Ice Dam Commercial Roof Damage

Although flat commercial roofs are designed with a slight slope to allow water to drain, they’re still flat enough to retain water. Commercial buildings have membranes or metal roofs, and ice problems occur when the snow melts during the day, and water finds its way into areas like the roofing membrane, seams, flashing, and drainage system. When temperatures fall again, it refreezes and expands, putting stress on your roofing system. The frequent freeze-thaw cycles can result in water getting trapped in what is called an ice dam, which can severely damage your commercial roof. 

Ice dams on a flat roof can also form due to uneven temperatures across the roof. Differences in insulation cause snow to melt in warmer areas and refreeze in colder sections because warm air escaping the building heats the metal roof, melting the snow on it. Melted water runs down the colder eaves and refreezes, forming an ice barrier. As this continues, ice builds up, preventing water from flowing, and a dam is formed. From there, once the ice melts, water seeps from it to the roofing materials underneath and into the building, resulting in water damage.