With spring comes storm season across the Midwest, including Wisconsin. Storms can bring hail, high wind, and heavy rain, all of which can potentially cause damage to your commercial building’s roof and its contents. Preparing your commercial roof for storm season helps prevent damage and protects the building’s occupants and stored property.
Steps to prepare your commercial roof for storm season
There are several things you can do to proactively prepare your commercial building for the upcoming storm season:
- Professional roof inspection – It pays to have a professional inspect your commercial roof, as they are trained to spot potential weak spots and identify possible hazards for the upcoming storm season. During the inspection, they’ll look for damaged or aging roof materials, potential drainage issues, and roof leaks. After the inspection, go over any recommendations the contractor makes to ensure that you understand the work that needs to be performed, the potential costs, and the consequences of not doing it. Spending money on repairs now will help save costly repairs or replacement in the future.
- Clear drains – Remove debris from gutters, downspouts, scuppers, and roof drains to prevent ponding and leaks. Standing water on flat roofs can damage roof materials, leading to leaks and interior damage. Make sure you use the right tools to clear debris and follow all manufacturers’ instructions to avoid damaging the roofing material.
- Trim nearby trees – Trim nearby trees and bushes that overhang the roof surface. This will help prevent storm damage caused by falling limbs. You may want to engage a tree expert to assess the stability and strength of the trees.
- Inspect roof sealants and flashings – Look closely at the roof edge, flashings around penetrations, and at membrane seams to ensure that they are properly adhered to the roof surface and haven’t been damaged over the winter.
- Secure any loose equipment – Ensure that all HVAC equipment, pipes, vents, or other loose objects are properly secured using wind-rated materials and fasteners. This will help prevent flying objects from damaging your property or that of nearby property owners.
- Check the interior – Inspect the attic space or the underside of the roof deck for signs of water infiltration or leaks. Signs of a leak include warped wood, mold or mildew growth, wall or ceiling stains, and peeling paint. If you find evidence of a leak, call a professional to trace its source. Water doesn’t travel in a straight line, and it can be difficult to pinpoint the leak source without thermal imaging.
- Choose impact-resistant roofing materials – Protecting your commercial roof from damaging hail requires robust, durable materials that are designed to resist damage from impacts. They have reinforced layers that provide additional protection against hail impact, reducing the risk of roof damage and costly repairs. Check out our recommendations for the best commercial roofing systems for hail resistance.
- Ensure your roof insulation meets local code requirements – Proper insulation helps improve occupant comfort and energy efficiency, and provides protection from damage by flying debris. In Wisconsin, commercial roofs comply with the International Energy Conservation Code with some specific amendments. For insulation above the roof deck, both in new construction and roof replacements, commercial buildings are required to have an R-value of 30. R-value measures a material’s ability to resist heat flow, and higher numbers mean improved insulating properties. To meet the code requirement, approximately 5-7 inches of polyiso insulation are required. If roof insulation is installed beneath the roof deck, proper ventilation is required.
- Ensure you have the required vapor barrier – Wisconsin commercial code also requires the installation of a class I or II vapor barrier on the underside of your roof assembly. Class I barriers are highly impermeable (less than 0.1 perm) while Class II barriers are slightly less impermeable (0.1 to 1.0 perms). While Class I provides the most moisture protection, Class II is designed to help facilitate drying. This barrier helps protect the interior from leaks.
- Document the state of your roof and property – When it is safe to do so, take photos of your roof, the building, and the state of the property surrounding it. This helps with potential insurance claims by documenting the condition of your building and property before storms.
- Review your commercial insurance policies – Review your commercial property insurance policies now so you know what damage is covered and how much your deductible will be. Knowing this can help when assessing the cost of storm damage.
What to do after a storm
Now that you’re prepared for spring storms in Wisconsin, here’s a quick checklist of what to do after a storm hits:
- Before entering the building, ensure that it’s safe to do so by checking utilities and looking for structural damage. If it’s dangerous or you’re unsure of the building’s condition, wait until the situation is stabilized before assessing the damage.
- Inspect your building and roof, taking video or photos of any damage. Pay special attention to vents, penetrations, flashings, seams, joints, and areas near equipment, as well as the building interior, which may indicate leaks.
- Contact a roofing contractor and your insurance company to begin the claims process, if necessary.
- Make temporary repairs, if necessary, to protect the building, occupants, and property inside.
- Decide whether to repair or replace your roof based on the significance of the damage and your insurance limits and deductible.
No matter whether it’s before or after a storm, the team at New Roofs is here to help. We’ll get you prepared ahead of the storm season and be there after to help fix any damage. Contact us to get started.