The lack of waterproofing systems on buildings can be problematic in Alberta because of the wet seasons. When snow and rainfall, a building’s first line of defence is its roof. Commercial buildings are
usually flat-roofed and highly elevated, making it more vulnerable to the wet season. If a building doesn’t have a proper waterproofing system installed, it would deteriorate the rooftop and cause leaks in the interior.
To improve the waterproofing systems of a building, there are 3 types of roofing materials that we recommend to repel water and ensure structural safety.
The Best Roofing for Waterproofing Systems
SBS Roofing
Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene is an asphalt-based and rubber synthetic material designed for commercial roofing, especially for buildings with flat roofing structures. It’s also called Torched-On Roofing.
Single Ply Roofing
A long rectangular sheet of synthetic rubber best made for industrial site buildings, ideally used for slightly sloped flat roofs. Single Ply Roofing can cover a wide length of your roofing surface.
Metal Roofing
Metal materials such as steel are the most durable and energy-sufficient roofing alternatives for buildings. However, despite being the most durable, it gets rusty eventually. But if an acrylic coating is layered on your metal roofing, it rivals other best roofing options for waterproofing systems.
Parts of Waterproofing Systems
Installing the best materials is not sufficient to eliminate the rainwater and melted snow from the roof of a building. Commercial buildings require some parts to effectively extract water safely.
Scupper
The scupper is the opening hole on the sides of a building to drain the accumulated water directly outside of the roof. A scupper is effective in short buildings because wintertime freezes the water, which can cause a blockage.
Gutter
A horizontal passageway for rainwater. Just like a scupper, the gutter is responsible for catching and releasing the water out to the ground. A scupper and gutter work together for tall buildings to discharge water out of the roof.
Interior Drainage
Interior drainage is flat-surfaced drainage on the roof connected with long pipelines or tubes to direct the leakage down to the basement level until it reaches the soil sack. For a snowy province like Alberta, taller buildings require interior drainage because of winter hazards instead of relying only on freeze-prone scuppers and gutters. The pipes and tubes are cold resistant, so the low temperature won’t freeze the water gushing down the drain.
Water Tank
Another alternative for water destinations is to harvest it towards a water tank. The filtered water collected from the rain is purified and can be reused for irrigation systems in the building area. But when the water tank is at maximum capacity, the overflown water will be disposed of in the sewage.
Gravel or Tar on Your Rooftop
Gravel and tar are used for building insulation because of their low freezing point, and both elements melt ice and snow faster than usual. On top of that, gravel and tar also benefit the waterproofing system of a building. Thanks to the high hydraulic conductivity of gravel and tar, they allow liquids to flow smoothly, making it easier to reach the drainage.
The Heat of the Building
The overall warmth of the building interior is a massive factor in evaporating water. The building's electronics, heaters, and lights emit warm energy to make moisture dry fast to prevent moulding. Sometimes, the water doesn’t reach the soil sack because the heat energy has already evaporated the leaks while the water is still on the top of the roof.
Less Maintenance but Must be Inspected Often
A monthly building inspection is necessary for commercial roofing. The bigger the building, the more difficult it is to detect any problems. There’s no substantial risk of getting a non-roofing expert to inspect rooftops. However, it is recommended to consult professionals to perform any maintenance.
The priority is the safety of occupants. A proper waterproofing system on commercial roofing reduces roof deterioration and moulding risks. Consider installing SBS, Single Ply, or Metal Roofing to ensure the durability and waterproofing of a commercial roof.
Need a Waterproofing System?
The proper installation of waterproofing systems for commercial roofing is necessary for Alberta. Superior Roofing has over 25 years of delivering commercial roofing services. We can implement a waterproofing system for your establishment to guarantee the best anti-leakage roofing built in the city.