Our specialized roofing crews have experience repairing all roofing materials on many different types of buildings. We have expertise on all commercial roof types, and have become Denver’s number-one expert in industrial roof repair. Repairing the roof of industrial buildings requires a special skill set, and we’ll share some of our techniques in this article.
What Type of Roofs do Industrial Buildings Have?
Industrial properties can have various types of roofing. The most common roofs we see on industrial structures are:
- Metal roofing – many Denver industrial roofs are constructed with low-slope metal. We see R-panel, pro-panel, and standing seam metal roof systems most frequently.
- Built-up Roofing (BUR) – built-up roofs have several layers (“plies”) of asphalt-felt paper and are covered with asphalt and gravel.
- Modified Bitumen – aka “mod bit” roofs are two-layer systems that can either be applied with a torch for adhesion, or self-adhering (“peel and stick”) roofs.
- Spray foam – spray foam roofing can be a great waterproofing system and is usually applied over the top of a previously installed roof.
- Single-ply membrane – single-ply membrane roofs, like TPO, EPDM, or PVC, are the most common we see on Denver commercial roofs. They are not found as often on industrial buildings, but we do see it sometimes. Single-ply roofs are great options for any low-slope structure.
How to Repair an Industrial Roof
Repair techniques vary depending on the type of roof being repaired. Some of the methods we use to repair industrial roofs are:
- Roof coatings – a professionally applied coating material can seal a leaky area on industrial roofs. We use silicone coatings and other coating materials depending on the job requirements to create a waterproof seal over a small area, or the entire roof.
- Roof patching – we may determine that a patch repair will suit the needs of the roof we are working on. Roof patches should match the type of roof material as much as possible to minimize transitions from one roof type to another, which are often sources of roof leaks.
- Sectional replacement – if a leak has soaked through the insulation boards beneath, coating or patching may not be sufficient. In this case, we remove a small section of roof and substrate, and replace with all-dry components. Care is always taken to ensure the same issue does not happen again.
Industrial Roof Repair in Denver
When your industrial property has a roof issue (or a leak), you want to ensure you find a roof repair team that has experience solving that problem. Many Denver roofing contractors only have experience working with asphalt shingles and may not have the skillset required to repair a leaking industrial roof. Some methods you can use to ensure you find the right roof repair contractor are:
- Ask for a detailed repair plan. If the contractor claims they can solve your roof leak but does not provide details, you may want to get a second (or third) opinion.
- Ask for photos of prior repairs. Commercial and industrial roofers with experience in their craft will have plenty of photos they should be glad to share with you. Ask to see a repair of a similar roof type for extra confidence.
- Ask if they’re certified with any roof material manufacturers. Commercial roofing manufacturer certifications require training and monitoring, providing some assurance that your contractor knows what they’re doing.
Do Industrial Roof Coatings Really Work?
Roof coatings are becoming more popular. But the coating itself is not a standalone roof system, and the condition of the substrate matters when it comes to roof coatings. With coatings becoming more popular and coating materials more available, certain inexperienced contractors have failed their clients with poorly installed coating systems. The truth is, with an experienced professional roof coating team, a roof coating can extend the life of your industrial roof by up to 50 years.
The best way to identify a “good” roof coating contractor is to ask if they’re certified installers of any coating products. Certified installers will NOT install a roof coating if the roof is not a good candidate for a coating. The training we receive as certified installers prevents us from making an error of that magnitude, which can cost us our certification and downgrade our status with roofing manufacturers.
Roof Maintenance for Industrial Properties
For industrial roofs that are 10+ years old, whether leaks are present or not, we recommend a professional annual inspection. An inspection of your industrial roof by an experienced contractor can help locate potential issues before they turn into expensive leak repair bills. In commercial and industrial roofing, maintenance is key to extending the life of your roof as much as possible.
At Sol Vista Roofing, we provide a maintenance plan option consisting of an annual roof tune-up. The tune-up plan allows us to visit your roof at least once per year and inspect for any critical issues. We will clean debris from roof drains, which are a major source of roof leaks, and bring sealants along for any quick spot-repairs that we find. And we always provide a photo report to the building owner or property manager for their records.
A professional roof inspection at least annually also helps keep your building in compliance with your commercial property insurance, and with your existing commercial roof warranty (if applicable).
Ready to call the experts for your industrial roof repair or assessment? Contact the team at Sol Vista Roofing today!
