Structural engineers’ main job is assessing a building for structural stability. One of the main target areas in a structural assessment is the roof. Commercial roofs should be inspected for safety at the first indicator that something may be wrong, as well as periodically just to ensure there are no hidden issues that may lead to roof collapse. Below are some of the biggest things structural engineers look for in potentially unstable roofs.
- Sagging. No matter what your roof is made of, sagging is not a good sign. It indicates lack of support from the initial construction, water damage underneath, or some form of deterioration. For commercial buildings, a sagging roof may not be as obvious as it may be on a home roof, in large part due to the different angles commercial roofs are typically built at and the fact that commercial buildings are often much taller than homes.
- Leaks. A leak in an office interior can be much worse than you realize, so if your building’s ceiling has started leaking, you should reach out to a structural engineer quickly. During their roof assessment, they’ll identify the source of the leak as well as any related damages or issues, such as standing water on top of the roof.
- Wall cracks. If you notice a crack along an exterior wall of the building, you need a structural engineer as soon as possible. This is a major hazard and can be an indicator of a roof in pre-collapse. There are other potential causes as well, but no matter what is causing your building walls to crack, you’ll need a structural engineer to diagnose the problem and bring forth a solution.
For the well-being of your commercial building and the safety of everyone in it, don’t wait to contact us here at Belanger Engineering if there are any signs that your building’s structural integrity may be compromised.