10 Sep Small Drip, Big Damage – How Ignoring Leaks Can Cost You
We’re all guilty of ignoring that stain on the ceiling tile, avoiding eye contact with that spot of rust in the corner. You may even have a preferred pot or plastic trash can strategically positioned around the warehouse for catching drips.
Nothing serious, right? Just a little drop or two now and then. No big deal.
It’s easy to discount one minor leak in your thousands of square-feet of industrial roofing. But as that drip becomes a stain becomes a trickle, the unseen damage to your roof could wind up costing you big time.
No one wants to replace an entire roof. By catching a leak in time, you may be able to restore or repair the damage. Consider these consequences of permitting even minor leaks for too long.
Rust
Rust is the undisputed bogeyman of industrial roofing. While rust damage spans from minor, to major, to outright catastrophic, its most insidious quality is its invisibility. Without knowing the state of rust in your industrial roof, you may enjoy a false sense of security until it’s too late.
Weathercoat can pre-treat even extremely rusted roofing structures with a neutralizing primer designed not only to stop rust, but to kill it. Combined with a spray-on elastomeric coating, rust doesn’t stand a chance.
Mold and Mildew
Scoring highest on the “gross” factor, mold and mildew are also seriously dangerous and time-consuming to remove. Mold and mildew can cause work stoppages and increase the cost of returning to the status quo.
Once mold and mildew find their way into softer building materials–such as insulation and drywall–repair is no longer an option. What was a minor leak in the roof is now a serious construction project that has to be dealt with (and paid for).
Safety Hazards
Aside from the predictable slips and falls, leaks can cause shortages in wiring and increase a structure’s likelihood of fire damage. Leaks can also weaken the physical structure, leading to partial collapses, soggy flooring, or crumbling ceiling tiles.
Combined with dangerous mold and mildew, leaks are more than an inconvenience–they’re outright dangerous.
Damage to Equipment/Inventory
As if damage to the structure wasn’t enough, leaks can seriously threaten heavy or sensitive equipment on the floor below. Data storage systems, personal computers, industrial machinery, even good old fashioned file cabinets–equipment vital to your operation can be irreparably damaged by even small drips.
Your inventory isn’t safe either. A drip in the ceiling could quickly turn into a leak in your monthly balance.
Higher Utility Bills
Where there’s a leak, there’s a hole. When the water-tightness of your roof is compromised, so is your insulation.
Leaks and higher utility bills go hand-in-hand. Even if your structure lacks an HVAC system, you might notice a difference in average temperature, employee comfort, and optimal machinery performance.
No Minor Leaks, Only Future Problems
Take a leak in your industrial roof for what it truly is–a sign of impending structural damage. Still, there’s no need for despair! Weathercoat specializes in restoring old roofs to beyond their former glory.
With 20th-century roofing solutions like elastomeric coating and rust neutralizing primers, you can breathe a decade or more of new life into your old roof.
Learn more about restoring your leaky roof with Weathercoat today!
Water shapes mountains and carves valleys. It’s only a matter of time before it pokes holes in your roof. But a leak doesn’t have to be a death sentence for your existing structure. Restoration is possible with the latest in spray-applied coatings designed to last longer, work smarter, and save money. To finally put away the pots and pans, visit Weathercoat.com today!