Mortar Joints Letting Water In
Open joints in parapet brick let rain soak down inside the wall. The stain shows up on an inside wall well below the roof. Cutting new counterflashing into the joint seals the roof edge at the wall.
Red Cloud, Nebraska
Red Cloud Commercial Roofing Contractor
New Roofs for Older Brick Buildings With Parapets and Scuppers
As a Red Cloud commercial roofing contractor, we replace roofs on older downtown brick buildings, tying new membrane into parapets, scuppers, and masonry walls.
Older Masonry
Red Cloud Commercial Roofing on Older Brick Buildings
Red Cloud commercial roofing on older downtown buildings is shaped by the masonry. Parapet walls, scuppers, and brick joints decide where water goes, where it gets in, and how the new roof ties into the walls.
We tear off the old built-up layers, check the deck, and cut counterflashing into the brick so the new roof seals at the wall instead of relying on caulk.
- Counterflashing set into mortar joints
- Scupper boxes rebuilt through the wall
- Old built-up layers removed to the deck
Roof Conditions
Commercial Roofing Problems on Red Cloud Downtown Buildings
Older brick buildings downtown share these roof conditions.
Scuppers Rusted Through
Old metal scupper boxes rust at the seams and leak into the wall. New boxes get flashed into the membrane and the masonry. Rusted boxes also let water into the brick around the opening.
Several Old Built-Up Layers
Decades of reroofing can leave heavy built-up layers on the deck. Tear-off shows the deck condition and removes weight. Several layers can also hide soft deck underneath the top sheet.
Counterflashing Pulled From the Wall
Metal counterflashing set in caulk instead of a mortar joint pulls away over time. New pieces get set into a cut joint. Fresh pieces set in a cut joint stay put through freeze and thaw.
Water Pooling Away From Scuppers
Roofs that drain to one wall often pond on the far side. Tapered insulation moves the water toward the scuppers or new drains. Standing water ages the membrane around it much faster.
Damp Deck Boards
Wood decks under long-leaking roofs soften at the low spots. Bad boards are replaced before new insulation goes down. Soft boards get found during tear-off and replaced before board goes down.
Roof Systems
Commercial Roofing Systems for Red Cloud Roofs
Older downtown roofs and newer buildings in town each fit a different system.
EPDM Roofing
Flat downtown roofs with odd-shaped walls and penetrations, where flexible flashing wraps every corner.
EPDM Roofing detailsTPO Roofing
Low-slope roofs where a welded white sheet and prefab corners suit the layout.
TPO Roofing detailsCommercial Metal Roofing
Pitched shops and storage buildings around town with worn steel panels.
Commercial Metal Roofing detailsIndustrial Roofing
Larger processing or storage roofs that need phased work around operations.
Industrial Roofing detailsWater Inside a Red Cloud Brick Wall?
Stains low on a brick wall often start at the parapet or a scupper. We check both on the roof walk.
Before and After
Commercial Roofing Work on Red Cloud Storefronts
At the walls and scuppers, the difference is easy to see.
Before the Work
- Open mortar joints along the parapet
- Rusted scupper boxes
- Caulk-set counterflashing pulling loose
- Water pooling on the far side of the roof
- Soft deck boards at old leak spots
- Several heavy built-up layers on the deck
After the Work
- Counterflashing set into cut mortar joints
- New scupper boxes flashed into the roof
- One new membrane over dry insulation
- Tapered board moving water to the scuppers
- Replaced deck boards at the low spots
- One lighter roof over a checked deck
Our Steps
How We Reroof a Red Cloud Brick Building
Brick buildings get the walls done with the roof, in this order.
- Walk
Inspect Your Roof
We walk the roof and parapets, count the old layers with core cuts, and check each scupper and mortar joint. Interior stains get traced back to the wall or scupper above them.
- Strip
Remove the Old Layers
Built-up layers come off to the deck, and soft boards at old leak spots are replaced. Debris leaves by the alley, away from the storefront.
- Slope
Set Tapered Insulation
Tapered board slopes the roof toward the scuppers or new drains so water leaves the roof. Crickets go behind wide curbs and at parapet corners.
- Membrane
Lay the New Roof
Membrane covers the field and runs up each wall, and new scupper boxes are flashed in. Curbs and pipes are flashed as the field goes down.
- Masonry
Cut and Set Counterflashing
A mortar joint is cut along the wall, and counterflashing is set into it and sealed over the base flashing. We walk the roof and walls with you at the end.
Nearby
Nearby Towns We Roof From Red Cloud
Red Cloud is in our service area along with Hastings and four other towns.
Building in a different town? call us or send us a message.
Hastings
Home base for TPO, EPDM, industrial, and metal roofing.
Superior
Storefront roofs and ag buildings with staging planned ahead.
Harvard
Flat main-street roofs with insulation and parapet work.
Kenesaw
Shop and co-op roofs where layers and ponding set the scope.
Elm Creek
Metal shop roofs and farm-service buildings.
Questions
Red Cloud Commercial Roofing Questions
What should Red Cloud owners of older downtown buildings know about a new commercial roof?
Parapet walls, scuppers, and masonry usually shape the scope. Flashing has to tie into the brick with proper counterflashing, old built-up layers usually come off so the deck can be checked, and tapered insulation can move water to existing scuppers or new drains.
What sets Red Cloud commercial roofing cost on an older building?
Tear-off of old built-up layers, deck repairs, and masonry flashing work add the most. Scupper replacement and tapered insulation are listed as separate line items.
How do you handle commercial roofing for Red Cloud businesses on busy blocks?
Material and debris move through the alley where possible, and sidewalk cover goes up when work faces the street. The shop below stays open while each section is roofed.
Where do I find Red Cloud commercial roofing near me for a brick building?
Call us with the address. We walk the roof, check the parapets and scuppers, and send a written scope.
Can the scuppers stay where they are?
Usually, yes. Tapered insulation slopes water toward the existing openings, and new scupper boxes are flashed in. A new drain is added only where one wall cannot carry all the water.
Do you repoint brick on parapet walls?
We cut and reset mortar joints where counterflashing goes in and seal open joints at the roof line. Larger repointing across a whole wall belongs to a masonry contractor, and we coordinate the schedule.
Why does water show up on a wall far from the roof?
Water that enters at a parapet or scupper runs down inside the masonry and appears lower on an inside wall. The roof walk checks the wall top, the flashing, and the scuppers above the stain.
Can a heavy old roof be replaced with something lighter?
Yes. Tearing off several built-up layers and gravel removes a lot of weight, and a single-ply membrane over insulation weighs far less than what came off.
Hire a Red Cloud Commercial Roofing Contractor
Call or request an estimate. We check the roof, the parapets, and the scuppers on one visit.