Ensuring Roofing Preparedness for Extreme Weather

It only takes a simple look at recent headlines to understand that extreme weather events are on the rise throughout the United States. Several major hurricanes caused significant damage and devastation throughout the South during this past hurricane season. Excessive rain, major winds, and other perilous conditions led to massive property damage throughout impacted areas. 

For property owners throughout these regions, proactive measures to best protect homes and buildings are essential. Major weather events can cause significant structural damage, leading to costly repairs or, in a worst-case scenario, complete rebuilding. Flooding, wind damage, or power outages can severely impact the physical infrastructure.

For roofing contractors and professionals, there is an opportunity to help homeowners and building owners better prepare their structures for extreme weather with the right roofing strategies. In this article, we’ll explore some techniques and tactics that roofers can apply for both residential and commercial jobs, helping property owners gain greater confidence in their roofs throughout their lifetimes.

Preparing Residential Homes for Extreme Weather

In areas of the United States that are most prone to hurricanes, it’s not uncommon to find a common roofing material: roof tiles. 

Indeed, tile roofs grant a home enhanced curb appeal and typically last anywhere from 50 to 75 years when properly installed and maintained, far outstripping other options that can be more susceptible to damage from high winds. But the highest levels of performance — and extreme weather preparedness — are achieved by using the right fastening materials.

Consider: Installing tile roofs has long been performed with some form of mechanical fasteners. The use of screws, nails, mortar sets, or wire ties is typically up to contractor preference — but each of them come with some potential deficiencies. For example, using screws or nails to secure tiles inherently involves penetrating the roof deck with thousands of holes. Though this will not immediately compromise the performance of the roof if installed correctly, it does essentially create greater opportunity for failure in the future — such as water ingress and structural performance issues — than if the roof deck simply had not been penetrated at all.

Screws and nails must also be installed with the right amount of pressure. Too forceful of an insertion can cause damage to the roofing material. Meanwhile, some areas require flashing cements to be applied over all penetrations, which can add additional labor and drive up costs. Too loose of an insertion, meanwhile, can contribute to future performance issues, particularly in high-wind environments.

By contrast, securing roof tiles with a high-performance polyurethane adhesive product can functionally eliminate these concerns. Depending on the roof pitch and local building code requirements, it does not require the installer to puncture the roof deck, but instead creates a strong adhesive bond between the deck and tile. This process also contributes to greater uniformity across the roof as a whole, eliminating the variance between a too-tight or too-lose nail or screw insertion and the potential issues associated with each. 

For residential roof tile adhesive applications, a roofing contractor has a choice between (1) single-component adhesive products, where all components are combined, and the adhesive moisture-cures upon dispensation; and (2) two-component adhesives, whose main chemicals are kept separate (A-side/B-side) and the reaction begins once the two components are mixed together. These components are fed through hoses up toward the roof workspace and are combined at the point of application. 

While single-component systems can offer some labor advantages, for the purposes of extreme weather preparedness, two-component solutions hold an advantage. Available two-component polyurethane adhesives maintain the pinnacle of wind uplift performance. In some cases, depending on the paddy size and project, a two-component system can withstand Category 5 hurricanes. 

Additionally, when taking advantage of two-component adhesive solutions, proper application is essential. Various building officials, inspectors and municipalities might require roofing contractors to have been trained in proper product use by the manufacturer. Not only will this help ensure that the job is performed effectively but it will help ensure your project goes smoothly.

Weatherproofing Strategies for Commercial Buildings

When it comes to commercial roofing applications, extreme weather preparedness also depends upon application of the right products. 

High-performance primers can serve as a strong foundational base coating for any roof, for example, which can improve adhesion properties for roof membranes over the long term, including around typically problematic areas. Available silicone, elastomeric, or asphalt coatings (dependent upon the application) can add a further level of protection, creating tough and flexible barriers that helps to prevent wind and water damage associated with severe weather. Finally, if and when damage does occur to the roof, the right patching and cement solutions can help eliminate roof leaks quickly — before too much damage has been caused to the building’s interior. 

In addition to working with high-performance products upon installation and repair, it’s also important to remember that good maintenance practices are essential to a commercial roof’s ability to withstand severe weather. A roof that has not been maintained properly is far more likely to suffer damage if and when a hurricane or similarly severe event does strike. Roofing contractors have the opportunity to advise commercial property owners on the proper best practices for long-term maintenance and of course, secure maintenance contracts.

Some target areas on commercial roofs to focus on include:

· Roof membranes and flashings. Ensure all flashing and membranes are in good condition. Check for signs of stress, cracking, splitting, wrinkles, or blisters. Remove any foreign matter such as balls, shoes, tools, branches, oils, chemicals, liquid, or other objects (we’ve seen it all). Then, clean the roof membrane and closely inspect for signs of physical damage.

· Gutters, drains and scuppers. These are the main avenues where rainwater travels off your roof surface and is directed away from the building, so it is crucial that these areas are inspected and maintained. Clean and remove any debris that may be clogging or obstructing the flow of water. Look for any signs of cracking or splitting of the membrane around your drains and scuppers. If anything is noted, the areas must be repaired immediately by a qualified roofing contractor.

· Penetrations. Inspect penetrations for signs of wear. Ensure that the base of the penetration remains completely sealed and attached to the roof membrane. 

· Pitch pans. Check all pitch pans for shrinkage. As most sealants shrink over time, water may begin to sit on the top of the pitch pan causing rust, leaks, and deterioration.

· Metal flashings. Inspect all metal flashings, counter flashings, copings, seams, joints, gravel stops, edge metal, and other areas to ensure they are secure and free of rust or deterioration. Any unsatisfactory conditions should be repaired as soon as possible. 

· Rooftop equipment and accessories. Inspect all rooftop equipment for deterioration and areas that are prone to water penetration. This includes HVAC equipment, ductwork, curbs, skylights, etc.

· Expansion joints. Check all expansion joints for deterioration, wear, and defects. Check the metal components to ensure they are fully secured and free of rust. Make sure the expansion joint is still flexible and resilient. Look for any signs of cracking or splitting while manually flexing the joint. 

For both residential and commercial property owners, maintaining high levels of roof performance depends on sound upfront installation practices utilizing the right technology, as well as sound preventative maintenance practices. These things are especially true in an era of increasing extreme weather events. For roofing contractors, it’s a continued opportunity to deliver value to customers in every segment.

About the author: Sara Jonas is vice president of marketing at ICP Group, a provider of professional solutions for a broad range of building and construction applications, including the trusted APOC brand of roofing supplies for residential and commercial applications. For more information, visit apoc.com or contacted the author at [email protected].