A leak in a residential roof is an inconvenience. A leak in a warehouse or commercial roof can be a business emergency. Water dripping onto stock, equipment, or workspace areas can cause immediate and significant financial loss - damaged inventory, ruined equipment, workplace safety hazards, and business interruption while repairs are underway.
Canberra's industrial areas - Fyshwick, Mitchell, Hume, Beard, and Phillip - are home to hundreds of warehouses, workshops, and commercial buildings with large-span metal roofs that are 20, 30, or even 40 years old. Many of these roofs are approaching or past the point where maintenance and repairs become critical.
Commercial and warehouse roofs face some different challenges compared to residential roofs:
Large warehouse roofs can have thousands of screw fixings. Over 20 to 30 years, the neoprene rubber washers on these screws deteriorate from UV exposure and thermal cycling. When the washers fail, every screw point becomes a potential leak. On a large warehouse, replacing fixings across the entire roof is a significant but necessary maintenance task.
Older warehouse roofs may be built with Zincalume or galvanised steel sheeting that has a finite lifespan. Once the protective coating wears through, the base steel corrodes. Cut edges, where the protective coating was removed during installation, are often the first points to corrode. In Canberra's climate, where condensation forms on the underside of metal roofing during cold weather, corrosion can attack from both sides.
Warehouse gutters handle enormous water volumes during storms. Box gutters (internal gutters between roof planes) are particularly critical because if they overflow, the water goes straight into the building rather than down the external walls. Blocked outlets, failed sumps, insufficient capacity, and corroded gutter material are all common failure points on commercial buildings.
Commercial roofs often have numerous penetrations - exhaust fans, ventilation units, skylights, pipe penetrations, and roof-mounted equipment. Each penetration is sealed with flashings and sealant that degrade over time. The more penetrations, the more potential leak points.
Large-span warehouse structures experience thermal movement that can stress roofing connections. As the steel frame expands in Canberra's summer heat and contracts in winter cold, sheeting can work loose from purlins and flashings can open at expansion joints.
When a commercial roof leaks, the priority is to stop water entry as quickly as possible while minimising disruption to business operations. Our approach to commercial leak repairs follows a structured process designed for speed and effectiveness.
We prioritise commercial leak calls because we understand the financial impact of delays. When you report a commercial roof leak, we aim to attend for assessment within 24 hours. For active leaks causing immediate damage, we will discuss temporary containment measures over the phone while we schedule the earliest possible site visit.
Our assessment identifies the leak source (or sources - commercial roofs often have multiple concurrent issues), the scope of repair needed, any temporary measures that can stop the leak immediately while a permanent repair is planned, and the estimated cost and timeframe for permanent repair.
For commercial roofs, we often recommend a staged approach. Stage one is immediate containment - temporary sealing, redirecting water away from critical areas, and preventing further damage. Stage two is permanent repair of the identified leak sources. Stage three (where appropriate) is a comprehensive roof condition assessment to identify other issues that may cause future leaks, allowing you to budget for planned maintenance rather than reacting to emergencies.
Commercial roof repairs use materials and methods that may differ from residential work:
The most cost-effective approach to commercial roofing is planned maintenance. A regular inspection and maintenance program (typically annually or bi-annually, depending on the roof's age and condition) identifies developing issues before they become leaks. Planned repairs are far cheaper than emergency call-outs and avoid the business disruption that comes with unexpected water entry.
For commercial property owners and managers in the ACT, we offer tailored maintenance programs that include scheduled inspections, prioritised maintenance recommendations, planned repair scheduling during low-impact periods, and documentation for insurance and compliance purposes.
Working on commercial roofs requires strict adherence to ACT work health and safety legislation. All work must be covered by a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS), workers must use appropriate fall prevention systems, and the building owner or manager must be informed of all rooftop activities. We manage all safety requirements, including coordinating with building managers and other trades working on site.
If your warehouse, workshop, or commercial building has a roof leak or you want to establish a preventive maintenance program, contact us for a commercial roof assessment. We understand the urgency of commercial work and the need to minimise business disruption. Call (02) 5133 5608 or book online. We service all commercial areas across the ACT, 7 days a week.
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