When a commercial roof starts leaking in Calgary, it’s rarely at a convenient time. It might be during a snowmelt Chinook, a heavy rain event, or right before opening hours when tenants are on-site. For facility managers, the first 24 hours are critical: how you respond can limit damage, protect tenants, and strengthen your position with insurers and ownership.

This guide walks through a step-by-step response plan for Calgary commercial properties, with clear actions you can take immediately and where CMP Roofing fits into the process. For broader support on roof systems and long-term solutions, see our Commercial Roofing Services at https://cmproofing.ca/services/ and educational content at https://cmproofing.ca/blog/.

Step 1: Prioritize Safety Before Anything Else

Before you think about where the water is coming from, make sure people and equipment are safe.

  • Keep occupants away from active leak areas
  • Watch for ceiling sagging, bulging drywall, or stained tiles that could collapse
  • Avoid standing water near electrical panels, cords, or equipment
  • If you suspect any electrical hazard, involve your electrical contractor or shut down affected circuits

If the leak appears severe or structural damage is suspected, treat it as a safety incident first, then move to containment.

Step 2: Stabilize the Interior – Contain and Redirect Water

Your first priority after safety is to control where the water goes.

  • Place buckets, garbage bins, or totes under active drips
  • Use tarps or plastic sheeting to protect furniture, equipment, and stock
  • Lay down absorbent pads or towels to reduce slip hazards
  • If water is running along a ceiling grid, you may need multiple collection points

The goal is not to fix the roof in this stage. It’s to prevent interior damage from spreading while you coordinate professional help.

This is a good place to cross-reference a more general article like “Commercial Flat Roof Replacement in Calgary: Costs, Options & Timelines” on the CMP Roofing blog at https://cmproofing.ca/blog/, which helps owners understand what may come next if the roof is near end-of-life.

Step 3: Document Everything for Insurance and Ownership

Thorough documentation within the first 24 hours can make insurance claims and internal reporting much easier later.

  • Take clear photos and short videos of:
    • The leak location(s) in the ceiling
    • Any visible damage to finishes, inventory, or equipment
    • Buckets, tarps, and temporary measures you’ve put in place
  • Note:
    • Time the leak was first observed
    • Weather conditions (heavy rain, snowmelt, recent hail, Chinook, etc.)
    • Impacted tenants and areas

Save these in a labelled folder for the incident. When CMP Roofing attends the site, this documentation also helps us understand how the leak developed and which areas to prioritize.

Step 4: Protect Tenant Operations and Critical Areas

As a facility manager, you’re balancing building protection with operational continuity.

  • Notify affected tenants as soon as practical
  • Relocate critical operations, POS stations, or high-value inventory away from leak paths
  • If you have medical, food, or data-sensitive uses, prioritize protection of those zones
  • Put temporary signage or cones near wet floor areas to prevent slips

A short, prepared communication template for tenants can save time and stress. You can also support this step with an internal resource or blog article about “Planning a Commercial Roof Project with Tenants in Place” on https://cmproofing.ca/blog/.

Step 5: Avoid Risky DIY Roof Work

It can be tempting to send a staff member onto the roof to “find and patch” the problem. In Calgary’s conditions, this can be dangerous and counter-productive.

  • Roof surfaces may be icy, slippery, or covered with snow
  • Temporary patches using incompatible materials can invalidate warranties
  • Untrained personnel can damage membranes, flashings, or safety systems

Instead:

  • Limit rooftop access to trained personnel and professional roofing contractors
  • Use interior containment measures until a qualified roofer arrives

This is where partnering with a commercial roofing specialist like CMP Roofing matters. For service or emergency response, facility managers can reach out through the Contact page at https://cmproofing.ca/contact-2/ to dispatch a commercial roofing team.

Step 6: Contact a Commercial Roofing Contractor Quickly

Once the leak is contained and documented, you should contact a roofing contractor that specializes in commercial and industrial flat roofs, not just residential shingles.

When you contact CMP Roofing, it helps to be ready with:

  • Building address and access instructions
  • Description of the leak location(s) and severity
  • Any past roof reports, drawings, or warranty information
  • Photos or short videos you captured during the incident

This allows us to:

  • Prioritize the severity and urgency of the call
  • Bring appropriate materials (TPO, SBS, EPDM, coatings, sealants, etc.)
  • Plan for safe access and any required equipment

You can confirm that your property is within our service area via https://cmproofing.ca/locations/ and use https://cmproofing.ca/contact-2/ to submit a service request.

Step 7: Support the Roofer’s Initial Investigation

When a roofing crew arrives, your assistance can speed up diagnosis and repair.

  • Provide roof access quickly (keys, fobs, or escort)
  • Point out interior leak locations and share your documentation
  • Explain when the leak started and whether it worsens under specific conditions (rain, snowmelt, wind direction)

On-site, the crew will typically:

  • Inspect the interior for leak paths and patterns
  • Access the roof and check:
    • Membrane seams and laps
    • Flashings around HVAC units, vents, and curbs
    • Drains, scuppers, and gutters for blockages
    • Mechanical damage, punctures, or loose details

Initial work may focus on temporary or localized repairs to stop active leakage. Longer-term solutions might require a follow-up visit, design work, or a broader scope of repairs.

This step ties in naturally with a “Commercial Roof Inspections in Calgary” service page, which you can highlight under the Services hub at https://cmproofing.ca/services/.

Step 8: Clear Roof Drains and Address Obvious Blockages

Many commercial roof leaks in Calgary are linked to drainage problems, especially during rapid snowmelt and heavy rain.

Once a professional roofer is on-site and safety is confirmed, they may:

  • Clear blocked drains, scuppers, and gutters
  • Remove debris, ice dams, or snow accumulations affecting drainage
  • Identify areas of structural sag or poor slope that cause ponding

Addressing drainage issues can immediately reduce leak severity and will be a key focus in any follow-up recommendations.

This topic should be internally linked to a blog post like “Flat Roof Drainage Problems in Calgary: Ponding, Freeze–Thaw Damage & Permanent Fixes” on https://cmproofing.ca/blog/.

Step 9: Decide Between Temporary Repair, Permanent Repair, or Replacement

Within the first 24 hours, the focus is stopping the leak. But quickly after that, you’ll need to decide what comes next.

Temporary repair

  • Best for stabilizing conditions during an active weather event
  • May involve sealants, patches, or local reinforcement
  • Useful when you need time for budgeting or board approvals

Permanent repair

  • Addresses root causes such as failed flashings, seams, or localized membrane damage
  • Often the right choice when the rest of the roof is still in fair condition
  • Can be planned and executed shortly after initial emergency work

Full or partial replacement

  • Considered when:
    • Leaks are widespread and recurring
    • Insulation is saturated in multiple areas
    • Roof membrane is at or beyond its service life

For larger scope decisions, this article should interlink with “Commercial Flat Roof Replacement in Calgary: Costs, Options & Timelines for Property Managers” and system-specific pages on TPO, SBS, and EPDM under the Services section at https://cmproofing.ca/services/ and within the CMP Roofing blog at https://cmproofing.ca/blog/.

Step 10: Communicate with Ownership, Tenants, and Insurers

After the immediate leak is under control, your role shifts back toward communication and planning.

  • Prepare a brief summary:
    • What happened
    • Immediate actions taken in the first 24 hours
    • Contractor findings and temporary measures
    • Next steps and timelines
  • Share documentation and photos with:
    • Property owners or asset managers
    • Insurers, if a claim is likely
    • Impacted tenants, with clear expectations on any follow-up work

Having a trusted commercial roofing partner helps you answer the “what now?” questions with clear, professional recommendations.

Preventing the Next Leak: Inspection & Maintenance

Most emergency leaks can be predicted – and often prevented – with regular inspections and proactive maintenance.

CMP Roofing typically recommends:

  • Annual or semi-annual roof inspections (spring and fall)
  • Post-storm checks after major hail, heavy snow, or extreme wind events
  • Clearing drains, gutters, and scuppers as part of routine maintenance

By enrolling your properties in a commercial roof maintenance plan, you can catch small issues before they become full-scale leaks.

You can connect this section with:

Next Steps: Book a Commercial Roof Leak Assessment in Calgary

If you’re dealing with an active leak now—or if you’ve had multiple leaks over the past few seasons—the best next step is a professional assessment from a commercial roofing specialist.

CMP Roofing can:

  • Respond to active commercial roof leaks
  • Diagnose the cause and stop ongoing water intrusion
  • Provide clear options: temporary repair, permanent repair, or replacement
  • Help you plan budgets and timelines that align with your operations and capital plan

To request commercial roof leak repair or an assessment in Calgary and surrounding areas, visit https://cmproofing.ca/contact-2/. To see where we work, check our service coverage at https://cmproofing.ca/locations/, and for more educational resources on commercial roofing, explore our blog at https://cmproofing.ca/blog/ and full services hub at https://cmproofing.ca/services/.

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