Expert Commercial Roof Repairs Across the Midwest and Florida

A leaking or damaged commercial roof is more than an inconvenience. It threatens inventory, disrupts operations, damages interior finishes, creates slip-and-fall hazards, and can lead to mold growth that poses health risks and regulatory compliance issues. Windward Roofing & Construction has been repairing commercial and industrial roofs since 1984, and our service department handles everything from single-point leak repairs to large-scale storm damage restoration across Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Florida.

Our approach to roof repair begins with accurate diagnosis. Many roofing contractors address only the visible symptom, patching the area where water appears on the interior, without tracing the leak to its true source on the roof. Water can travel laterally through insulation and along deck flutes for considerable distances before dripping into the building interior, which means the location of the interior stain rarely corresponds to the actual point of entry on the roof surface. Our technicians are trained to investigate systematically and identify the root cause so that the repair permanently resolves the problem.

Common Types of Commercial Roof Repairs

Leak Repair and Water Intrusion

Leak repair is the most frequent service call our crews respond to. Leaks can originate from dozens of potential sources, including failed seams, deteriorated flashings, clogged drains, punctured membranes, and cracked sealants. Our technicians conduct a thorough on-roof investigation to identify the entry point, then perform a repair using materials compatible with the existing roofing system. For TPO and PVC roofs, this may involve heat-welding a patch over the damaged area. For EPDM, we use manufacturer-specified adhesive and seam tape. For modified bitumen and BUR systems, we apply torch-applied or cold-adhesive patches that restore the multi-layer integrity of the system.

Ponding Water Correction

Ponding water, defined as water that remains on the roof surface 48 hours after precipitation, is one of the most destructive conditions a commercial roof can experience. Standing water accelerates membrane degradation, adds structural load, promotes biological growth, and creates conditions for freeze-thaw damage in the Midwest climate. Windward addresses ponding water through several methods depending on the cause: clearing clogged drains and scuppers, installing additional drains or internal overflow scuppers, applying tapered insulation or cricket systems to redirect water flow, and in some cases, installing SPF foam to fill low areas and create positive slope.

Membrane Damage and Punctures

Physical damage to the roof membrane can result from foot traffic, dropped tools during rooftop equipment service, wind-blown debris, hail impact, or animal activity. Even small punctures can allow water to infiltrate the insulation layer, where it spreads and causes damage far beyond the visible puncture point. Our repair process involves cutting away the damaged membrane area, removing any wet insulation beneath the puncture, replacing the insulation with dry material, and installing a membrane patch that extends well beyond the damaged zone to ensure long-term integrity.

Flashing Repair and Replacement

Flashings are the metal and membrane components that seal the transitions between the roof field and vertical surfaces such as parapet walls, equipment curbs, pipes, vents, and skylights. Flashings are among the most failure-prone elements of any commercial roof because they are subject to differential movement between the horizontal roof plane and vertical structures. Windward repairs and replaces deteriorated flashings using materials matched to the existing system, ensuring proper adhesion, counter-flashing coverage, and sealant application at all termination points.

Seam and Joint Repair

On membrane roofing systems, seams represent the most common point of failure. Heat-welded seams on TPO and PVC can fail due to inadequate original weld temperature, contamination during installation, or long-term thermal stress. EPDM seam adhesive can deteriorate over time, particularly at areas of high stress or ponding water. Our technicians evaluate failed seams to determine whether a localized repair is sufficient or whether a broader section of seam requires re-welding or re-adhesion to prevent progressive failure along the seam line.

The Roof Repair Process

Windward Roofing follows a systematic approach to every repair to ensure accuracy, quality, and customer communication.

  1. Service Request and Scheduling: Building owners or facility managers contact our service department by phone at (844) 880-8844 or through our website. Our dispatcher gathers information about the issue and schedules a technician visit based on severity and urgency.
  2. On-Site Investigation: A trained technician arrives at the building, inspects the interior damage location, then conducts a thorough on-roof investigation to identify the source. Infrared moisture scanning may be used to map the extent of moisture infiltration beneath the membrane.
  3. Diagnosis and Estimate: The technician documents findings with photos and measurements, diagnoses the root cause, and prepares a detailed repair estimate. For straightforward repairs, work may be completed during the initial visit. For larger repairs, a formal proposal is provided for approval.
  4. Repair Execution: Our crew performs the repair using manufacturer-compatible materials and proven techniques. All repairs are documented with before-and-after photos for the building owner's records.
  5. Quality Verification: After the repair is complete, the technician verifies the integrity of the work through visual inspection and, when appropriate, water testing. A service report is delivered to the building owner detailing the work performed and any additional recommendations for the roof.

Emergency Roof Repair vs. Scheduled Repair

Not all roof repairs carry the same urgency. Windward Roofing categorizes repair needs to ensure the most critical situations receive immediate attention while planned repairs are scheduled efficiently.

Emergency Repairs

Emergency repairs are warranted when an active leak is causing damage to building contents, equipment, or inventory; when storm damage has compromised the waterproofing integrity of large roof areas; when structural damage creates a safety hazard for building occupants; or when water intrusion is disrupting critical business operations. Our emergency crews respond same-day or next-day and carry materials for temporary weatherproofing to stop active water intrusion immediately. Permanent repairs are then scheduled as a follow-up once conditions allow.

Scheduled Repairs

Scheduled repairs address conditions that are not immediately threatening but will worsen over time if left unattended. These include minor flashing deterioration, early-stage seam separation, surface membrane wear, and small ponding areas. Scheduling these repairs proactively during favorable weather conditions allows for proper material curing, reduces the risk of weather-related delays, and costs less than emergency mobilization. Windward recommends addressing identified repair needs within 30 days of discovery to prevent progression.

When to Repair vs. When to Replace

One of the most important decisions a building owner faces is determining whether continued repairs are a sound investment or whether the roof has reached the point where replacement provides better long-term value. Windward Roofing provides honest assessments based on objective criteria rather than sales-driven recommendations.

Repair is the right choice when:

  • Damage is localized to specific areas rather than widespread across the roof
  • The overall membrane and insulation are in good condition per infrared scanning
  • The roof has significant remaining useful life based on its age and system type
  • Repair costs are a small fraction of replacement costs
  • The building owner plans to sell, redevelop, or significantly modify the building in the near term

Replacement is the better investment when:

  • Leaks are recurring across multiple areas despite previous repairs
  • More than 25 percent of the insulation is saturated with moisture
  • The membrane shows widespread deterioration, not just isolated damage
  • Annual repair costs are approaching or exceeding the annualized cost of a new roof
  • The roof has exceeded its expected service life and warranty has expired

When our assessment indicates that replacement is the more prudent path, we present a full comparison of repair-forward costs versus replacement costs over a 10 to 15 year horizon so that building owners can make a fully informed decision.

Repairs for All Commercial Roofing Systems

Windward Roofing's service technicians are trained to repair every major commercial roofing system in the market, including TPO, EPDM, PVC, built-up roofing, modified bitumen, metal roofing, SPF spray foam, and elastomeric coating systems. Our service vehicles are stocked with repair materials for multiple system types so that technicians can complete most repairs in a single visit without the delay of ordering materials. This capability, combined with our 40-plus years of hands-on experience with every system type, means building owners receive fast, accurate, and lasting repairs regardless of what roofing system is installed on their building.

Frequently Asked Questions

For emergency leak situations, Windward Roofing provides same-day and next-day response depending on the severity and time of the call. Our service department maintains dedicated emergency crews and stocked service vehicles to address urgent leak situations that threaten building contents, operations, or occupant safety.

The most common causes include deteriorated flashing at penetrations and wall transitions, open or failed seams in membrane roofing, clogged or damaged drains and scuppers causing ponding water, punctures from foot traffic or falling debris, and age-related membrane degradation from UV exposure and thermal cycling.

Our technicians use a systematic approach that includes visual inspection of the roof surface, flashings, and drainage, along with infrared moisture scanning to detect trapped moisture beneath the membrane. In difficult cases, we may use electronic leak detection or controlled flood testing to pinpoint the exact entry point. Water can travel laterally through insulation, so the interior leak location often does not correspond directly to the roof penetration point.

Repair is the right choice when damage is localized, the overall membrane and insulation are in good condition, and the roof has remaining useful life. Replacement becomes the better investment when leaks are recurring across multiple areas, more than 25 percent of the insulation is moisture-saturated, the membrane has widespread deterioration, or the roof has exceeded its expected service life.

Yes. Windward Roofing repairs all major commercial roofing systems including TPO, EPDM, PVC, built-up roofing, modified bitumen, metal, SPF spray foam, and roof coating systems. Our technicians carry materials for multiple system types on their service vehicles to handle repairs efficiently regardless of the membrane installed.