How to Prevent Ice Dams Before Michigan Winter
Ice dam prevention for Michigan homes: why ice dams form, the attic fixes that stop them, an honest look at heat cables, and what to do if water gets in.
Commercial roofing is a different job from a house. Most commercial buildings around Rochester Hills, Troy, Auburn Hills and Sterling Heights have a flat or low-slope roof — a single-ply membrane like TPO or EPDM, modified bitumen, or an older built-up roof — or a metal roof. Each fails in its own way and has its own fixes, and a leak over a storefront, an office or a stockroom costs more than the repair.
What we do for commercial buildings
- Leak repair. Seams, flashings at walls and curbs, drains, scuppers and penetrations — pipes, vents and rooftop units — are where most commercial roofs leak. We find the source and fix it, with photos of what was done.
- Flat roof repair, recover and replacement. From patching a few failed seams to a full tear-off and new roof system. See flat roof repair and replacement.
- Roof coatings. A coating can seal a sound metal or membrane roof and add years before replacement is needed. See roof coatings for when that’s money well spent and when it isn’t.
- Inspections and maintenance. Spring and fall walk-throughs with a written report, so problems are fixed while they’re small and the roof’s budget can be planned years out. See roof inspections.
- Shingle roofs on commercial buildings. Small offices, mansards, churches, apartment and condo buildings often have pitched shingle roofs too — the same replacement and repair work applies.
Choosing a flat roof system
There’s no single best commercial roof. TPO, EPDM and modified bitumen all perform well in Michigan when they’re installed and maintained properly; the right one depends on the building, how the roof is used and drained, what’s on it, and the budget. Our plain-language comparison — TPO vs. EPDM vs. mod bit — covers the trade-offs.
Planning around your building
Commercial roof work goes better with a plan everyone has agreed to:
- Survey. We walk the roof, check drainage, look at the condition of the membrane or metal and the flashings, and note anything on the roof that will need to be moved, protected or coordinated — HVAC units, satellite dishes, solar, skylights.
- Written proposal. The scope, the options (repair, coating, recover, replacement), and the trade-offs between them.
- Schedule. Work is phased so the building stays watertight every night, with noisy or odorous work timed around your hours and tenants where possible.
- Site safety. Material staging, access, protection for entrances and parking, and clear communication with whoever is on site.
- Close-out. Photos of the finished work and notes for your maintenance records.
Maintenance is the cheapest roofing there is
Most commercial roofs that fail early weren’t neglected for one big reason — they were neglected for a dozen small ones: a drain clogged with leaves, a seam opened by an HVAC tech’s boots, a flashing nobody looked at for five years. A simple twice-a-year maintenance plan keeps those from adding up. Here’s what a commercial roof maintenance plan should include.
J&M Roofing works with business owners, property managers and HOAs throughout Oakland and Macomb County and the rest of our service area. Request a free estimate or call to set up a time to walk the roof.
