It is no secret that Texas has diverse climate types ranging from humid temperatures to extremely hot days. In fact last year, 2021, some parts of Texas experienced and broke the records for the hottest and coldest temperature in their weather history. 

So though your roofing materials have specified their service life, these changes in temperature, especially sudden, may lessen the durability and affect the longevity of your roof. Commercial roofs are extremely complex as it is not only to protect the customers and tenants but also the materials being sold in the commercial space. 

If you are the building or property manager, it is your task to ensure that when a storm hits, regardless of its severity, that no damage to the roof as well as the inside. As much as you have maintained your commercial roof, preventive measures should still be done before the storm hits the area. 

1. Check the drainage system

Especially on flat commercial roofs, drainage is the most important part of your roofing system. If your drainage system is covered with debris or is clogged, the rainwater or the melted snow or hail will pond in your entire area which will eventually damage your roofing material and might cause leaking on the inside or it might damage the structural stability of the roof as it cannot carry the excess load from the accumulated water. 

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2. Checking flash

Flashing is the most vulnerable part of your roof as it prevents water seepage. If the flashing is not maintained well, it will cause leaking which will be very evident during the storm and cannot be rectified unless the storm stops, therefore make sure that your flashing is in the best condition which can last during a severe storm. 

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3. Secure equipment 

Most of the commercial roofs have large and heavy equipment on their rooftops as well as other items like solar panels. These are securely installed but sometimes, strong storms can, unfortunately, tumble it down causing it to be destroyed, affect the building system, and can damage your roofing. Check the installation method of this equipment and make sure that no presence of loose, rusty, or damaged attachment to your roof is visible. Just to make sure that it cannot fall down due to strong winds due to severe storms, provide other reinforcement or strapping to keep it in place. If you have installed solar panels, secure them so that no flying objects might hit them. 

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4. Repair any material or waterproofing damages 

In order to see any damage to the material or waterproofing, clean your entire roof. Check if there are any missing or loosened screws, rusty materials, or peel-off and cracked waterproofing which are caused by other external elements. Contact professional roofers to have it repaired urgently and use high-quality repair material that can withstand the incoming storm. 

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5. Inspect regularly 

To lessen the chances of last-minute repair before a storm, always have a routine check-up on your roof. Damage doesn’t just evolve in one night it is a small problem that can be fixed but was neglected and got worse. Have your roof be free from debris that might clog your drains, or any chemical which can badly interact with your waterproofing or evident peel off or cracks in the material because of temperature changes. Commercial roofs are, themselves, designed to be durable and long-lasting but because it is the barrier from external elements, they can deteriorate over time especially when hit by a storm.