Any roof requires regular inspections and maintenance, but this is even more valid when your roof is flat. Most commercial buildings have flat roofs for a variety of reasons. Firstly, a flat roof requires less material than a pitched roof, and it allows for all the space under it to be used as well as on top of the roof – for items such as air-conditioning units, solar panels etc. A flat roof receives the same relentless degradation from the sun that a pitched roof does, but it has peculiar problems in that any water or precipitation from sleet or snow need to be handled correctly. If water or snow are allowed to gather, this might put more weight on the roof than the structure was designed for, and this could lead to roof failure.
In order to ensure that a roof stays waterproof and in good working order, it needs regular inspections and repairs. This would apply particularly after a bad storm or a heavy snowfall. It might seem expensive to have this on-going maintenance but it will always be cheaper than letting problems worsen.
Maintaining your flat roof
In areas such as Bristol, flat roof repairs will be necessary because of the extremes of weather. Flat roofs in more temperate climates last for a longer time, but snowfall and heavy rains can do a lot of damage to a roof. All flat roofs will be covered by a membrane, which will help with waterproofing. To protect this membrane, there will be a secondary surface that will cover the roof. The materials used can be very varied. In the UK, tar, rubber, and asphalt are common coverings. Gravel is also used to cover the membrane, but the gravel can shift leaving the membrane exposed. Once a membrane receives direct UV rays, it can quickly crack and tear, and then leaks begin. Regular inspections help to check whether the membrane is exposed and thus vulnerable to degradation. Visit here for more details.
Regular maintenance
If you own a commercial building in Bristol, part of your flat roof repairs will be to isolate any leaks. Blistering of the membrane is the beginning of future cracks and leaks, and can easily be treated if detected early. Once leaks set in, it may take a while for them to be discovered, and by that time a great deal of damage may have been done. Water pools in certain areas and damp and mould can form – the spores from the mould can sometimes create a health hazard. Once water is standing in pools on the roof, even though it might take time to penetrate the brick or cement of the roof, any wooden components such as decking or trusses can start to rot and sag.
If you need flat roof repairs in Bristol on your home or building, Aquagard Roofing Solutions specialise in Rubberbond roofing solutions for flat roofs & extensions in Bristol, UK.