As we move into the season of snow, wind, and ice, you are probably digging up your heavy winter clothes, testing your heating system, and making sure your vehicle is winter ready. If you haven’t thought about it yet, you should be doing the same for your commercial roof! The season change comes with a whole different set of issues to take into consideration, and taking the time to walk through a mental (or physical) checklist of things your flat roof needs as the temperature drops will ensure it stands up to the elements.

We’ve put together a list of items you can walk through to maintain your roof during the winter so that it lasts as long as possible.

Check Your Roof for Debris

As long as it isn’t snowy or icy yet, check out the top of your flat roof and look for debris if you can do so safely. During spring, summer, and fall, it’s likely that lots of branches, leaves, or even trash may have made their way onto your roof. If left unattended, this debris can clog up drains and gutters when snow and ice melts, causing water to sit on your roof and potentially cause damage.

If there are larger pieces of debris you and your group can’t safely remove on your own, give our professionals a call and we’ll safely remove any debris for you.

Investigate Your Roof’s HVAC Unit

While you’re clearing debris from your roof, take a look at the HVAC equipment installed on your roof as well. Be sure that it’s functioning correctly and that its doors are closed securely to prevent snow, ice, and moisture from seeping in during the winter.

Look for Signs of Damage

If you can do so safely and without professional assistance, get up onto your flat roof and look for signs of damage. You should do this seasonally to make sure any damage gets addressed as soon as possible to prevent further damage. Areas you should look for damage include flashing, gutters, downspouts, scupper boxes, and scuppers. If you locate any tears, bubbling, damage, or leaks, contact a professional immediately. If these are left over the winter, your building will be opened up to unwanted moisture that can lead to more expensive and extensive repairs. The damage will also spread and become a bigger problem when exposed to ice and snow, so it’s best to address any flat roof damage as soon as you become aware of it; you’ll be saving yourself the extra trouble and extra money that may be required to fix it further down the road.

Get a Snow Removal Plan in Place

Even if your roof is in tip-top shape before the first snowfall, excessive amounts of snow on a flat roof can be a hazard and a potential factor in creating future roof damage. In extreme cases, heavy snowfall left on top of a flat roof can cause it to collapse. Because of unpredictable Midwest winters, you should expect the unexpected and put a plan in place to have snow removed from your roof if extreme snowfall occurs. Fresh snow can add an extra 20 pounds of weight per cubic foot, while iced-over or wet snow can add as much as 60 extra pounds of weight. Contact flat roofing professionals in your area and ask if they do flat roof snow removal in the winter months so that you have a contact ready to call if a big snowstorm piles extra weight onto your roof.

Consider a Roof Coating

If you have a single-ply roof that was installed several years ago, you may want to consider applying a roof coating to it. Single-ply membranes can become more brittle near the end of their life, and if you’re not ready for a full roof replacement, the application of a roof coating can extend the life of your flat roof and provide better protection from the elements as the seasons change. We carry Duro-Last Duro Shield products with differing levels of strength to protect your roof.
If you have any questions about how to best prepare your roof for the oncoming snow and ice that is sure to grace us in the next few months, please contact us! We can provide tips, come out for a seasonal inspection, and give you all the information you need to keep your roof in good shape, no matter the weather.