commercial roofing wilmington, de
March 29, 2022

Commercial Roof Leaks: Temporary Fixes and Waterproofing Solutions

When your roof starts leaking, are you the type of business owner who pretends you didn’t see it — or are you the type to put your boots on and grab your ladder? Ignoring a commercial roof leak is a surefire way to make it worse. So, whether you want to get hands-on with your roof or not, we have the scoop on what you need to do to stop roof leaks.

At J. Smucker Contracting, we have years of experience providing a whole range of commercial roofing solutions, including roof waterproofing solutions. We can give you the info on how to stop roof leaks temporarily — and the answers to solve the problem permanently.

How to Stop Roof Leaks in Heavy Rain

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With a leaky roof, when the rain starts pouring outside, you see the dripping inside. Chances are you know just about where it’s going to fall — and you even have a designated bucket or two. While those buckets on the ground protect your floor, the roof insulation and the roof decking are being destroyed. So even if you only see your roof leak during heavy rain, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a factor at other times as well.

Learn more about the most important signs of flat roof leaks.

Stopping Roof Leaks During a Rainstorm

The main way that you as a business owner or maintenance manager can stop a leak during a rainstorm is by locating the leak on the surface of your roof and applying a temporary patch. Made with an asphalt base and roof sealant, these temporary patches are available at most hardware stores.

To apply the patch, first you’ll want to locate the approximate area on the roof where the leak is coming through from the inside. Then you’ll want to safely climb on top of your roof and locate the approximate spot you found inside. From there, you’ll walk uphill on the roof looking for possible leak spots, including pipes, seams, flashings, and general punctures. Once you locate the leaky area, apply the asphalt patch while it is still raining. This should slow the leak for that particular rainstorm and for a few additional days.

Remember, only do this if you feel comfortable walking and working on your roof safely. Whether you were able to temporarily stem the tide, you’ll want to contact a roofing company to provide you information on the damage as well as a long-term roof waterproofing solution.

Learn more about the 5 most common roof repair repairs.

Long Term Damage from Roof Leaks

The damage caused by a persistent roof leak has a far greater impact than you’d think. The frequent water infiltration damages the roof surface and more. This problem only gets worse — and more expensive — the longer it’s allowed to continue.

You’ll know when the roof surface has become damaged by water when it feels soft to walk on, almost like carpet. When the roof feels soft or you see sagging when you walk on it, these are signs that a replacement is needed.

The roofing insulation between the ceiling and the roof itself often takes damage from regular roof leaks as well. Water becomes trapped in the layer of insulation and is slow to evaporate, causing widespread mold growth.

Finally, the metal or wooden decking that supports the roof can also be undermined by frequent water leaks. If your building has open decking, you can actually inspect it directly on a ladder. Wooden roof decking begins to rot and grow mold after long term water leaks, while metal roof decking tends to rust.

The more extensive the damage is, the more expensive it will be to fix. That’s why we always recommend preventative maintenance — and not waiting around for commercial roof leak repair. While all three of these signs suggest that a full roof replacement is necessary, many roofs are eligible for the signature roof restoration and waterproofing solutions from J. Smucker Contracting.

See the average costs for flat roof replacement.

Roof Waterproofing Solutions from J. Smucker Contracting

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At J. Smucker Contracting, we provide a wide range of solutions to solve commercial roof leaks. One of our effective short term solutions involves finding the surface leaks and sealing them with patches. This is only an option if you catch the leaks early enough, but it can prevent leaks for about a year. Generally, this is a good choice for roofs with only 1 or 2 small leaks.

If your roof has more widespread issues, and closer to 5 or 10 leaks, we recommend full roof restoration, our premier roof waterproofing solution. As part of this process, we coat and reinforce the roof to fix ALL current leaks and prevent them from coming back for years. This signature solution adds a guaranteed 18 years onto your current roof — without replacing it.

Whether you need a simple roof leak repair or you want to learn more about our roof restoration and waterproofing, the first step is to give us a call. Contact us today to learn more and to schedule your FREE roof inspection.