The Building Problems That Start at the Top and Work Their Way Down

Commercial roof failures rarely limit their damage to just the roof itself. Water intrusion never restricts itself to the small holes that permit it entry. Once water penetrates that vital protective membrane, it travels through the building. Ceiling tiles get soaked and stained. Insulation loses its effectiveness. Electrical systems start getting wet. Rooftop HVAC systems begin corroding. What begins as a minor problem on the roof level turns into an expensive, building-wide repair issue.

Few building owners realize how interconnected commercial building systems are until a roof problem begins causing damage in other systems. The damage spreads in ways that may not be directly visible, creating repair costs that dwarf what it would have cost to address the roof issue in the first place.

How Water Intrudes Through Commercial Buildings

Once water passes through a roof failure’s entry point, it doesn’t just “fall” directly down to the interior of the building. It takes a journey. Water spreads out across areas of the roof deck or across the roofing system insulation. It can travel along beams and structural members. It can also follow electrical or HVAC duct penetrations up to interior spaces.

Commercial flat roofs and low-slope roofs are particularly prone to this type of water intrusion. Water that collects in low-lying areas of these roofs can seep through seams and fasteners. By the time roof damage becomes obvious through visible signs like wet spots or actively dribbling leaks inside the building, water has already been penetrating the building envelope for many weeks, if not months.

Professional commercial roofing services understand how water migrates in commercial buildings and can trace visible interior damage back to its source on the roof. Expert contractors also recognize when apparently isolated leaks indicate larger membrane failures that require comprehensive repair rather than just patching the obvious problem area.

The Effects Roof Problems Have on Specific Building Systems

In commercial buildings, rooftop-mounted HVAC systems are directly exposed to water entry from roof failures. The condensate drains on these systems can back up if the drains intended to prevent excess water buildup on the system itself get clogged. The electrical components of rooftop units also become exposed to moisture. Corroding control circuits and blown circuit connections aren’t the only consequences of this damage. The cost of repairing or replacing HVAC systems after they’ve sustained secondary damage from a roof problem usually dwarfs the cost of repairing the roof itself.

Electrical systems throughout the building also experience secondary damage due to roof problems. Water that travels through electrical outlets and junction boxes creates fire hazards and equipment failures that require emergency electrical work to remedy.

Suspended ceiling systems in commercial buildings rarely survive water exposure that causes visible damage. If drop ceiling tiles get wet, the entire ceiling grid system must be replaced, as its members have absorbed moisture as well. If drywall ceilings get wet, their structural integrity becomes compromised, and it becomes necessary to cut out wet sections.

The Ancillary Costs of Roof Problems

When a roof problem creates secondary damage within the building, business operations inevitably suffer. Retail outlets with visible water stains on ceiling tiles spread visible signs of unkemptness and can cause loss of customer confidence. If commercial office buildings exhibit visible water stains, they become unwelcoming environments even for employees. Warehouses become vulnerable to losing their inventory if a compromised roof prevents ongoing operations.

Due to the extensive secondary damage caused by the disruption, remediation costs often exceed the direct repair costs for the roof problem itself. If sections of a building have to be closed off during remediation, its regular revenue streams become disrupted. Warehoused businesses can become displaced and lose efficiency if forced to move elsewhere. Restaurants may become unable to serve customers even if only one ceiling is undergoing repairs overhead.

In addition to these direct disruption costs, secondary damage from mold-infested materials often entails additional costs. Insurance carriers may scrutinize mold damage differently than they do other types of secondary damage that occur when roofs fail to perform their intended function. For example, if carrier employees determine that mold damage resulted from the building owner’s negligence in addressing maintenance issues and timely waterproofing, they can deny claims without facing repercussions.

The Mold Issue

Mold growth occurs quickly once moisture becomes trapped in building materials. Commercial buildings with failed roofs may find their wall cavities, insulation layers, and ceilings contaminated with developing mold cells before they can even address the visible consequences of the moisture intrusion.

Mold remediation costs can mount rapidly in commercial buildings. The steps involved don’t just include the straightforward removal of drywall or insulation materials up to a certain height and the replacement of easily removable materials like drop ceiling tiles. The process involves creating airtight containment areas and requires specific treatments on every affected square inch of contaminated area.

Avoiding Cascading Damage

If building owners maintain their commercial flat roofs through regular inspections and repairs, they can avoid costs associated not just with roof repairs but also with remediation of secondary damage cascading from compromised horizontal surfaces. Repairing minor issues with roof membranes, flashings, drains, and gutters in commercial roofing systems costs much less than addressing other building system damage caused by roof failures in specific flat roofing systems or at edges.

Following this cost pattern provides a reasonable estimate of the relative costs of secondary damage compared to direct repair costs associated with roof failures. Generally speaking, secondary damage increases repair costs 10 times or more than simply replacing or repairing a failed roofing system does.

Commercial flat roofs support everything contained within a commercial establishment below these systems and keep water from damaging all those other components once properly installed and maintained. When they fail, all those different components and systems can create additional expenses cascading downward at even higher rates than once gazed at silently from beneath their damaged membranes.

When a roof fails and allows water to enter through its membranes, it’s always best to address the problem before it causes cascading effects throughout entire commercial buildings. Not only is prompt intervention less expensive than letting damage fester, but it’s also more efficient!