A Brief Guide to Commercial Roof Maintenance inHigh Wind Areas

The vulnerability of a roof assembly to high winds depends on a number

of factors, such as the quality of roofing material and workmanship that

went into the initial roof installation, the age of the roof, and most

importantly, whether the roof has been properly maintained. In high

wind regions, roof sheeting, tiles, shingles, or ballast, are typically the

most commonly affected areas in a roofing system.

For Metal and Shingle RoofsHigh-intensity winds during a storm or cyclone can blow away shingles or

metal panels from the roof, making the entire building vulnerable to rain

and debris brought in by the wind. During a new installation or

restoration, property managers need to ensure that their roofers are

taking proper measures to secure shingles or metal roofs.

ShinglesThe installer must use at least six nails or staples to hold each shingle,

and fix them beneath the edges of the overlapping shingles. In addition,

a robust waterproofing underlayment beneath the shingles must be

applied to protect the roofing system from the rain, in case the wind

blows the shingles off the roof.

Metal PanelsStrong winds can tear away entire panels exposing the whole building to

debris brought in by the wind. You can protect metal roofs and sidings

against winds by using fasteners, such as screws and bolts, or with

concealed clips. Fasteners are applied close to the edges of the panels. In

addition, siding must be covered with a metal cap or molding along the

corner of the building so that the wind doesn’t find its way beneath the

siding.

For Ballasted RoofsThough ballasted roofs are one of the least expensive roof options, the

biggest challenge lies in preventing ballasts from blow off or scouring

due to high winds. Therefore, it is important to use a “protected

membrane” ballasted roof system, rather than using any conventional

option, especially if the property is in a high wind area. In a protected

ballast roof system, the roof deck is protected with a protective

membrane that is mechanically attached to the substrate, preventing

blow offs. A cementation coating is often used with insulation panels,

which acts as an insulation and protects the roof against wind. Lastly,

ballasted roofs must be inspected at least twice a year, and after every

storm.

Last FewWordsThe weather condition during roof installation or restoration also has a

considerable effect on the lifespan of the roof system. Ideally, you should

get your roofs repaired during summer, when the temperature is warm,

as it helps the sealing of adhesives and coatings and creates a strong

bond. As a result, it enables the roof to better withstand high winds.

Should you wish to learn more about the prevention of roof damage

from high winds, feel free to talk to one of our roofing experts. You can

reach us at 469.208.3733 or fill out our contact form and we’ll take it

from there.

Reference: http://www.srgroofing.com/blog