Way Up on the Roof

Commercial roofing contractors specialize in repairs and work on commercial structures that often have large, flat roofs and have some challenges as a result. A flat roof is harder to get water off of, and as a result, the roofing material can often need to be repaired to deal with areas that leak. 

Roofing Material

Most flat roofs use a material that is made from rubber and can stretch to allow for some give on the roof. The rubber membrane comes in large rolls, and the seams of the material must be fused together when it is installed, so it is important that you work with a commercial roofing contractor to replace the roofing to repair damage to it. 

The rubber roofing can be patched if a section starts to leak, but there is a limit to how many patches should be used before it is better to replace the roofing material completely. Your roofing contractor can help you determine if you are nearing the time for replacement of your commercial roofing. 

Patching the Roof

If you have a small leak in the roof of your commercial building, calling a commercial roofing contractor to make the repair is the best option. The roofer may remove the damaged material or cover it with a patch of the same material. 

The patch is cut to the correct size, and then a tar-like sealer is used to affix it to the roofing material. If the patch is done correctly, it will last until the roof is replaced, but it is critical that the roofer cleans the old roofing and prepares that area or else the sealer may not hold. 

Often patches like this are small areas, but if you have a problem with a large section of the roof, the commercial roofing contractor can add a large strip of material to the area and seal it to the roofing that is already on the roof. Large patches can work in some cases, but if you are dealing with a large area of the roof, it is often better to replace the roofing material entirely.

Leaking Drains

Many flat roofs have large drains in areas of the roof that allow water to run down drains through the building and into the drain system under the floor. The area around the drains can start to look as if the material around them is breaking down, requiring a commercial roofing company to reseal them. 

The roofer can often remove the old sealer and replace it to correct the issue, but in extreme cases, the drain may need to be removed, new roofing material put in place, and the drain reinstalled to repair the leak.

Reach out to a commercial roofing professional for more information.