How to Know Whether to Repair, Patch or Replace Your Roof

Knowing when to repair, patch and replace your commercial roof helps ensure your building is always protected but in the most cost-effective way. If you’re unsure of the best way to care for your roof, it’s a good idea to reach out to commercial roofing contractors like Domack Restoration. But to help you get started, here’s a look at repair, patch and replacement guidelines for commercial roofs.

Signs You Should Repair or Patch Your Roof

With proper roof maintenance, you should be able to avoid costly repairs. However, sometimes the weather has some surprises and you can’t avoid some damage types. As such, most commercial roofs will need repair at some point in their lifetime.

Some signs you might need to call your roofing contractor for an assessment include the following.

  • Water stains
  • Brittle roofing materials
  • Cracks or other damage to your roof’s membrane or flashing
  • Adhesive issues near seams that could leave room for leaks
  • Blocked drains
  • Mold growth
  • Punctures, dents or holes in roofing materials from debris

You might notice these issues during building maintenance, or your roofing company might recommend repairs after completing regular maintenance.

Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Commercial Roof

Even with the best maintenance and care, your roof will eventually need to be replaced. While a good roofing contractor will always repair or patch a roof when possible so you get the most from your investment, the time will still come when you will need to replace the roof.

Hopefully, it’s not due to a serious issue that mandates immediate replacement, which can disrupt business. But in some situations, an emergency replacement is necessary and you won’t be able to work around your business schedules to reduce disruption.

The best way to know whether you can repair or patch a roof is based on how much of the roof is damaged. When it’s less than 25 percent and your roof is not terribly old, you can likely go ahead and complete the repair. But if more than 25 percent of your roof is damaged or it’s already toward the end of its life, it likely makes more sense to go ahead and replace it instead of investing money in repairs and then later having to replace the roof anyway.

As you evaluate the best next step for the well-being of your roof, look for these signs that it is time to replace it.

  • Your roof is 20-30 years old, which is the average lifespan for commercial roofs
  • Water is pooling on the roof
  • The materials have blistering or bubbling, which most commonly occurs on membrane roofs
  • There is visible storm damage
  • The flashing or pitch pans are damaged
  • The membrane is torn or has holes in it
  • There are signs of wind damage

Hiring a Commercial Roofer

Having a trusted commercial roofer is valuable when you manage a commercial building. That way, you ensure you complete all maintenance that helps elongate the life of your roof and prevents catastrophic building damage due to missed signs that the roof needs care.

Domack Restoration has been offering reliable, quality commercial roofing and maintenance for nearly 50 years. We’ll be honest with you about whether repair is realistic or if it’s time to get a new roof. Reach out now to work with us and protect your building appropriately.

Commercial Roofing and Waterproofing in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. For more than 40 years, Domack Restoration, LLC has been providing commercial roofing and restoration services for all of Connecticut, Westchester County, New York, and Southern Massachusetts. We focus on high-quality work. This ethic is ingrained in us, which is the reason for our tradition of excellence. Our work is well built, durable, and reliable.