water breaching your roofing system. Thankfully, you can have professional roofing contractors inspect the problem areas so that a solution can be put in place. It’s always better to catch the issues early.

At NWIR, we can offer a range of services to help you with your commercial or industrial roofing system, and we also offer free roof surveys so that you can truly get the most out of your roofing solution. Simply get in touch with our team today.