Shopping Center Roofing in Plano, TX

Shopping centers have a lot of wall flashing. Every tenant demising wall, parapet and raised storefront facade meets the roof somewhere, and those joints are where most leaks start. When the plywood or sheathing behind the flashing is rotted, another membrane patch won't last, because the new flashing has nothing solid to fasten to. On a Plano, TX shopping center, a lasting repair often means opening the flashing, replacing the wall backing, then installing new flashing and tying it into the roof membrane. The estimate should list both parts so you can compare bids fairly.

North Texas gets serious hail. On April 11, 2016, a major hailstorm hit Wylie and other parts of the region. That's useful background, but it doesn't prove any particular Plano roof was damaged; only an inspection can show that. When you call, send us the center's address, the roof's age if known, past repair invoices, and which tenant spaces have had leaks. We'll also need a property manager who can arrange roof access and coordinate with the tenants below any opening.

Inspecting the wall flashing

A flashing failure inspection at a shopping center starts at the top of the wall flashing and works down. We check the termination bar and sealant, the coping or counterflashing above, the backing behind the flashing, and the seam where it meets the roof membrane. If the backing is soft or rotted, it has to be rebuilt before new flashing goes on, and an engineer may need to look at any structural change. The estimate puts the wall work and the roofing work side by side.

We photograph the backing before it's closed up, so you have a record of why the extra work was needed. A water stain in a tenant's ceiling helps us know where to start, but it rarely lines up with where the water got in. We trace the leak back on the roof and tell you which areas we checked and which we couldn't. If we can't tell whether the wall is sound without opening another spot, we'll recommend that rather than trust a clean-looking exterior.

Separate findings from history

A dated storm report tells you something hit the area. It doesn't tell you what's wrong with your roof. We base the repair on what we find at your building. On a large center, an infrared moisture survey can help find wet insulation near the problem walls. Warm spots on the scan get checked with core cuts, which we patch the same day. Before cutting over a tenant space, we check with the property manager so the tenant knows what's going on.

We keep our conclusions to what the roof actually shows. Rotted backing or a split seam tells us what needs fixing, but not always when it started. For an insurance claim or an owner's budget, that difference matters. You'll get a straight report of what we found, what we repaired, and what still needs a closer look. We won't hand you a hail date as a diagnosis for parts of the roof nobody inspected.

Price the complete work

A commercial roof repair at a shopping center wall should list the old flashing removed, the backing replaced, and the new flashing installed and sealed into the field membrane. TPO and PVC flashings are heat-welded; modified bitumen and built-up roofs use torched or adhered plies. A coating can help sound membrane last longer, but it won't replace rotted backing or rebuild a failed wall termination. Make sure every bid you're comparing includes the wall work.

Shopping center roofs carry rooftop units for nearly every tenant. If a curb or equipment support is part of the problem, the tenant's HVAC contractor disconnects or moves the unit, and an engineer reviews any structural change. If the repair reaches a drain or scupper, we rebuild the roof side and a plumber handles the pipe. We list each trade's work separately, since a new seam on the roof doesn't finish someone else's equipment or plumbing job.

Working around open stores

Tenants keep their doors open while we work. Before any work over an occupied building, we go over the plan with the property manager and the affected tenants: what sits under the work area, whether merchandise or fixtures need to be moved or covered, and where we can set up a hoist without blocking customer entrances or parking. Restaurants and salons below have their own worries about dust and odors. Each tenant decides what they need, and we don't assume one store's setup applies to the next.

If opening the wall reveals more damage, we stop and show you the added area before going further. You'll get a revised price for the extra backing, flashing and roofing. If the larger area now sits over a different tenant, the property manager needs to talk with them first. While a carpenter or HVAC contractor finishes their part, the roof gets a temporary dry-in each day. Approval for the first opening doesn't carry over to the space next door that nobody has reviewed.

Retain the repair record

The closeout package includes photos of the old backing and the new flashing, a list of what was replaced, and the locations of any core cuts we patched. Work still waiting on a tenant's HVAC contractor or a plumber is listed on its own. Areas we couldn't open are noted by location. That gives the next property manager a clear history, instead of assuming one new seam means the whole roof was checked.

We work on retail centers across Plano, including downtown Plano. Single-tenant stores with very large roofs are covered under big box retail roofing, and grocery store roofs bring refrigeration units and long hours. Every property gets its own inspection and an estimate based on what we find there, not on a neighboring center.

Commercial Roofing Questions

What makes a wall flashing repair estimate complete?

It should include replacing any rotted backing, the new flashing and how it's finished at the top, and the seam into the roof membrane. Tear-off and protection for the tenants below should be listed too. A field patch alone doesn't fix a wall that's letting water in.

Can the Wylie hail event establish damage at this Plano roof?

No. The April 11, 2016 storm is regional history. Only an inspection of your roof can show whether it has hail damage or some other problem.

What happens if you find more damage once the wall is open?

We stop, show you the added area, and give you a revised price before going further. If it sits over another tenant, the property manager reviews it with them first. The roof gets temporary protection until the permanent repair is done.

What isn't included when the roofing work is finished?

Anything assigned to another trade, like a tenant's HVAC reconnect or a plumbing repair, is listed separately on the closeout. We also note any areas that still need a closer look. New flashing doesn't complete someone else's work.

Schedule a shopping center roof inspection

Tell us which tenant spaces are seeing leaks. We'll inspect the wall flashing and roof, then give you an estimate that includes the backing, flashing and membrane work.

Request a Roof Assessment