What are the common commercial roof problems in Scranton?
The city has many older brick buildings with flat roofs, from downtown mixed-use blocks to corner shops and church halls. These are some of the problems that show up most often:
- Ponding water. Low spots hold water after rain or snow melt and speed up wear.
- Blocked drains and scuppers. Leaves and debris back water up onto the roof.
- Freeze and thaw damage. Water in small cracks expands when frozen and opens them.
- Snow load. Heavy snow and ice put stress on old decks and drains.
- Poor past repairs. Layers of tar patches hide the true source of leaks.
For a smaller owner, a regular roof inspection in spring and fall catches many of these early.

