Ponding water can collect on a commercial roof at any time during the year, but each region will have specific seasons in which excess water and intrusion are more likely to occur. For instance, in the Southeast, torrential downpours occur nearly every day in the summer – but winter brings drought conditions. In states to the north, the most extreme weather may come in the form of winter snowstorms. No matter the time of year, if rain, snow, or ice accumulates on a commercial roof and the structure doesn’t have adequate drainage, water damage may result. When water ponds into areas of the roof, it can cause leaks, deterioration of materials, mold, and other forms of damage.

Potential Water Damage Due to Ponding

Accumulated water can cause increased and excessive weight on the roofing structure. Standing water can be quite heavy. Excess water can place significant stress and weight on your roof. When precipitation includes snow and ice, the weight becomes even more substantial. Too much weight on the roof could cause breaches, buckling, and, in extreme circumstances, roof collapse.
Ponding water can compromise the integrity of a commercial roof. Ponding water can cause deterioration of your roofing system if it weakens the structural integrity of the roof deck. If a commercial roof is exposed to water for an extended period, such as during rainy season, many types of damage can occur. These include rust formation, wood softening and weakening, mold growth, and concrete damage.
Water can break down and damage the protective coating on your commercial roof.Although state of the art roof coatings represent one of the best ways to protect your roof overall, if water sits and collects on a roof for an extended period of time without being removed or drained, it can eventually erode the protective layer (especially if the coating is of low quality or was not installed properly.) Ongoing excess moisture can damage the rooftop barrier, as can standing water that becomes overheated when exposed to the sun’s UV rays.
Ponding water can obviously lead to leaks and water damage. The most obvious danger to ponding water is that the water will eventually intrude into the structure. The longer ponding water is present on the roof, the more likely that water will leak through the roofing membrane, resulting in leaks and water damage, both exterior and interior. Water can intrude via weak areas, flaws, or imperfections in your roofing system.

Why Does Ponding Occur?

There are many reasons why a commercial roof may experience ponding. These include:

Drains or scuppers have become clogged with debris
Vegetation is forming on the roof’s surface and blocking water flow
Foot traffic from maintenance workers has caused depressions in the insulation and roof surface
A damaged or weakened roof deck or underlayment

How to Solve Issues with Commercial Roof Ponding

Once you understand what has caused the roof ponding, it can be properly addressed and remedied. While many people assume that a leaky roof means that a new roof is necessary, this is often not the case. An experienced roofing professional will:

Identify and record the extent of the ponding
Ensure that drains are unclogged and flowing freely
Find and build up any low spots or depressions on the flat roof
If needed, measure and recalibrate the roof’s slope to restore adequate drainage

Professional Roof Coatings Can Protect Against Water Damage

Roof coatings have come a long way, both in their composition and installation methods. In fact, roof coatings are one of the best ways to protect a commercial roof against water damage.

If your commercial roof is experiencing issues with ponding or leakage, call the experts at Unicoat Industrial Roofing today. We will identify and remedy any structural issues and then seal the surface against further water intrusion. Are you ready to hear more? Call us today for an inspection and consultation.