Sunday, September 15, 2013

Ways To Inspect A Flat Roof



When buying a new commercial building, chances are you have a lot to think about and prepare for your new space. However, it is important to spend time on inspecting the flat roof before making your major purchase. If you have owned a flat roof for several years, it is still a good idea to inspect your roof and know how to maintain it. Undiscovered leaks can be devastating and costly, especially in areas with irreplaceable paperwork or expensive equipment. Inspecting all of the rooms within the building carefully is the first step that you need to do. Check ceilings for chances of staining. A dark colored ring is visible within the area is the usual detection for a leak. Prior to proceeding, it is best to consult this to a roofing contractor. Seeing damage caused by a leak in a particular area doesn’t necessarily mean that the leak is located above. Flat roof usually are designed with layers that routes the water going to the other area of the structure some feet away. There also is a possibility that it is not caused by the roof but by a plumbing leak. It could also be that the ceiling wasn’t fixed though the particular leak that caused the stain was. In order to trace the leak, it is encouraged to work with a roofing contractor. It is still advisable to pay attention in checking your roof even though signs of leak are not visible. There could be cracks forming and soon can cause troubles. Before these can cause any internal damage to the structure, work on it. Carrying out a simple inspection on your roof by walking on it is ideal. Just make sure to not walk backwards whenever you are up there checking. Since skylight covers are not meant to sustain your weight, never put any weight on it. Focusing on the roof’s condition should also be considered while walking. In a safe way, get off the roof quickly and contact a contractor whenever it is weak. The membrane underneath might be soaked if a leak exists. There is a need for you to call a roofer whenever you are sensing a sponge-like substance on the roof. This should also hold true in situations when water comes out from the membrane. Check on seals and penetrations since this is where substantial portion of leaks are found that is only occupying a small area of the roof in total. Pipes and flashings are considered as penetrations examples which are usually surrounded by sheet of metals or flashings. Check on these penetrations for any sign of cracks though these may not be deemed as the initial problem. However, in the long run as water accumulate and freezes, the crack will be enhanced by the ice until such time that it can cause a leak. Seals are conditions where two waterproof materials are overlapping. Inspect these to be sure that they are absolutely adhered. www.metroroofing.ca



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