Spring cleaning after winter storms is paramount to keeping your commercial roof healthy. Each spring, check your roof for damage and clear the roof, drains, gutters, and scuppers of debris.
Before cleaning out roofing drains and gutters, clear away any debris on the roof. If you’re cleaning up after a storm, look for leaves and branches, and check for moss if the weather has been wet recently.
Clean roofing drains by clearing out silt buildup, moss, leaves, and debris that may block easy water drainage. Remove and clean the drain screens to ensure there’s no blockage in the drain pipes.
If you suspect a drain pipe is blocked by debris, you’ll need to arrange for commercial roofer to come clear out the drains
Commercial roofs usually have gutters – you can clean them out by removing debris in the gutters and near the downspout.
Take extra caution when cleaning the roof’s edge, and consider using a harness to prevent falling.
Some commercial roofs have scuppers, which are external holes near the parapet wall base. Scuppers are typically located in the parapet wall and at roof level, either directly above the downspout or a couple of inches above another scupper.
Look for double scuppers and check for signs that the lower scupper is leaking water. Leaking scuppers are probably clogged by dirt or other debris and must be cleaned out. Clogged and leaking scuppers are a sign of standing water on the roof.
When you’re checking your commercial roof for spring cleaning, check the roofing seams for leaks that need repair. Look for shingle seams that are torn or flipped up, and mark them with spray paint for future repair.
When you check the shingles, don’t lift on the seams because this could cause further damage to the already loose seam.
Look at the roofing flashing for damage from winter storms. Look at the flashing breaks, edges, and joints, especially near parapet walls.
Metal flashing holds the roofing membrane in place to protect the roof from wind lift. Check for metal that has come loose and mark it for replacement. Loose metal flashing can lift and pull off, exposing the membrane and leading to rain damage.
Winter storms can cause penetrations into commercial roofs if debris falls from nearby trees or is blown onto the roof. Penetrations are a major entry point for leaks and should be fixed immediately.
Penetrations resemble separations between wraps, pipe seals, membranes, and boots.
When cleaning a commercial roof in the spring, check places that were repaired recently to ensure that they’re holding up against the changes in weather.
Make a plan to clean your commercial roof every spring to maintain the ongoing health of the roof and the building it protects.
Paramount Commercial Roofing in Cincinnati, OH, can cover your routine maintenance so you can focus on what you do best – running your business!