The sun and high amounts of rain we get in this area takes its toll on commercial roofing. A commercial roofing system needs a complete and properly built draining system. Just cleaning your gutters is not enough to drain the rainfall in this area. If your system is not complete and working together as it should, rainwater runoff will end up inside the roof deck, your building, or worse, your inventory.
Edge and interior systems
Although there are some differences in low-slope roofing, the systems almost always drain at the edges and across the roof expanse. The different type of Edge drains include:
When it comes to large roof expanses, Interior drains are necessary to handle the water. Most “flat” roofing systems probably have four segments that slope toward an interior drain with a strainer. This type of drain actually empties into your building, carrying water through a drain that eventually empties into a standpipe.
Proper draining
Water will back up and form a pond when your strainers and scuppers clog, whether your commercial roofing system has scuppers, interior drains, or a combination of the two. If the ponding is bad enough, small trees can actually begin to take root. Water infiltration can result because of the weight and organic matter build-up on the roof.
Contact your professional roofing contractor to make sure you keep your roof draining as it should. Clogs and ponding can be prevented with regular maintenance and inspections. Water weight on your roof can build up significantly around a circular strainer that has just a small amount of debris damming it.
Roofing problems
Your original roof design probably did not include future add-ons like skylights, satellite dishes, HVAC units, etc. These items, which were probably not anticipated by the architect who designed your roof, can affect the draining system, trapping and holding debris on your roof. Your commercial roof may need an interior drain system installed or another method that can divert water around these new roof additions. A reputable commercial roofer can inspect your roof and help you decide on the best course of action for your situation.