The roof system is one of the most important assemblies in a commercial and residential building. Every year commercial maintenance managers and homeowners would spend 50% of their maintenance budget on the roof. One of the best ways to protect this important building component is by waterproofing.
Building and homeowners would spend about 5 to 10% of their construction cost on roofing assemblies. Houses located in areas with heavier rain downfall usually have slating roofs, so that the water would slide sideways, away from the surface. However, there are houses and buildings that have flat roof systems which could cause water to stay in the room for some time.
It is also common to find commercial and residential buildings with concrete roof systems. Concrete roofing systems are not actually waterproof. A concrete roof like those made of tiles or shingles, could easily get weak and crack when consistently exposed to water and moisture. They could also develop serious cases of molds and mildew which could endanger the health of those living in the building.
To determine the condition of your roof, there should be a maintenance program that would include inspection and regular maintenance tasks. For commercial buildings, a detailed survey or inspection could be done to check all the components of the roofing system. Defects would be identified and repairs would be recommended. Ideally, a roof should be inspected twice a year.
If you have concrete roof structures, make sure to use waterproofing materials for the roof. The roof should be regularly checked for broken or missing tiles and shingles or clogged gutters. There are specialized rubber and plastic coats that could be applied to extend concrete life. This coat or membrane could protect the roof; however, it is important to seal all cracks before applying the membrane.
There are some spray-on waterproofing products that could also seal cracks and leaks. There are also some products which are applied to the shingles, just like paint. There are membranes that are applied under the shingles and tiles, creating a moisture barrier.
Concrete roofs should also have proper drainage. Some homeowners would use damp proofing since it costs less, however, waterproofing proved to be more effective in keeping the water away. In severe cases, tiling would be removed and would undergo a special waterproofing treatment. This could be very costly.
If your roof is leaking, how do you look for a roof and waterproofing contractor? The internet and the local roofing companies are the first great sources of information. Just verify with friends or relatives, who have used the services of the contractor before, if they were able to provide good service. You could also ask them for recommendations.
Make sure to get a licensed contractor, this would, at least, guarantee you quality work. When picking a contractor online, check their website for client feedback. Make sure that your agreement with the contractor is written in a contract, the price, services covered and the deadline should be indicated in the contract.
It may be better not to pay the contractor full before the project gets started. You could pay half of the fee after waterproofing and roofing obligations are already finished. Having a roofing and waterproofing service provider check your roof could be difficult sometimes, but make sure to call one before the problem turns to worst.
