Commercial Roofing in Fordham

Expert Commercial Roofing
in Fordham

Commercial Roofing Work in Fordham

We carry out the full range of commercial roofing work in and around Fordham - from emergency leak repairs on flat-roofed retail and warehouse units to full re-covers, new pitched roofs in slate or concrete tile, zinc detailing, leadwork, and guttering. Commercial buildings vary enormously in roof type and age, and the work needed on each one is specific to what is up there.

Typical costs for commercial flat roofing work range from around £70 to £110 per square metre for a full re-cover, depending on the system chosen, the condition of the existing deck, and the access involved. Pitched roof repairs vary widely depending on scale, but a straightforward tile or slate repair is usually in the low hundreds. A full re-tile of a commercial building is priced by the square metre and quoted once we have seen the roof properly.

After the Work Is Done - Why Aftercare Matters on a Commercial Roof

Most commercial roofing problems do not start the day water appears on the ceiling. They develop over months or years through small faults that could have been caught and dealt with cheaply. Once a new roof or major repair is in place, the question that protects your investment is: what now?

A commercial roof that is checked, cleared, and monitored properly will last considerably longer than one that is left alone and only looked at when something goes wrong. The following information applies whether you have just had work done or whether you have a roof that has been in place for some time and has never really been looked at.

Clearing Outlets and Gutters - The Single Most Important Task

Blocked outlets and gutters are the cause of more flat roof failures than almost anything else. When water cannot drain away, it ponds on the surface. Prolonged ponding breaks down felt membranes, gets into any small crack or joint, and accelerates the deterioration of the whole system. On a pitched roof, blocked gutters cause water to back up under tiles and into the fascia and rafter ends.

Commercial outlets - the drains set into a flat roof surface - should be checked and cleared at least twice a year: once in autumn after leaf fall, and once in spring. On a roof near trees, more frequent checks are sensible. The outlet itself is straightforward to clear; the problem is that it rarely gets done because no one can easily see it from the ground.

Box gutters, parapet gutters, and valley gutters on commercial pitched roofs are equally important. These are internal gutters that run along the roof rather than at the eaves, and they are the first place to check if water is getting in at a wall junction or behind a parapet.

What to Look For Between Professional Checks

You do not need to get on the roof yourself to keep an eye on it. From the ground, or from any accessible internal vantage point, watch for the following:

• Water marks or staining on ceilings or internal walls, particularly after rain
• Visible moss or algae growth on flat roof surfaces or valley gutters (moss retains moisture and accelerates deterioration)
• Tiles or slates that are visibly displaced, cracked, or missing
• Sagging or pulling guttering - this suggests blockage, failed fixings, or both
• Efflorescence (white salt deposits) on parapet walls or chimney stacks, which can indicate water is getting in through the masonry above the roof line
• Lead flashings that appear lifted, cracked, or have visible gaps at the junction with a wall or upstand

None of these require you to climb anything. They are the kind of visual check that takes minutes and can flag a problem before it becomes serious.

Professional Inspections - How Often and What They Should Cover

A commercial roof on a working building benefits from a professional inspection at least once a year. Twice a year is better for larger or older roofs. An inspection is not the same as a visit to fix something - it is a planned check of the whole roof surface, all outlets, all flashings, all upstands, and all penetrations (pipes, vents, rooflights) where water can get in.

A proper inspection should result in a written report with photographs of any problem areas. This gives you a record over time and lets you track whether a small issue is developing or staying stable. It also means that if a problem does develop into a claim on your building insurance, you have documented evidence of the roof's condition.

Ask the contractor to check:

• The condition of the membrane or felt surface across the whole roof
• All flashings, particularly where the roof meets any wall, parapet, or chimney
• All outlets and gutters
• Any rooflights or roof penetrations for signs of movement or failed seals
• The condition of any pointing on parapet copings or chimney stacks

Simple Maintenance That Makes a Real Difference

Beyond inspections, there are practical steps that genuinely extend the life of a commercial roof:

• Keep moss and algae off flat surfaces. Moss and algae retain moisture against the membrane surface. A biocide treatment applied by a roofer every few years keeps growth down. Do not use a pressure washer on a felt or rubber flat roof - it damages the surface.
• Do not allow anyone to walk on the roof without a reason. Foot traffic on a flat roof - from maintenance contractors checking air conditioning units, for example - is a common cause of membrane damage. Make sure any contractor accessing your roof knows to use walk boards, not walk directly on the surface.
• Keep trees trimmed back from the roof edge. Overhanging branches deposit debris directly onto the roof surface and into outlets, and can abrade a membrane during wind.
• Address ponding water promptly. If you can see standing water on a flat roof forty-eight hours after rain has stopped, the outlet is blocked or the falls are inadequate. Both need attention.

Leadwork and Flashings - Check These Specifically

Lead flashings are the most durable material on most commercial roofs, but they are also the detail most often overlooked in maintenance. Lead can crack through thermal movement over time, particularly at stepped flashings on chimney stacks or at soakers in a slate valley. A cracked or lifted flashing lets water in at the exact point where the roof structure is most vulnerable.

Zinc is increasingly used in place of lead on some commercial details, particularly on contemporary buildings. Both materials need periodic inspection to confirm they remain properly dressed and fixed.

Guttering on Commercial Buildings

Commercial guttering is usually uPVC, aluminium, or cast iron on older buildings. Cast iron gutters are heavy, prone to cracking, and need repainting periodically to prevent rust at the joints. Aluminium and uPVC gutters are lower maintenance but the brackets and joints can work loose over time, particularly on long runs. A gutter that has pulled away from the fascia will direct water down the wall face rather than to the downpipe.

We cover Fordham and the wider area around Newmarket, including nearby towns such as Ely and Burwell. If your commercial roof has not been looked at in the last year, call us to arrange a proper inspection before the next problem finds you first.