The winter weather can put a strain on your commercial premises and in particular, the roof of your building. From ice and plunging temperatures to increased rainfall and snow, the roof is one of the most vulnerable elements of your property throughout the colder months.
It is at this time of year that we see the biggest increase in our commercial roofing repair jobs, as we work hard to ensure that industrial and commercial buildings sustain the minimal amount of interior damage following a roofing problem.
From simple repairs to damaged slates and tiles to the complete renovation of listed building roofs, our commercial roofing services are vast and varied, however there are particular problems that roofs are more susceptible to at this time of year. Here are just a few examples of how the winter weather can damage the roof of your property:
Condensation
When warm and cold air meet, condensation can become problematic. As the warm air from your building rises up into the roof, it will inevitably meet the cold air from outside. This results in moisture in your roof space. A properly insulated roof should be able to regulate this temperature, however, if we have a particularly prolonged icy snap or the roof is badly insulated, this moisture can freeze and cause even more problems to the air flow. The biggest issue in many commercial properties is that the attic space is not used, or even easily accessible, so the state of ventilation or the severity of any problems with condensation may not be noticed until the issue has escalated.
Storm Damage
So far, the winter of 2017 has brought snow, ice and storms to the UK. The combination of plunging temperatures and high winds can be particularly challenging for the roof of your property as slates, tiles, fascias, soffits and guttering can all become dislodged, broken, cracked or simply blown off. When it is particularly cold, you might not want to linger outside, so the damage can often go unnoticed. It is only when damp starts infiltrating your walls, that you might be aware of damage to your roof. And at this point, it may be disrupting to your day to day business activities to undergo repairs.
Icicles
Aside from providing a risk to employees and visitors coming and going from your building, icicles can damage your roof and guttering. Keeping your guttering free of leaves and other debris is the key to preventing icicles as it will enable water from rainfall and melted snow to be carried away without accumulating.
Prevention
Being prepared is often the best approach to preventing winter roofing problems. For example, if you are aware during the summer months of a problem with your roof then it makes sense to address it there and then rather than wait until the harsh weather comes and exacerbates the issue. At Universal Contracting we offer a comprehensive commercial roofing service which encompasses renovations, repairs and refurbishments to a wide range of commercial and industrial premises.
The solutions we provide cover flat, pitched, clad and wooden roofs as well as those on listed or period properties. Everything we do is undertaken with Health and Safety at the forefront and because we project manage everything for you, you can rest assured that the installation will be on time, stress free and with the minimum amount of disruption to your workforce.
For more information on our roofing services across the South of England, please call us today on 01794 330 830 or click here to make an enquiry.
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