A maintainable commercial roof is designed and built to facilitate regular inspections, maintenance and repairs over its service life. Property owners, managers and roof repair contractors benefit from this because it can save time and make roofing work safer. In today’s post, roofing company Lankford Roofing & Construction LLC takes a look at the features and qualities of a maintainable commercial roof.

Roof Access Hatches

Roof access hatches are functionally similar to skylights, providing safe and convenient access to the rooftop from various points within the building. They complement access ladders installed along the exterior walls, and help reduce the time it would take to get to particular areas on the roof. Access hatches can help control foot traffic on the roof if properly secured from the inside.

Walkways and Platforms

Single-ply roofing is a popular commercial roofing option because it’s cost-effective, energy-efficient and spot-repairable. However, it doesn’t hold up well against foot traffic; they’re easily punctured by hard soles, sharp stones and similar objects. This is where elevated walkways and platforms are needed. They help confine foot traffic to certain areas. To reduce the risks of punctures, commercial roofing contractors like us wear protective footwear when stepping on unprotected rooftops.

Adequate Drainage

Standing water can damage roofing seams, as well as allow moss and bacterial growth on the roofing surface. This is why commercial roofs need a well-designed drainage system. In addition to gutters, downspouts and drains, the roofing plane needs to have a minimum of 0.25:12 slope — that is, a quarter of rise inch per foot of run.

Space Around Penetrations

Penetrations such as pipes, vents and HVAC equipment that pass through the roof should not be placed too close together. In addition to preventing damage caused by close contact with emissions coming from surrounding pipes, ample spacing will also help facilitate inspections and repairs.

Pipe Support Systems

Pipes and other rooftop equipment should have framing or other means of support to prevent stress on the roof membrane by evenly distributing the weight of the pipes and other equipment.

Lankford Roofing & Construction LLC is one of the most trusted roofing and window replacement companies serving Sherman and Denison, TX, and the surrounding communities in North Texas. Give us a call at (903) 465-7677, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.