Effective roof maintenance is key to preventing Florida’s worst weather from affecting your flat roof.
Tampa’s climate combines at least three roof-destroying forces: wind, rain, and sun. Your local commercial roofer can work with you to schedule a program of roof maintenance to counter this one-two-three punch.
One: Wind
Scouring comes from a prevailing wind pattern, blowing small bits of sand and debris across your commercial roof. Without healthy roof maintenance, this persistent pattern will eat away at single-ply membrane, ballasted roofs, or built-up roofing (BUR).
Annual or even semiannual cleaning, as part of a program of roof maintenance, can eliminate some of the material tossed around like sandpaper against your roof. We do not recommend attempting to clean your commercial roof by yourself, or with your maintenance crew. It takes a trained roofing specialist to safely and effectively clean a roof without damaging it.
Extremely high winds, such as the forces felt in hurricanes, can cause serious damage:
- Winds can open seams
- High winds can create a pressure differential to make an entire roof lift from its fasteners
- Winds can drive water under flashings, around HVAC curbs, and into seams
- Wind can lift up and tear away TPO membrane or large sections of modified bitumen roofing
Two: Rain
Tampa gets 50 inches of rain annually, according to Sperling’s Best Places. That is nearly a foot more than the U.S. average. It does not all fall in hurricanes, either. One way rain can start to deteriorate flat roofs is through ponding. Rooftop insulation becomes compressed, the roof sags, and water collects. Eventually, water will infiltrate, or plants can take root.
The antidote to rain damage is roof maintenance. Have your commercial roofer inspect seams and parapets to confirm no water can infiltrate before a heavy rain occurs. If the rain has already passed, have them inspect the same areas to see if water is ponding or cannot shed from your roof properly.
Three: Sun
Tampa’s near-tropical sunlight hits at a high angle (more directly) for more of the year than much of the rest of the U.S. This means long periods of ultraviolet (UV) exposure and a lot of infrared (heat) radiation soaking into your roof.
Choosing a bright color for your flat roof will cut down on heat absorption; choosing strong, UV-resistant membranes like TPO or PVC will delay UV damage.
Prevent the worst damage weather can cause to your flat roof. Contract with the professionals of Aderhold Roofing for an effective, affordable roof maintenance program to keep up against the onslaught of wind, rain and sun. Contact Aderhold Roofing today to get a site visit from a trained professional.