Like any roof, a commercial roof requires regular maintenance.
With routine inspection and repair of your commercial roof, you can address potential problems before they become more serious and costly issues.
More, by keeping on top of your roof’s maintenance, you can effectively increase the lifespan of your commercial roof and the building itself.
If you are a property manager or building owner and want to extend your roof’s life span, keep reading!
Here are 8 practical tips for increasing your commercial roof’s lifespan.
Check For Visible Damage
Before hiring a professional roof inspector, you can do a quick survey yourself!
While a professional inspection is required for less obvious issues, anybody can check for more glaring signs of roof damage.
One important place to check is the drainage system. Looking at your gutters, do you see any broken or obstructed sections?
If so, this is a telltale sign you need to call a trained roofing professional to repair your roof.
Other places to check are the seams, flashing, and other places on your roof where protrusions are present.
For those who don’t know, protrusions are areas of your roof where an element is sticking out.
HVAC units, skylights, and vents are all examples of protrusions and are common places for a commercial roof to experience damage.
If you see corrosion, missing parts, or a raised surface around these areas, call a professional to schedule an inspection.
Clear Your Gutters & Drains Regularly
One of the best parts of roof maintenance is that you can kill two birds with one stone!
As you go up to check for visible damage, take the time to clear your gutters and drains.
When your drainage system is clogged, it will not work as intended.
This causes ponding water, which can lead to damage to your roof’s surface and possible leaks.
So, while you take a moment to give your roof a quick look for damage, take a moment to clear your drainage systems.
Prune Overhanging Trees
In commercial roofing, one of the most common causes of damage is fallen debris.
When debris falls on a roof, damage to the roof’s substrate can occur, which can cause your roof to leak and possibly damage the structural elements of your building.
To avoid this problem, we recommend regularly pruning the overhanging trees near your building.
This does two important things in improving the lifespan of your roof:
First, it preemptively stops potential branches from falling and causing damage to your roof.
Secondly, it prevents the accumulation of leaves and nuts on your roof, which can cause algae growth!
A major cause of fallen debris is extreme weather, which brings us to our next point.
Inspect Your Roof After Intense Storms
Whether it be hail, a tornado, a hurricane, or a severe snowstorm, severe weather can damage your roof!
With extreme weather, airborne debris can land on your roof, damaging the surface and causing potential leaks.
Because severe weather is one of the easiest ways for your roof to receive damage, it is prudent to inspect your roof after each storm.
With regular inspection, you can avoid letting new problems develop into serious issues.
Pay Attention To The Inside Of Your Building
When it comes to visible damage, the signs of roof leaks also appear inside your building!
When maintaining your roof, check the interior of your building, especially the sections nearest to your roof.
Mold, mildew, and peeling paint near your roof are all signs that your roof has a serious leak.
Another thing to check is your electricity bill. While you may not realize it, a high electricity bill may signal roof damage.
When a leaking roof reaches your insulation, it will become saturated with water, which reduces its efficiency and causes an increase in your monthly bill.
So, to keep on top of your roof’s maintenance, make sure to check not only your roof but also your building!
Fix Minor Leaks ASAP
With commercial roof maintenance, the best thing you can do to increase a roof’s lifespan is to address issues as soon as possible.
When it comes to leaks, this is especially true. Untreated, a leaking roof can cause significant damage to not only your roof but to your building’s structural elements.
In the worst-case scenario, a leaking roof can lead to collapse, causing catastrophic damage to your building and potential harm to the people inside.
Thus, one of the best things a person can do is fix minor leaks ASAP.
By catching a leak earlier with regular inspection, you can avoid much more costly problems in the future, saving you money and increasing your roof’s lifespan in the process.
Avoid Unnecessary Foot Traffic On Your Roof
One of the easiest ways to increase your roof’s lifespan is to avoid excessive foot traffic on the roof.
Now, of course, you will have to walk on the roof to inspect it, but don’t make your roof a place to hang out!
With regular foot traffic, damage to your roof’s substrate can occur, which is an invitation for leaks.
If you have to walk on your roof regularly, we recommend hiring a roofer to install walk pads.
These protect your roof and prevent foot traffic from causing damage.
Hire A Pro To Do A Bi-annual Inspection
While all these tips are great, nothing will keep your roof in good condition longer than a regular inspection with a professional roofer.
With a professional inspection, your roofer can address problems that would go unnoticed by the untrained eye.
More importantly, a professional roofer can often fix minor issues on the spot, which will go a long way to stopping minor problems from becoming costly repairs.
When choosing a roofer, we highly recommend choosing one that has a proven track record of excellence.
Make sure to check their reviews and see that they are experienced in roofing inspections.
In fact, we wrote an entire blog about the essential questions you need to ask a roofer before hiring them. Read that blog here.
Our Expertise In Roof Inspections:
At Ramon Roofing, we have over 27 years of experience inspecting and repairing commercial roofs all around Texas.
With our experience, we know exactly where to look for damage and how to address it.
More, we know how to repair and inspect your commercial roof without interrupting your day-to-day operations.
If you have noticed damage or are overdue for an inspection, give us a call!
Ft Worth Location:
3027 Ramona Dr #110, Fort Worth, TX 76116, USA
(817) 924-1645
Austin Location:
20801 Lindeman Lane, Leander TX 78641
(512) 435-7636
Or click here: https://www.ramonroofing.com/contact-us
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