Serious water damage can be one of the largest fears of business owners and with good reason. A leaky commercial roof is expensive, time-consuming to fix, and just a huge hassle. Therefore, it’s so hugely important to be able to spot the signs of a leak in your commercial roof so you can stop the water damage before it gets out of control. It’s equally important to hire a highly skilled commercial roof contractor.
So how do you spot the signs of a leak in your commercial roof?
The following will help you identify signs of a leak in your commercial roof and how to handle them.
Signs of Water Damage on the Interior
The first and easiest sign of a leaky roof is obvious signs of water damage. While this is a late-stage sign of a leak considering the damage has already begun, it’s still important to look for the tell-tale signs of water. Discolored ceilings, water pooling on the floors and running down the walls, wrinkled and warped drywall and ceiling tiles, rust spots, and mold stains are the most common visual signs of an active roof leak.
Spotting Roof Changes on the Outside
Another sign that your commercial roof may be leaking is observing visual damage to your roof. It’s important to be familiar with how your commercial property’s roof looks normally so that you can spot any anomalies, holes in the flashing, standing water on the roof, overflowing gutters and downspouts, open seams, and holes, cracks, or bubbles in membranes.
Observing changes in these areas can be the earliest indicator that your commercial roof is developing a leak. It’s also important for preventing future leaks because you can pinpoint areas of strain and incurring damage.
Sense of a Musty Smell
A less visual indicator of a leak in a commercial roof is the odor of mold and mildew. Since a lot of commercial roofs are not directly visible because of drop ceilings or very high walls, and unfortunately, a reliable sign of water damage is the musty scent of mold.
Even before the distinctive mold blooms on drywall, mold and mildew odor are prevalent and unmistakable. If your commercial building has a smell that you cannot easily identify the source of, in more cases than one, it is mold due to a leak in your ceiling.
Higher Utility Bill
Though much more subtle, an unexplainable and steady increase in utility cost can also be a sign that a commercial leak is occurring. Leaky roofs don’t just seep water but also hot and cool air. If your company is spending a lot more on heating and cooling costs, there is probably a sudden leak through the roof’s insulation.
So Why Hire a Commercial Roof Contractor?
All of these signs and indicators can be overwhelming to watch out for, especially because most business owners are not well versed in roof maintenance and building management. This is why it is incredibly important to hire a commercial roof contractor.
A commercial roof contractor is familiar with all the signs of a leaking commercial roof and will also be able to offer routine maintenance that will avoid future leaks before they cause water damage or racking up high utilities. Hiring a commercial roof contractor can save your business a lot of money and hassle.
Building maintenance and property damage is an everyday reality to commercial business owners but it doesn’t have to create the horrible expense or stress that is typical if you keep an eye out for the signs of a leaky roof and have the foresight to hire a commercial roof contractor.
MacDermott Roofing are experts in the commercial roofing industry and has a reputation or service, technical skill, and product knowledge. We have been providing commercial roofing installation, maintenance, and repair throughout the Detroit metropolitan area for over 40 years. You can protect your investment with regular checks and roof maintenance. Call us today for a Free Estimate!