CREJ

July 2021 — Property Management Quarterly — Page 19 www.crej.com Maintenance K nowing basic roofing terms can help facility manag- ers better evaluate propos- als, talk to contractors and communicate with owners. Below is a list of some of the most common roofing terms and their definitions to help facility managers make more comprehensive deci- sions regarding their roof mainte- nance. n Blistering. Blistering is a buildup of water vapor or gases that form a bubble underneath a roofing mate- rial’s surface. Typically occurring in built-up and modified bitumen roofs, blistering generally does not pose a problem unless it is stepped on or popped; then measures should be taken immediately to repair the opening. If a blister is identified on a roof, facility managers should leave it alone and not try to fix it. If the bubble is accidentally popped, facil- ity managers should take precau- tionary measures by covering the hole with duct tape until a specialty contractor with roofing experience can get out there and assess the situation. n Tenting. Tenting is most com- mon in EPDM or TPO roofs. Tenting occurs when adhesives break down or when not enough adhesive was used, and the material is starting to peel away in the form of a triangle, similar to the side of a tent. Tenting also may occur around curb flash- ing on HVAC units. Once tenting occurs, the roofing system is breached and subject to water penetration. Facility manag- ers should contact their roofing specialty con- tractor immedi- ately when tenting occurs to ensure that repairs are made according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. n Alligatoring. Similar to the cracks seen on a neglected, aged asphalt parking lot, alligatoring on a roof has a similar cracking and split- ting appearance, like an alligator’s skin. Alligatoring is caused by the sun drawing out and drying volatile oils within the roofing materials. This type of oxi- dation is a sure sign of an aged and damaged roof. n Ponding. Ponding occurs when roof drains are clogged, and water, leaves and twigs collect on the roof like a small pond. Ponding can cause serious structural issues, as water can weigh more than 8 pounds per square foot. Ponding is particularly damaging to modified bitumen and built-up roofing sys- tems that have multiple seams for water and sediment to penetrate and cause damage. n Core sampling . Roofing contrac- tors will take a core sample to determine how many layers and what types of roofing systems are on a roof. A 12-by-12-inch piece of roof, or a round core, is cut out down to the roof deck and pulled out to identify the various roofing materials used and their thickness- es. If there are more than two roofs identified, building codes require that the entire roof be replaced. A core sample can indicate a roof’s age, thickness, composition and whether it has been penetrated by water. n Flashing. Flashing describes the vertical parts of a roof and can include curb and wall flashing. Flashing helps to divert standing or wind-driven water or snow from penetrating a joint in the roof, such as around chimneys, vent pipes and walls. n Wrinkling. Wrinkling is similar to blistering. It is simply a fold in the roofing system material caused by age, high winds or movement of the building. Like in the bottom of an above-ground pool, a wrinkle may occur in the flooring material, Roofing 101 terms to make informed decisions Tanya Shepherd Senior business development manager, Western Specialty Contractors Examples of alligatoring, membrane tenting and ponding water Please see Shepherd, Page 31