Saltwater Corrosion and Your Roof
Saltwater has strong corrosive properties that can degrade a wide range of roofing materials, especially for those businesses located near Florida’s coasts. This premature breakdown of your roof can lead to costly repairs – or to a total replacement. Choosing durable roofing materials that hold up well against saltwater and implementing a solid maintenance schedule can help keep the roof over your business in tip-top shape and can significantly extend its lifespan. For help with your roofing needs, reach out to a well-respected Florida commercial roofing company today.
Saltwater’s Effects
The saltwater that coastal businesses are exposed to contains chloride ions, which corrode many of the metals that are common to roofing materials, including both iron and steel. When these metals come into contact with salt water, a chemical reaction that causes the metal to rust takes place. With the passage of time, this corrosion can wear away at the roof’s structural integrity, which can leave your business compromised. The high humidity we experience along Florida’s coasts only serves to amplify the damaging effects of saltwater.
Maintenance Tips
If your company is located on or near the coast, there are important maintenance tips that can help you keep it in great shape for a long time to come, including:
- Schedule regular inspections, which helps to ensure that any signs of deterioration are caught early on.
- Keep your roof free of debris, which helps prevent the buildup of algae and moss that can trap moisture and accelerate deterioration.
- Implement regularly scheduled professional maintenance, including the cleaning of gutters and downspouts.
- Keep any vulnerable areas of your business’s roof well sealed and waterproofed with sealants and coatings, including all flashing, penetrations and seams. A durable, waterproof membrane underlayment can afford additional protection.
The Right Roof for Your Business
The right roof for your business depends on many variables, but some good options when saltwater is a concern include all the following:
- Metal sheeting, including aluminum, zinc, copper, and stainless steel, is not only resistant to corrosion but is also very durable.
- Concrete tile roofing is resistant to both saltwater and high winds, and it affords an additional layer of fire protection.
- Clay tile roofing is exceptionally durable – with built-in resistance to saltwater spray, the sun’s rays, and high winds – and it helps increase your building’s energy efficiency.
- Synthetic slate roofing is both more durable and lighter than natural slate roofing, and it is very resistant to the damage caused by saltwater.
Discuss Your Roofing Needs with a Trusted Florida Commercial Roofing Company Today
At Roofing Concepts Unlimited, we’ve been proudly serving Florida’s roofing needs since 1991, and we welcome the opportunity to also serve you. We are well acquainted with the ravages of coastal saltwater, and we offer the maintenance, repairs, inspections, and new roofs that business owners like you need to protect their investments. To learn more about your roofing options and what we can do to help, please don’t wait to contact us online or call 954-786-9350 today.