PHP Roofing Blog

When people think about building strength, they often imagine foundations or load-bearing walls. Yet, above all, the roof platform sits, a system that carries its own demands. A durable roof platform preserves building integrity, protects investments, and ensures worker safety. When durability is ignored, the results show leaks, compromised equipment, safety hazards, and higher maintenance costs.

Maximizing economic benefits is a top priority for property owners and facility managers. Although a number of essential components contribute to this, engineering roof pipe and equipment support solutions stand tall as the most strategic asset. It leads to cost-effectiveness and long-term financial gains.

Commercial roofs are particularly susceptible to wind damage. Compared to residential structures, the low slope and differing material types makes these structures vulnerable when winds kick into high gear.   

Ponding water is the enemy of a flat roof. Water that collects in puddles very occasionally is unlikely to create a problem, but water that collects regularly can create a variety of issues, including leaks, rodents and insect infestation, birds, vegetation, and discoloration. Ultimately, ponding water can do damage to your building and reduce your property's value. 

With the changing season, it’s time to think about fall readiness and eventual winter prep through commercial roof maintenance. Your commercial rooftop went through a lot this year! High heat in summer and cold nights in spring and winter could have caused damage to your commercial roof. 

Buildings rely on HVAC systems to ensure comfort year round. However, all too often, the regular upkeep of HVAC systems isn’t a priority…until something goes wrong or they don’t work as they should. Routine HVAC preventative maintenance is essential for comfort, healthier indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and peace of mind—and it’s something that should begin well before an issue occurs. In fact, the best move you can make for ensuring HVAC equipment longevity is to set up your system for long-term success with equipment supports as part of a complete rooftop support system.

Until recently, the best way to inspect a commercial roof was to physically climb on top of it and look around. While getting a close-up view of the rooftop is certainly the best way to check for defects, it’s also potentially quite dangerous, as there’s an increased risk of a slip-and-fall accident. In addition, an untrained inspector can cause unintentional damage by crushing roof panels and piercing the roof membrane.

Half a century ago, your commercial roof coating options were limited to two options: asphalt or gravel. Today, advances in materials science have left those coatings far behind. Roof coatings are now both more durable and more sustainable—able to improve not just the roof itself but the building below it.

Commercial roofs are the most vulnerable and also the most important part of any commercial building. Although the commercial roof plays a vital role in insulating the building and situating building infrastructure, it’s also surprisingly delicate. It can be damaged by high winds, debris, or even something as small as an errant footstep. What’s more, damage tends to become ramified. A pinhole in the membrane turns into a leak, which turns into rot, and suddenly your have to replace a roof beam.

Even if you live in a relatively dry climate, the summer might be one of the worst seasons for your commercial roof. The sun can damage nearly any exposed roofing material, and strong summer storms can take advantage of this damage if it’s left unmitigated. Now that spring is upon us, it’s the perfect time to begin inspecting your commercial roof and hardening it against the following four factors over the months ahead.