When the temperature starts to rise and the spring rains begin to cease, facility managers and building owners are presented with a crucial opportunity. Summer, with its scorching temperatures, high UV radiation, and thermal expansion, can cause serious damage to the roofing system of a commercial building just as winter does.
A Pre-Summer Roof Audit is a proper maintenance step, but rather a tactical act that is aimed at securing your financial investment, keeping your tenants comfortable, and minimising emergency repairs to be carried out during the storm season’s peak.
Why the Pre-Summer Roof Audit Matters?
Prior to discussing the audit points, it is vital to grasp the “Summer Stress” that your roof goes through. The extreme heat makes the roofing materials swell. Then, when a sudden thunderstorm occurs in the afternoon, the fast cooling causes the material to shrink, resulting in thermal shock. This cycle can result in the separation of seams, cracking of membranes, and the weakening of flashings. By performing an audit at this time, you can be certain that your roof still has the strength to resist these physical stressors.
Pre-Summer Roof Audit Checklist
To ensure your commercial or industrial building is prepared, your audit should focus on these seven critical areas:
1. Surface Integrity and Membrane Condition
The skin of your building is the first defensive line.
- What to look for: Pay attention to blisters, cracks, and “alligatoring” (a pattern of cracks that looks like reptile skin) as signs of trouble.
- Summer Impact: UV rays speed up the deterioration of both bitumen and synthetic membranes. Thus, if the surface has already been compromised, the hot summer sun will extract the remaining oils and cause the material to become brittle and leak-prone.
2. Drainage Systems and Debris Clear-out
Spring frequently presents us with a gift in the form of dead leaves, twigs, and silt.
- What to look for: Check all scuppers, internal drains, and gutters. Make sure there is no standing water (ponding) for more than 48 hours after the rain.
- Summer Impact: Summer storms are usually characterised by quick and heavy rains. If the drainage system is blocked, water will be forced back, thus increasing the weight load on the deck, and at the same time, the risk of a catastrophic stair leak and floor flooding becomes more likely.
3. Flashings, Curbs, and Penetrations
According to statistics, most roof leaks take place at the “edges” where the roof intersects with the wall or an air conditioning unit.
- What to look for: Inspect the sealant around pipes, vents, and AC curbs. Search for metal flashings that have separated from the wall because of having been through numerous expansion/contraction cycles in the past.
- Summer Impact: Excessive heat can starve old caulking and sealants of moisture, making them shrink and eventually pull away, thus creating openings for rain blown by wind to penetrate.
4. HVAC Unit Inspection
The HVAC system in your home is the one that has to work the hardest during the summer. The point where it meets the roof is usually the most common place for it to fail.
- What to look for: Look for leaked condensation lines. Make sure that the access panels are tightly closed and that the unit’s vibrations haven’t damaged the roof membrane in the area.
- Summer Impact: A leaking HVAC unit on the roof surface can lead to early membrane failure and growth of algae, thereby affecting the roof’s lifespan.
5. Parapet Walls and Coping Caps
The edges of your roof are very prone to wind uplift on windy days.
- What to look for: Check the masonry of parapet walls for cracks and ensure that the metal coping caps are tight and secure.
- Summer Impact: Summer usually brings very high-velocity wind events. A loose coping can serve as a sail, thus allowing and being able to get underneath the roof membrane and tear it off the deck.
6. Signs of Moisture Infiltration (The Infrared Scan)
Sometimes the damage isn’t visible to the naked eye.
- What to look for: Consider an Infrared Moisture Survey. This identifies “hot spots” where wet insulation is trapped beneath the membrane.
- Summer Impact: Trapped moisture expands when heated by the summer sun. This creates “vapour pressure” that causes large blisters and can lead to mould growth inside the building envelope.
7. Safety Equipment and Walkway Pads
Increased summer maintenance means more foot traffic on your roof.
- What to look for: Ensure walkway pads are secure and that safety railings or tie-off points are OSHA-compliant.
- Summer Impact: Roof membranes become softer and more prone to punctures in high heat. Ensuring technicians stay on designated paths protects the roof from accidental damage.
Benefit of Pre-Summer Roof Audit
A pre-summer audit also addresses Reflectivity. If your building has a Cool Roof (white TPO or coated surface), dirt and grime accumulation can reduce its solar reflectance. Cleaning the roof during your audit can significantly lower your cooling costs by reflecting more solar energy away from the building, reducing the Heat Island Effect.
Read More: How To Choose Cool Roof Coating
Final Thoughts
A building’s roof is often out of sight, out of mind until water starts dripping onto expensive equipment or office desks. By performing a Pre-Summer Roof Audit, you shift from a defensive, reactive posture to a proactive one. You protect your assets, reduce your energy bills, and extend the life of one of your most expensive building components.
