Common Roofing Problems in South Florida

It’s nicknamed “The Sunshine State,” and there’s certainly a lot of beauty to be happy about here, but Florida is home to one of the harshest hurricane seasons in the country. Hurricane Michael, the last severe storm to hit the Florida panhandle, cost a whopping $25 billion and counting in damages in 2018.

Its highest recorded speed was 162 miles per hour. Even the most resilient roofs are not meant to face that sort of pressure regularly. You may be surprised to find them not faring quite well in the face of more routine, day-to-day stresses.

It doesn’t take a Category 5 storm to cause severe leakage damage: here are five more commonplace causes of roof leakage and subsequent damage to watch out for, and below are five problem areas where you may want to enlist the help of experienced professionals.

If you have any current commercial roofing concerns in Coral Springs or South Florida, contact our team at Roof Doctors right away. We are available to schedule maintenance or service calls, as well as ready to address roofing emergencies for your business 24/7!

Flashing Breakage

Roof flashing is a thin metal overlay meant to direct water away from more vulnerable components of your roof. It serves an invaluable role, shielding sensitive areas from flooding, seeping, or leaking. If this flashing comes loose, is warped by extreme heat (which is not uncommon in Florida), or damaged in some other way, then roof leakage could occur.

Flashing repair can run upwards of hundreds of dollars (assuming you don’t follow a DIY approach), but it’s still essential to attend to it as soon as possible. If you wait too long, that few hundred could turn into a few thousand, and that exterior damage could begin to permeate deeper into your interior.

Plant Growth

Plants need moisture and essential space to grow. Unfortunately, your roof may be one of the places that offers that water and necessary space. If you notice plant overgrowth around your roofing, that could sign underlying moisture development.

Attend to it as soon as you can, and consider bringing in a Roof Doctor to check on any other symptoms.

Faulty HVAC and/or Components

Your roofing lies in extremely close proximity to piping, drains, and many essential HVAC components. As both gutters and HVAC components entail running water, then damage problems to them could mean damage problems for your roof at large. Inspect both at least once every six months for signs of damage, like:

If you see any signs of visible damage to any of these three systems, then don’t be afraid to enlist a trusted Roof Doctor professional for some more comprehensive treatment, as well as a commercial HVAC specialist.

Standing (Ponding) Water

This is a common issue on Low slope roofs, which is the most common roofing used for commercial buildings. Ponding water is any roof water that fails to drain after 48 hours.

To mitigate the risk of this buildup from occurring, you may want to consider installing extra drains, scuppers, tapered insulation, or automatic pumps around the perimeter of your roof.

Splits, Cracks, or Blisters

Besides outer wear and tear, your roofing membrane may also be weathered by inner air buildup. Bubbles may begin to form, and in turn, this can start to create blistering, cracking, or splitting in the waterproofing layers. Poor roofing material, ponding water, excess pressure, or poor craftsmanship may also lead to this sort of blistering, splitting, and cracking.

Contact a South Florida Commercial Roofing Repair Team You Can Trust!

But no matter the problem, no matter the time, and no matter the place from the Treasure Coast to South Florida to the Florida Keys, you can count on the Roof Doctors to treat, diagnose, prevent, and cure any potential problems occurring with your roofing.

Whether you want to schedule an appointment or have a commercial roofing emergency, let us help your business. Contact Roof Doctors right away!