Commercial roofs age at different rates for different reasons. The same roof can have spots that age far faster than other areas. Two adjacent, identical commercial roofing installations can age at different rates simply because of wind and weather exposure. Learn some basic signs of how commercial roofing ages to help preserve your property.

1. Uneven Aging

All commercial roofing products are prone to aging inconsistently across your roof. Even the largest single-ply membrane (some are custom-built to your exact roof dimensions) will not age uniformly. This is because the micro-climate of your building changes from roof edge to interior drain, from flat expanse to spots under HVAC equipment.

A roof may be much hotter across its open middle than near parapets and edges in partial shade (from trees or other buildings). One area may be subjected to much more ultraviolet radiation because the sun stays on it longer than on other areas.

2. Problems Increase with Age

Blisters, say the experts at Facilitiesnet.com, are the most common roofing problem. With time, these blisters will form more often, because more water vapor becomes trapped within the roof layers over time. This may happen if the original insulation was installed damp, or if minor leaks admit just a bit of water that never soaks down into the inhabited space below.

Other issues also increase with age:

  • – Punctures
  • – Penetrations
  • – Open laps
  • – Loose or missing fasteners

This list of accumulating mishaps underscores the need for semiannual inspection and routine maintenance.

3. Old Age is Expensive

With increased problems come rising costs to treat the commercial roof. At some point only you and your commercial roofing partner can determine, the return on investment will no longer be high enough to justify continuing to repair a failing roof. Reroof or roof replacement will be more economical.

4. Coatings—Not Exactly a Face Lift

Even very old commercial roofs can benefit from modern solutions, such as sprayed or brushed on waterproof coatings. These may not be face lifts, exactly, but they can extend the life of an aging roof that otherwise would require immediate replacement.

To deal with your building’s aging commercial roofing, work with us at BELDON Roofing Company. Contact our office to learn how we can partner with you to identify and address aging issues. We have the innovative materials, experienced crews and proper equipment to help your building’s roof age gracefully.

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