Almost every commercial and industrial building has a built-up roof. Half of your worries are already sorted, knowing it’s one of the most durable roofs there.
A built-up roof is the kind that can easily tolerate heavy rain and storms and can withstand years of wear. However, don’t get relieved that you have built up the roof, so it won’t get damaged.
Let us tell you that even durable roofs can get into trouble. You can avoid it all from happening only if you can spot the issues ahead of time. Thinking about how to spot these issues? That’s all we’ll cover in this blog, so you can save your roof and money from getting wasted.
Signs Your Built-up Roof Needs Repair or Replacement
1. Blisters or Bubbles
A lot of people overlook their roof surface to be a bit bubbly or having blisters. But it’s the sign showing air or moisture has been trapped among the layers. Well, there are tons of reasons behind this, including poorly installed ventilation, aging of materials, or former installation issues.
Little blisters may not be able to cause leaks at the spot, but they do play a part in weakening the structure with cracks and penetration of water. That’s where you need a professional roof built-up repair immediately.
2. Frequent Leaks
We all know that whenever a leak happens anywhere, it’s a sign of an upcoming disaster. And especially when it’s on the built-up roof, this means hidden damage is about to show up soon. Due to the little cracks, water can seep through them from the top to the bottom layers, ultimately damaging the insulation and, in worst-case scenarios, destroying the building structures. A lot of people patch up the leaks to temporarily stop the leaking. However, we suggest you invest in quality built-up roof repairs or installations whenever they’re required.
3. Notable Cracks and Splits on the Surface
With the change of temperature, roofing materials keep expanding and contracting. So, this movement over time can cause visible cracks and splits on the surface.
These issues don’t only get fixed with patching; they need proper repairs because they can let the water penetrate the structure, causing bigger issues in the future. Small cracks can be fixed, but splits in the surface indicate it’s time for a roof replacement or repair.
4. Absence or Loosening of Gravel
Homeowners think that the gravel layer is done to enhance the look of the roof. But what they don’t know is that it protects the bitumen from sun damage and adds to the weight to keep everything settled.
If you see bald patches with no gravel at all, it is more susceptible to the ultraviolet rays, which will eventually make the surface dry, resulting in cracks. Inexperienced companies do overlook this while inspecting the roof, so better to be careful while hiring a roofing company for maintenance.
5. Standing Water on the Roof
A toxic enemy for your Built-up roof is standing water on the roof for more than 48 hours. If water is pooled there for more than 2 days after the heavy rainfall, it’s obvious that the issue is due to a poor drainage system, sagging areas of blockage of drains, and scuppers.
A long time of ponding can cause the breakage of roof materials, leading to leaks, which enhances the need of having a quick roof repair.
6. Old Roof
No kind of roof exists that lasts for a lifetime. Almost every roof has a life of 20-30 years, which depends on the temperature and its maintenance. You have to be cautious about approaching the upper limit of the life span.
We advise you to schedule a roof inspection at that time to determine if it needs a repair or a full replacement.
For an expert roof inspection service, you can count on Rick’s Main Roofing. We have the right expertise and tools to comprehensively inspect your roof and come up with a detailed report.
8. High Energy Bills
Most people don’t know that your built-up roofing system also helps in the insulation of your building. In that case, if you see a sudden surge in your heating and cooling bills. Because the most probable reason behind this all can be the damaged roof’s insulation.
It can lead to many issues, like material degradation and damaged roof structure. As a result, a sudden spike in energy bills shows that your roof isn’t performing well, and you may need to repair or replace it.
Final Thoughts
Now we understand that a Built-up roof is meant to last, but it’s not guaranteed it will. The only thing that can increase the life of your roof is quality and timely inspections and maintenance. There are certain signs that we talked about, from which you can assume whether your roof needs to be replaced or repaired.
Because staying ahead of time to ensure your built up roof is doing well for decades. In case you want a professional and experienced company to do roof inspections, Rick’s Main Roofing is here to be trusted.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between TPO and built-up roofing?
TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) is a single-ply membrane roof. On the other hand, the built-up roofing system consists of multi-layer membranes.
2. What is built-up roofing?
The built-up roof system is known as tar and gravel roofing. It is a multi-ply roofing which is used in low-slope or flat roofs.
3. What is the built-up roof replacement cost?
Typical built-up roof replacement cost usually ranges from $3.50 to $9 per square foot.
