5 Quick Tips to Keep Your Commercial Roof Healthy This Winter
If you own or manage a commercial building in Elkhart, you already know what Midwest winters can do to a roof. Between the heavy snow, bitter cold, and those wild freeze-thaw cycles, your building’s roof takes a beating from December through March — and sometimes well beyond that.
And if your roof is flat or low-sloped (like most commercial buildings around here), winter weather can create even bigger problems. Water doesn’t run off quickly. Ice builds up. Drains clog. Membranes crack. What looks like a small issue in November can turn into a major repair by February — especially if snow covers it up and hides the warning signs.
At American Builders, we’ve worked on hundreds of commercial roofs across Elkhart and the surrounding region. And year after year, we see the same cold-weather roofing problems repeat themselves. The good news? Most of them are preventable if you take a few simple steps before things get too extreme.
This guide gives you 5 fast, effective tips to help protect your commercial roof this winter — and keep your business safe, dry, and operational, no matter what the forecast looks like.
Let’s start with one of the easiest things you can do right now.
Tip #1: Clear Your Drains and Gutters Before the Snow Hits
This might sound simple, but it’s one of the most important things you can do for your commercial roof before winter really sets in.
Flat and low-slope roofs don’t drain like a steep residential roof. There’s no big pitch to help water slide off. Instead, your roof relies on internal drains, scuppers, and gutters to guide water away — and if those get clogged, water has nowhere to go.
That becomes a huge problem in winter.
Here’s what happens: snow piles up on the roof, then it melts during the day when the sun is out. That meltwater heads for the drains — but if they’re blocked with leaves, dirt, or ice, the water can’t move. So it just sits there. We call that ponding water, and it’s one of the most common causes of winter roof damage across Indiana and Michigan.
When water stays on your roof, it adds extra weight, soaks into seams and cracks, and refreezes at night. That freeze-thaw cycle puts stress on your roofing system — especially around weak spots or areas that were already aging. Over time, this can lead to leaks, bubbles in the membrane, or even structural sagging.
We’ve seen older commercial buildings take on serious water damage just because a few drains were clogged. It’s avoidable — but only if you catch it before the snow really starts falling.
What to do:
Before the first major snowfall, send your maintenance team up to clear all drains, downspouts, and rooftop gutters. Look for areas where water might pool or flow too slowly. If you haven’t had a professional cleaning done in a while, now’s the time. We offer drain clearing as part of our winter prep services — it’s fast, affordable, and can save you from thousands in water-related repairs later.
Even if your roof “looks dry,” that doesn’t mean everything’s flowing the way it should. A 20-minute check today can prevent a big headache tomorrow.
Tip #2: Check Flashing and Seams Before Cold Weather Makes Them Worse
You probably don’t think much about the seams or flashing on your commercial roof — until water starts finding its way in. But these are two of the most common places we find leaks during winter service calls, especially in older roofs around Northern Indiana.
Let’s break it down.
Flashing is the material that seals up areas where your roof meets something else — like vents, HVAC units, skylights, walls, or drain edges. Think of it like weatherproof tape for the roof’s weakest points. Seams are where pieces of roofing membrane meet and are bonded together, usually with heat or adhesive.
Both of these areas are constantly exposed to stress. Wind pulls at them. Moisture seeps into tiny gaps. And in winter, when everything freezes and contracts, those stress points pull apart even more.
That’s when trouble starts.
When flashing starts to lift or crack, or when seams begin to separate, water and melting snow have a perfect entry point. The damage isn’t always obvious right away — the leak might show up in a completely different part of the building. But by the time water makes it inside, it’s already traveled under your roof surface, soaking insulation and weakening structural layers along the way.
We’ve inspected roofs in Indiana and Michigan that looked fine from the ground — but a quick check revealed flashing peeling away and seams barely holding together. These aren’t issues you can spot unless you’re up there looking for them.
What to do:
Have your roof’s flashing and seams checked before snow and ice make access harder. This can be done during a basic pre-winter inspection. If issues are found early, they’re usually quick to fix. We can reseal open seams, reinforce worn areas, and apply coatings to flashing that help it stay flexible in cold weather.
These repairs are small when caught early — but once water gets in and freezes, the costs go up fast.
Tip #3: Watch for Ice Dams — They’re a Warning Sign, Not Just an Eyesore
Ice dams aren’t just something you see on homes. They’re a serious issue on flat commercial roofs too, especially here in Elkhart and across Northern Indiana, where snow melts during the day and freezes again at night — over and over again for months.
So what exactly is an ice dam?
It’s a thick ridge of ice that forms when heat escapes from inside your building, melts the snow sitting on your roof, and then that meltwater runs down to a colder part of the roof and refreezes. Over time, this ice builds up, blocks drainage, and starts trapping more water behind it.
That standing water has to go somewhere — and when it can’t drain properly, it starts to push its way under roofing membranes, into seams, around vents, or beneath flashing. Once it gets below the surface and freezes again, the real damage begins. Membranes crack. Fasteners pull loose. And suddenly, you’ve got water soaking into insulation or dripping into your ceiling tiles.
We’ve seen ice dams cause thousands of dollars in interior damage, and the worst part is — most business owners don’t even know it’s happening until the thaw.
But here’s the thing: ice dams are usually a symptom of something deeper, not just a random weather fluke. They typically form when your roof is poorly insulated or not ventilated correctly. That rising heat from inside your building? It’s escaping because your roofing system can’t hold it in. So not only are you dealing with ice problems — you’re also spending more money on heating your building than you should be.
What to do:
If you see icicles hanging from the edge of your flat roof, or if meltwater pools and freezes in the same areas repeatedly, it’s time to get it checked. We inspect not only the roof surface, but also look at insulation performance and heat loss. In some cases, restoring or replacing the roof membrane with a modern, insulated system can stop ice dams and cut heating costs at the same time.
And if caught early, we can remove the ice buildup and reinforce the weak points before things get worse.
Tip #4: Keep Foot Traffic to a Minimum During Winter
Here’s something most people don’t realize — your commercial roof isn’t built to be walked on regularly, especially not during winter.
Sure, it’s strong enough to support maintenance crews, HVAC techs, or snow removal when absolutely necessary. But every step taken on a cold, brittle surface increases the risk of damage — and during winter in Elkhart, that risk goes way up.
Cold temperatures make roofing materials stiff and more fragile. Membranes that are flexible in warm weather can crack, split, or dent in the cold — especially if someone is wearing heavy boots or steps on a weakened area without knowing it. Seams and flashing are also more likely to separate if pressure is applied while the materials are frozen.
We’ve seen business owners or maintenance staff head up to “just check something” and accidentally cause a leak or tear without even knowing it — only to discover water damage a few days later when it starts to show inside.
This is even more common on roofs that have:
Thin or aging membranes
Areas with ponding water that later freeze
Snow-covered surfaces that hide hazards underneath
And keep in mind: snow can cover skylights, soft spots, or open seams, creating trip hazards and fall risks for anyone walking the roof. It’s not just a roofing issue — it’s also a safety issue for your team.
What to do:
Keep rooftop access limited in the winter. Only trained personnel or professional roofing contractors should be up there — and only when necessary. If something has to be checked, call someone who knows what to look for and how to safely navigate the roof in cold weather. We use special equipment and protective footwear to prevent damage while working.
If your roof requires regular access (like for HVAC service), consider adding walk pads or designated walkways during your next roofing upgrade — they can help reduce long-term wear and tear.
A single boot print in the wrong place can lead to a costly repair. It’s not worth the risk.
Tip #5: Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection Before Snow Covers the Problems
Even if your roof looks fine, that doesn’t mean everything is okay under the surface.
In fact, some of the most serious problems we find — soaked insulation, hidden seam separation, slow leaks, or failing flashing — can’t be seen from the ground, and often don’t show up inside the building until the damage is already done.
And once a few inches of snow pile up, you’ve lost your window to catch those issues in time.
That’s why we always recommend a full commercial roof inspection before winter locks everything in. Especially in places like Elkhart, where snow, ice, and extreme cold can drag on for months, the safest move is to find and fix small problems early — before they get buried or frozen in.
A proper inspection includes:
Checking drains, scuppers, and gutters
Inspecting flashing, seams, and edges
Walking the surface for bubbles, soft spots, or membrane wear
Evaluating insulation performance and heat loss
Spot-checking previous repair areas
At American Builders, we do this kind of inspection all the time. It doesn’t take long, it’s non-disruptive, and it gives you real peace of mind heading into winter. If your roof is solid, we’ll tell you. If there’s something small to fix, we’ll show you where. And if it’s time for a restoration or replacement, we’ll walk you through the options and help you plan — not panic.
What to do:
Don’t wait until there’s snow on the roof or water on the floor. Reach out now, while everything’s still accessible. A winter inspection is one of the smartest investments you can make in your building — and it often saves thousands by preventing emergency repairs later.
Wrapping It Up
Winter weather is coming fast — and it’s not going to wait for your roof to be ready.
Whether you’re in Elkhart, Goshen, South Bend, Lansing, or anywhere in Northern Indiana and Michigan, now is the time to take a few simple steps to protect your commercial roof. Clear your drains, check your flashing, watch for ice dams, limit foot traffic, and most importantly — get your roof inspected by someone who knows what they’re doing.
At American Builders, we specialize in commercial roofing only, and we’ve helped hundreds of businesses get through tough winters without major issues. We’re here to help you stay dry, safe, and stress-free — no sales pressure, just solid advice and dependable service.
Request a quote below to schedule your winter roof inspection or service.
Let’s get ahead of the damage, not wait for it to show up.
