How wind can damage commercial flat roofing systems

Wind in Vancouver and throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia can do a lot of damage to commercial flat roofing systems, as some commercial building owners are about to find out after the latest wind storms. Hopefully, many of these owners are taking advantage of commercial roofing maintenance services by having professionals inspect for wind damage and make any flat roof repairs necessary ASAP. These simple steps will save them a lot of money in the long run.

So how does wind actually damage commercial flat roofs? There are a few ways--wind uplift, wind scouring, and by causing fallen trees and debris.

Wind Uplift

Wind Uplift occurs when wind gets under the protective layer of a roofing system. This happens in single-ply, modified bitumen - SBS (Torch-on), and EPDM systems. It can happen around the edges, where flashing or fascia is loose or damaged. It can also happen anywhere there are rips or tears in the membrane. Evidence of wind uplift can be seen as wrinkling or bubbling on the membrane’s surface.

Once the protective layer becomes detached, the roof is compromised and able to allow water in. Leaking water leads to exponentially bigger problems depending on how long it goes unnoticed or ignored.

Wind Scour

Another way wind damages commercial flat roofing systems is by scouring. This applies to Built Up roofs (BUR) and occurs when the wind is strong enough to strip down the top layer of gravel. This kind of damage is hard to spot, so it’s risky to ignore just because you still see gravel.

Fallen trees and debris

Early November wind storms came with a tornado. This extreme notwithstanding, the kinds of wind generated by severe weather events can do further damage to roofs through fallen trees and branches.

There is no doubt wind can do a lot of damage to roofs. The best way to mitigate the financial impact is by contracting commercial roofing maintenance services. Through regular inspections and timely flat roof repairs, the costly consequences of wind damage will be greatly reduced.

Laurentian Roofing’s commercial roof maintenance team in Vancouver offers both preplanned and reactive maintenance services. Call us at 604-345-7663.