Do you own a commercial property? If so, you may not think about your roof often due to other demands. The worse thing that a commercial property owner can do is neglect the building structure that houses key materials, equipment, and employees. This is why it is imperative that you know what is needed to ensure the integrity of your commercial roofing. Never judge the condition of your roof based on whether you have a roof leak. This is a mistake that some property owners make, and it can result in missed opportunities to get timely commercial roof repairs. The following points identify three things that can extend the lifespan of your commercial roofing materials.
Inspections
If you have been skipping semi-annual roofing inspections or settling for annual inspections, you might have roof damages that are not evident. Hidden damages can be as serious as obvious roof damages. Some situations such as severe weather events should prompt you to request a roof inspection outside of your normal schedule to determine whether you have damages and need repairs. Never send an employee to inspect your roof. Their untrained eyes might not detect damages. They could also get injured.
Do not dismiss a small section of missing or loose roofing materials as being insignificant. The area can allow moisture intrusion and lead to leaks. Prolonged moisture can weaken building materials and require repairs in other areas of your building. Inspections are an ideal way for roofers to detect roof damages or problems such as pooling water in a timely manner.
Maintenance, Repairs, and Replacements
Some property owners assume that semi-annual inspections are all that they need to do to ensure proper maintenance. Roofers can perform maintenance services after inspections. However, roof maintenance involves ensuring that rooftops are debris-free. Cleaning away substances such as mold and mildew is also a part of maintenance.
When maintenance is not performed, there is a risk of issues developing. The issues might not get detected until the next inspection. By that time, serious water damage might have occurred. This can mean property damages, but the faulty roof might also be the source of inventory losses and damage to the property's electrical system. Extensive damages will likely require a premature roof replacement.
Commercial roofing contractors are a good resource to use to learn more proactive steps you can take to protect the roof on your property. You can request an estimate for existing repair issues or a roof replacement. You can also depend on them to help you compare roofing materials.