Even the best commercial roofs don’t last forever, and keeping tabs on the health of a building’s roof is one of the most important jobs for any facility manager. Leaks and other serious damages may be easy to spot, but what about hidden damages that lead to big problems down the line?
Because they are such complicated systems, commercial roofs can have plenty of problems that build slowly and aren’t apparent to an inexperienced eye. Concealed moisture, bad weld jobs, loose seams, and other seemingly small problems can lead to a big and costly surprise down the road. Here are five tips for avoiding unwanted surprises with your commercial roof:
1. Get regular roof assessments.
Don’t wait until after a hail storm to get your roof assessed. Trouble with a roof isn’t always weather-related, and catching little problems before they become big problems is the best way to save on costly repairs.
2. Only trust professionals with roof inspections.
A facility manager may be involved with everything going on inside a commercial building, but there are some types of damage that only a professional roofer can recognize. Roof inspectors are specially-trained to spot damage as it happens, not once the roof starts to leak.
3. Prepare your budget for an emergency.
Even carefully monitoring your roof can’t prepare you for an unexpected accident or weather event. Don’t get caught off guard—keep a budget for roofing repairs. A good rule is planning to save $750 for each simple repair. Roofs with patios and roofs that support heavy equipment will need more repairs than roof tops that rarely see traffic.
4. Find a roofer with forecasting assessments.
When looking for a roofing company, find one that does forecasting as part of their traditional damage assessment. Forecasting allows you to see into your roof’s future and plan for big expenses down the line. Good reporting is critical to forecasting, and the best roofers will offer comprehensive reports with the roof’s current condition and future recommendations.
5. Prevent disasters with a maintenance plan.
With regular roof forecasting assessments, you can make a long-term maintenance plan to extend the life of your roof. Addressing small problems on your roof through preventative maintenance and weatherproofing is the surest way to avoid a costly roofing emergency.
Get All the Prevention Tools You Need in One Place
Our team at Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. prides ourselves on the quality of our roof management program. Through our MAXCare program, customers get regular roof assessments with forecasting. Each assessment in this long-term monitoring program comes with one of our industry-leading reports that includes details on a roof’s condition and projections for future maintenance and costs. For unplanned emergencies, MAXCare also gives customers access to roofers 24 hours a day.
Visit us today to learn more about MAXCare and how it can help extend the life of your commercial roof.