Upkeep is vital if you have a commercial building for your company or houses other businesses. Among the most important aspects is making sure your roof is in good condition. You don’t want to leak because this can affect working conditions and potentially damage equipment, material or products.
You want your commercial roof to last well past the warranty. It’s up to you to take care of it, and that includes hiring the right company to assist you. Be proactive in caring for your roof, and it will shield you from all that mother nature throws at it. And if she manages to create a problem, get it taken care of fast, so it saves you time and money down the road.
Giving your roof some attention is a great idea, but where do you start? Here are five practical commercial roofing tips to help you take care of the whole system.
Tip #1: Find a commercial roofing company
Unless you can make your repairs, look for a qualified professional company. You don’t want to waste time and money, so hire someone who has the equipment and know-how to get the job done.
Ask for quotes from several contractors and get references that you can contact. Consider how long the company has been in business and make sure they have experience working on your type of roof. Also, ensure they are licensed and insured.
Tip #2: Do a commercial roof inspection
You need to know what you are dealing with because you can’t resolve any problems if you don’t know they exist. Start by going up to your roof and doing a visual inspection. This way, you can see any visible damage to the roofing membrane. Look to the drains for build-up make sure water can runoff. Clean all branch’s leaves and chase out animals or insects taking up residence.
Consult a flat roofing company to ensure a detailed and professional inspection. These specialists know what to look for and understand how the entire roofing system works and where it can fail. They will advise you if you need to repair or replace your roof.
Tip #3: Consider commercial roofing options
This is a commercial building, so you probably have a flat roof. Several types of material can be used to repair or replace your roof, and what was originally put on may not be up to today’s standards.
Listen to your contractor and consider everything. While cost is a factor, you must consider the quality of the material and the product’s lifetime.
Tip #4: Roof care and maintenance
There are things you can do to prolong the life of your roof. Adopting a maintenance schedule may catch issues before they become bigger problems.
Some revolve roof care and maintenance tasks involve:
Roof inspections
Have a regular inspection of your roof. This means you should go up there once a month or after a heavy storm and inspect it. Look for things like tears or punctures because this is where water can find its way in. Check the drains and flashing around openings and equipment as well.
Roof cleaning
Remove any debris before it builds up and causes a problem. Animals work hard to make their homes, and the sooner you get rid of them, the better. Carefully remove their nesting material, so you don’t disturb any babies or protected animals. Clean out drains and scuppers so water can easily be drawn off the roof.
Check indoors
Look to the inside of the building for signs of leakage. Sometimes these problems will show up before you notice anything outside. Finding mould or water damage means you have a leak, and it needs to be fixed as soon as you can.
Tip #5: Winterize your roof
The cold weather can beat up your roof fast, and having a plan to protect it over the winter months will prolong the life of your roof. Start by doing a pre-season clean. Everything from the drains to ventilation equipment should be uncluttered so it can do its job. Next, look for areas that need repair. Membrane and flashing may need to be resealed or replaced, and now is the time to do it before the cold, wet weather hits.
Install wind baffles and snow guards to help shelter your roof and have a snow removal plan when heavy loads come down. Your roof will do much better over the winter season by making this preparation.
When the snow finally clears and you are heading into spring, do a post-winter inspection to see if the snow and ice have damaged anything. If you made temporary repairs to carry you over the cold weather, now is the time to schedule your commercial roofing company to fix any problems.
