Commercial roof maintenance can seem complex and involved, particularly for first-time property owners. The project would appear even more sophisticated for buildings located in sprawling or ill-planned city districts.
Therefore, itβs imperative to understand what to expect before contacting a roofing technician.
In this post, we unpack a commercial roof maintenance checklist.
1. Roof Inspections
Inspection is a fundamental component of commercial roof maintenance services. It ensures various roofing components are firmly held and in proper working condition.
While the actual focus areas will depend on your propertyβs roof, commonly inspected parts include the flashings, caulking, sealants, and the roofing shingles or panels. Inspections typically focus on the seams and edges.
A roofing contractor will look out for visible signs of damage, such as cracks, punctures, blisters, and discoloration. The company will then recommend partial repair or total replacement, based on its expert assessment.
2. Debris Clearing
Neglect can cause debris to accumulate dangerously on your commercial rooftop. The unsightly material may create an eyesore if not cleared urgently, adversely impacting your brandβs appeal.
Worse yet, extreme debris build-up on your commercial roof can pool water. This could accelerate roof damage by causing the affected shingles to rot.
The extra weight exerted by the trapped materials may promote mold and algal growth, diminishing the already compromised roofing structure even further.
Professional roofing contractors are cognizant of the dangers posed by material build-up on commercial rooftops. During routine maintenance, the company will clear your roof of common debris like plant foliage, rocks, and soil particles.
3. Trimming Overgrown Shrubbery
Studies have shown that unchecked vegetation growth can destroy both the functional efficiency and the structural integrity of your commercial roofing system.
If you prefer to grow trees closer to your commercial buildings (perhaps due to the therapeutic and air purification benefits it confers), itβs prudent to trim the shrubbery regularly.
Thatβs another service to expect during routine commercial roof maintenance.
An experienced roofing technician will trim overhanging tree branches, preventing them from falling onto and potentially damaging your propertyβs roof.
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4. Maintaining Drainage Systems
A faulty drainage system is a leading cause of roof damage for both residential and commercial properties.
Now, gutters and downspouts constitute a buildingβs primary drainage components. Obstructions in either channel can trigger backflow, causing dangerous ponding on the roofβs surface.
To restore your roof to full functionality, a maintenance technician will carefully inspect the drainage systems and unclog them if necessary. The contractor may also conduct minor preventive repairs or recommend a replacement if needed.
5. Addressing Leaks
Roof leaks seldom develop overnight. Unless your commercial apartment was recently installed with a new roofing system (in which case, substandard workmanship may be responsible for sudden leaks), most instances of roof leakage are due to extended periods of neglect.
Scheduling commercial roof inspections regularly is a proactive way to address roof leaks and associated repair costs.
A roofing technician will comprehensively probe your propertyβs roofing system to uncover signs of damage. Whether it’s a decayed shingle, rotten wood, or damaged nails, the contractor will recommend the right interventions to prevent the problem from degenerating into full-blown leakage.
6. Inspecting Rooftop HVACs
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units have become a common utility in many offices across the United States. The integration of HVAC systems is due to the combination of regulatory requirements and a need for enhanced climate comfort for occupants.
If your commercial building has rooftop HVACs, you can expect the units to be thoroughly examined during scheduled roof maintenance.
Roofing technicians may not have the expertise to repair complex HVAC issues. However, they can help with minor problems, such as changing the filters and cleaning the coils.
Besides, commercial roofing contractors can uncover if your propertyβs roof damage is a direct result of improper HVAC installation.
7. Cleaning Gutters
Not all commercial properties have gutters. But for those that do, gutter clean-up can be an undertaking in itself.
A roofing contractor will start by probing your gutters for blockages. Leaves, twigs, and rocks are manually removed to ease the cleaning process.
The technician will then flush the channel with a garden hose. Finally, theyβll inspect the gutter for rust, sagging, and detachments.
Detached channels may be realigned, and sagged sections of panel-beaten. For severe rusting, a replacement might be the best solution.
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8. Roof Cleaning
Roof cleaning is another essential component of commercial roof maintenance.
In fact, most roofing companies will recommend cleaning your roof before undertaking any extensive inspections. It allows them to pinpoint signs of damage with remarkable ease.
Thereβs no hard-and-fast rule on how frequently to schedule commercial roof cleaning. While twice a year is the consensus, the actual frequency will depend on your propertyβs roofing material, prevailing weather, and the vegetation cover.
9. Emergency Roof Maintenance
Emergency roof maintenance encompasses unplanned roof inspections and repairs. The services are typically critical in the aftermath of devastating property fires, natural calamities (like storms), or freak accidents (like falling trees).
For perspective, over 470,000 structure fires were reported in 2023. The incidents collectively caused over 3,000 civilian deaths and millions of dollars in property damage, underscoring the costly price of fires to property owners.
If your commercial apartment recently caught fire, causing significant property damage, you should enlist roof maintenance services immediately. The company will assess the extent of destruction the fire caused to the buildingβs roofing system and recommend immediate repairs to minimize further safety risks to the occupants.
10. Seasonal Roof Maintenance
The seasons can take a heavy toll on your roofβs safety and stability.
Winterβs frigid conditions may lead to ice dams forming on your rooftop, causing significant damage to the roofing system.
Summer is also known to cause roof damage due to erratic thermal expansion and contraction. Besides, increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation can accelerate the deterioration of many roofing materials.
The shoulder seasons may also inflict their share of damage to your commercial roofs. Springβs raging winds and heavy downpour can dislodge weak roofing shingles, while autumnβs falling vegetation may be blown onto your rooftop.
To minimize these damages, itβs prudent to schedule comprehensive commercial roof inspections at the turn of every season.
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Final Word
Knowing what commercial roof maintenance entails can help you manage your expectations in terms of project turnaround, maintenance cost, and the overall workmanship. It enables you to gauge the contractor’s expertise against clearly defined deliverables.
Always have this checklist at the ready before hiring a commercial roofing contractor.
In the same vein, proceed cautiously while scouting for a reputable roofing company.
Proof of a valid license and relevant insurance is a bare minimum. More importantly, select a company with verifiable experience in undertaking commercial roof maintenance.