Three Causes of Roof Punctures and One Perfect Solution

By Evelyn Witterholt. 

Learn what leads to punctures in commercial roofs and how installing the right cover board can help prevent damage. 

Editor’s note: Share this information with your building owner customers who want to learn more about their roofs. 

Did you know that commercial roofing consultants have rated punctures as the top threat to a building’s roof? When a roof gets punctured, this can make it vulnerable to further damages like leaks and a reduced overall lifespan. Georgia-Pacific Building Products has released a helpful video outlining the main causes of roof punctures and a solution to them all that can’t be beat.  

Here are the top three causes of roof punctures: 

1. Foot traffic: Punctures can occur from foot traffic, commonly during routine equipment maintenance and dropped tools. 
2. Hail: When hail hits a roof, it can create little dents or dimples that can lead to more damage over time.  
3. Severe weather: Major storms can carry flying debris and once it hits your roof, it can cause major punctures. 

The solution 

A durable gypsum cover board, like the DensDeck® Roof Board, is a reliable way to defend any commercial roof from puncture damage. Installing a cover board helps support the roofing system by providing impact protection to the membrane and insulation of the roof. DensDeck Roof Board protects against puncture damage from all sources, including fire, wind, hail and punctures. It’s equipped with a rigid gypsum core and a fiberglass mat reinforcement that ensures complete protection against these elements.  

Georgia-Pacific's DensDeck® StormX™ Prime Roofboard is perfect for commercial buildings in areas that are prone to extreme weather. This roof board is the first gypsum cover board to be FM classified for very severe hail (VSH) in approved single-ply membrane assemblies.  

Watch the full video below to see how the DensDeck stands up to the test against punctures: