The last thing you want to deal with is problems with your commercial roof.
Yet, we often see commercial roofs fail unnecessarily because of a lack of an adequate and consistent preventive maintenance plan.
This is a must if you want to avoid unwanted roof damage and costly repairs while ensuring a longer life for your roof and better structural integrity.
Below are our top four preventative maintenance tips for commercial roofs.
These are extremely useful for both business owners and property managers looking for guidelines on how to properly maintain their roofs.
1. Clean Regularly
You have probably heard this before, but it’s worth repeating. An important measure to protect and prevent damage to your roof is to clean it regularly.
A clean roof will maintain a lower surface temperature, which extends the life of the roof membrane itself.
Flat commercial roofs often accumulate a lot of dirt and debris. It may not seem like a pile of leaves could do any damage, but this creates the perfect environment for rust, mold, and many other unpleasant things you do not want on your roof.
A clean roof makes it easier for maintenance crews to spot potential roofing hotspots and areas for minor repairs before they become full-blown crises.
These are just a few of the benefits of regularly cleaning your commercial roof.
2. Prepare for Season Changes
One season rarely looks like another, and weather conditions can be unpredictable. The last thing you want is to be unprepared for the weather.
Hazardous weather conditions like heavy snowfall and storms pose the greatest threat, while light snowfall, rain, and intense summer heat can deteriorate the condition of your commercial roof and cause significant damage over time.
By preparing your roof for changing weather conditions and seasons, you can minimize the need for costly repairs or replacements.
Certified roofing contractors can identify small problems and make the necessary repairs to extend the life of your roof and ensure your building can withstand any weather.
They can also be called upon to inspect your roof after extreme weather to determine if there is storm or wind damage that is covered by insurance.
3. Watch Out for Leaks and Fix Them Right Away
There are a few reasons why leaks are more common in commercial buildings.
Commercial roofs typically have a large number of penetrations, such as vents and their associated covers, skylights, gutters and covers, dormers, and so on.
These penetrations are the first weak point in any roofing system. Over time, these entry points attract water and eventually lead to leaks.
There’s nothing you can do about a leaky roof except fix it as soon as possible. Therefore, you need to monitor your commercial roofing system for signs of leaks by watching for any minor damages from time to time.
If you see that your ceiling is starting to form dents or stains at the seams, or it appears that there is water damage near the edges of the ceiling panels, call your roofing contractor immediately for repairs.
It costs money to repair leaks, but if you ignore them, you’ll only spend more money if they get worse or cause more damage. Furthermore, you do not want to risk your entire roof system being compromised because you ignored a few small leaks.
This is also why we recommend scheduling a commercial roof inspection at least once a year.
4. Keep Detailed Records of Maintenance and Repair
Many different factors can affect a commercial roof during its lifespan.
During this time, building managers can change, and buildings can change ownership as well.
That means building maintenance information can easily fall through the cracks. A good organizational system will help you collect maintenance information and keep it in a safe place that you can easily access Aa good record-keeping system will help you interpret the data when you look at it later.
For example, when a leak occurs, mark the location on the roof plan, the date it was reported, what the weather was like that day, and what action was taken regarding the roof repair.
By keeping track of the repair history, you can determine if your roof is functioning effectively or better predict when it will need repair.
This information will be very helpful when you talk to your roofing contractor about it during your annual inspection.
Also, some roofing material manufacturers require periodic inspection records to maintain warranties.
Hire a Professional Commercial Roofing Contractor
When it comes to commercial roof maintenance, it’s best to always be proactive. Remember, the best defense is a good offense.
Here at Allweather Roof, we provide top-notch service with guaranteed quality commercial roof repair and maintenance.
We are also a leader in customer satisfaction, making sure our customers are always happy with our work.
We also conduct thorough roof inspections with detailed reports on the condition of the roof, potential problems, and estimated repair costs.
We also categorize all problem areas by severity so you know which ones need attention ASAP.
Whether we are installing a brand new flat roofing system or repairing an existing roof, every member of our team has been extensively trained to provide the highest level of services.
To learn more about our preventive maintenance plans and services for commercial roofs, get in touch with us here.