Commercial Roof Repair
for Midwest Businesses

Get Your Commercial Roof Back in Shape

A roof problem can start with something as small as a damaged seam, loose flashing, or a puncture around rooftop equipment. Finding the cause and making the right repair can help keep that isolated issue from affecting other parts of the roofing system or the building below. 

Great Lakes Roofing provides commercial roof repair for businesses, property managers, facility managers, and building owners throughout Chicago, Northwest Indiana, and surrounding Midwest markets. Since 1989, our team has worked exclusively with commercial roofing, giving us experience with the flat, low-slope, and metal roof systems found on warehouses, manufacturing facilities, retail properties, schools, offices, and other commercial buildings. 

Whether you have discovered a leak, noticed visible roof damage, or need repairs identified during an inspection, our team can evaluate the problem and determine the appropriate next step. 

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The Right Repair Starts with the Right Diagnosis

A water stain inside a building tells you there is a problem, but it does not necessarily tell you where that problem started. 

Water can enter through one part of a commercial roofing system and travel along insulation, decking, structural components, or other materials before becoming visible inside. Simply repairing the area directly above an interior leak may fail to address its actual source. 

That is why our commercial roof repair process starts with evaluating the condition of the roofing system and identifying what is causing the problem. 

 

Common Repair Needs Include: 

  • Open or deteriorated seams 
  • Membrane punctures, cuts, and tears 
  • Damaged flashing 
  • Problems around vents, curbs, and roof penetrations 
  • Damage around rooftop HVAC equipment 
  • Clogged or poorly functioning drains 
  • Areas of ponding water 
  • Loose or damaged metal components 
  • Deteriorated sealants 
  • Wind, hail, snow, and ice damage 
  • Failed or aging previous repairs 

Commercial Roof Repair for Flat,
Low-Slope & Metal Roofs

Different commercial roofing systems fail in different ways. Repairing them correctly requires an understanding of the existing system, how it was installed, and which materials are compatible with it. 

Great Lakes Roofing works with many of the commercial roofing systems used throughout the Midwest. 

TPO Roof Repair

TPO is widely used on commercial flat and low-slope roofs. Repair needs can develop around seams, penetrations, flashing, drainage areas, or sections of membrane that have been punctured or damaged. A repair should address the affected area while maintaining the performance of the surrounding membrane. 

EPDM Roof Repair

EPDM roofing can provide years of service, but seams, flashing, penetrations, and sections of exposed membrane can eventually require attention. Our team can inspect the affected area and determine whether a localized repair is appropriate. 

Modified Bitumen & Built-Up Roof Repair

Built-up and modified bitumen systems have different repair requirements than single-ply membranes. Cracking, blistering, exposed materials, flashing problems, and moisture intrusion are some of the conditions that may require professional attention. 

Commercial Metal Roof Repair

Leaks in commercial metal roofing can develop around fasteners, seams, penetrations, flashing, and transitions between roof sections. Metal panels can also be affected by severe weather or physical damage. 

Learn more about the commercial roofing systems Great Lakes Roofing works with

Signs Your Commercial Roof May Need Repair

Some roofing problems are obvious. Others develop gradually and may be easy to overlook until water reaches the building interior. 

Property and Facility Managers Should Pay Attention To: 

  • Water stains on ceilings or walls 
  • Active dripping during rain 
  • Recurring leaks in the same area 
  • Standing or ponding water on the roof 
  • Open seams or gaps in roofing materials 
  • Loose or deteriorated flashing 
  • Bubbles or blisters in the roof membrane 
  • Visible punctures or tears 
  • Damaged areas around rooftop equipment 
  • Roof debris blocking drains or gutters 
  • Changes in roof condition following high winds, hail, snow, or ice 
Roof Issues

Addressing Roof Leaks at the Source

Leaks create concerns beyond the roof itself. 

Water intrusion can reach insulation, ceilings, walls, electrical components, equipment, inventory, tenant spaces, and finished areas. For manufacturing and industrial properties, a leak can also interfere with production areas or equipment located below the affected section of roof. 

The first priority is identifying where water is entering and why. 

Once the source is found, the repair can address the failed component rather than relying on a temporary patch over the most visible symptom. This is especially important for buildings that have experienced recurring leaks in the same general area. 

If you are dealing with an active leak, severe storm damage, or another situation requiring immediate attention, visit our Emergency Roof Repair page for information about urgent commercial roofing service. 

Reduce Unexpected Repairs with Preventative Roof Maintenance

The best time to find a roofing problem is often before water starts entering the building. 

Routine maintenance gives property and facility managers a chance to identify membrane damage, deteriorated flashing, drainage problems, debris, and other concerns while they are still manageable. 

Great Lakes Roofing's Preventative Roof Maintenance programs include periodic inspections of the roofing system, flashing, drains or gutters, and other components. Minor repairs can be addressed during maintenance visits, while larger concerns can be documented so building managers have time to plan. 

This approach is especially useful for companies managing multiple facilities or large commercial roof areas where an unnoticed problem can become expensive. 

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Does Your Commercial Roof Need Repair or Replacement?

Discovering roof damage does not mean you automatically need a new roof. 

A localized problem on an otherwise serviceable roofing system may be a good candidate for repair. Widespread deterioration, trapped moisture, extensive storm damage, or a roofing system nearing the end of its useful service life can change that calculation. 

Several Factors Should Be Considered: 

Age and condition

A relatively young roofing system with isolated damage may have different options than an older system experiencing failures across multiple areas. 

Extent of the damage

A relatively young roofing system with isolated damage may have different options than an older system experiencing failures across multiple areas. 

History of repairs

Frequent repairs in the same area can point to a larger underlying problem. 

Moisture beneath the surface

Water that has reached insulation or other components may increase the scope of work required. 

Remaining service life

Repair costs should make sense in relation to how much useful life the existing roof is expected to have. 

Commercial Roof Repair Across Chicago & the Midwest

Commercial roofs in the Midwest deal with demanding conditions throughout the year. Heavy rain, high winds, snow, ice, freeze-thaw cycles, and large temperature changes can all affect roofing materials over time. 

Great Lakes Roofing provides commercial roof repair across its Midwest service area, with a strong presence throughout Chicago and Chicagoland, Northern Illinois, and Northwest Indiana. Our broader service footprint also extends into Wisconsin and Southwest Michigan, including commercial markets around Milwaukee, Waukesha, Kalamazoo, and Battle Creek. 

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Schedule Commercial Roof Repair
With Great Lakes Roofing

If you have a roof leak, membrane damage, failed flashing, storm damage, or another concern at your commercial property, start by finding out exactly what is happening. 

Great Lakes Roofing provides commercial roof repair backed by decades of experience working with commercial roofing systems throughout Chicago, Northwest Indiana, and the Midwest. We can inspect the affected area, identify the source of the problem, and explain your repair options based on the actual condition of your roof. 

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FAQ

Visit our faq's page for more frequently asked questions.

Why does my commercial roof keep leaking in the same area after repairs?
Can a section of a commercial roof be repaired if the rest of the roof is aging?
Can rooftop HVAC work cause commercial roof damage?
Why does ponding water keep returning after a roof repair?
Should a commercial roof be inspected after severe weather even if there is no visible leak?
More FAQ's