By The roof of your business should last 15 to 20 years with good care. To prevent costly repair, inspect the tops side of your building at least once a year and after major weather events. It’s also necessary to plan on doing some routine maintenance to prevent costly repairs. Here are four things you can do to ensure the roof of your commercial building stays in good shape and lasts for years to come.
1. Prepare for Winter
If you live in an area with heavy snow, you need to take precautions to prevent ice and water damage. Keep the roof insulated to make sure it stays cold during the winter. This prevents snow from melting and then refreezing as a layer of ice. These ice dams that form can damage shingles and cause water damage. It’s also a good idea to have a roof snow load measurement done to know how much weight your building can tolerate. Snow is very heavy, and it’s essential to know when it’s necessary to have it removed before it causes damage to the business’s structure.
2. Inspect Roof Equipment
Many commercial businesses have air conditioning and ventilation systems installed on the top of the building. It’s important to inspect this equipment to ensure there aren’t any water leaks or fire hazards. Additionally, check around the base of the machines to ensure the roofing material is not wearing away, allowing water from storms to penetrate the lower levels of the building.
3. Remove Debris
The wind blows all types of debris onto a roof. Cleaning up items such as plastic bags and cardboard keeps these rain-soaked items from holding moisture against the surface. It also prevents mold and algae that form on the decaying trash from damaging the roof even more.
4. Replace the Roof Cover
Many commercial buildings have flat roofs that don’t use shingles. Instead, they have long pieces of thick plastic or rubber that cover large portions of the top. Extreme heat from the sun, damage from hail and rips caused by the wind erode this cover over time. Replace ripped and worn pieces, so water can’t penetrate the lower levels of the roof. If you notice signs of pooling water or algae, relevel those areas of the surface to ensure proper water drainage.
Keeping the roof of your business in good condition helps prevent costly repairs to the building. Inspect the top side and the equipment at least once a year, replace worn covering and monitor the snow load during the winter. All these steps ensure your building remains in top shape for a long time.
