The Most Common Commercial Roof Maintenance Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Many items that you see and interact with regularly come with maintenance reminders. For instance, your car has a sticker on the dashboard reminding you when to replace the oil, and TV newscasters remind you to inspect your smoke detectors and replace the batteries every six months when the time changes. But when it comes to things that you don’t see, like your facility’s roof, regular maintenance probably isn’t top of mind. Furthermore, many common commercial roof maintenance mistakes can and should be prevented, regardless of your commercial building roof type. By developing a regular commercial roof maintenance plan and taking care of your roof regularly, you will avoid roof maintenance mistakes, emergency roof repair costs, and save your company money.
Commercial roof maintenance is essential for prolonging the life of your roof and preventing costly repairs or premature replacement. Most importantly, if not properly managed, several common mistakes can lead to significant issues. Here are the most common commercial roof maintenance mistakes.
Roof Maintenance Mistakes
The first mistake can occur on a commercial roof when employees ignore small leaks, water spots, or ponding water. Even a small leak or area where water has collected can lead to significant structural damage over time. Water spots can also indicate a possible roof puncture or membrane damage.
Encourage your employees to report leaks or ponding water to maintenance personnel immediately. When water collects, it puts excess weight on the roof and can cause leaks. Regularly inspecting and maintaining the drainage system will also ensure water flows off the roof efficiently.
A second mistake that is overlooked is the failure to promptly remove debris from the rooftop. Items can collect on a roof over time and even more so if you have a flat roof. Debris, such as leaves, branches, or dirt, can clog drains and lead to water pooling and roof damage. Debris can also include the growth of moss or algae, which can compromise the integrity of the roof and hinder proper drainage. By regularly clearing debris from the roof, especially around drains and gutters, you will ensure proper water drainage and help prevent leaks.
The third mistake is hiring non-specialized contractors to perform roof work, which can result in improper repairs. Hiring contractors without expertise in commercial roofing or using the wrong materials can make problems worse and void warranties. So, for example, if you have an HVAC unit on your roof that needs to be repaired or replaced, and the contractor(s) don’t know what they’re doing, it could lead to a roof puncture or leak if the flashing is not installed properly. Always work with licensed, experienced commercial roofing specialists who use only manufacturer-recommended materials. Learn more about the importance of working with highly qualified professionals.
The fourth most common commercial roof maintenance mistake involves ignoring roof warranty requirements and not fully documenting repairs and maintenance. Many warranties have specific maintenance and inspection requirements; ignoring them can void your warranty. You should review warranty requirements and ensure compliance with all roof maintenance guidelines to retain coverage.
If you don’t document the repairs and maintenance you perform on your roof throughout its lifetime, it will be difficult to track recurring issues and may also lead to warranty issues. That’s why it’s important to keep a detailed record of all inspections, repairs, and maintenance performed on the roof, so you can track patterns and address issues efficiently.
Roof Maintenance Plan
All these common commercial roof maintenance mistakes can be avoided by having a commercial roof maintenance program. Waiting until there’s a visible problem before inspecting a roof often results in catching a problem too late. The solution is to hire a reputable roofing company, like Capital Roof Care, to perform regular inspections. By scheduling routine industrial roof inspections, ideally twice a year and after a severe weather event, you can spot and address problems early, when they can be corrected.
CRC offers a variety of roof maintenance plans to suit your needs that:
- Organize your roof warranty information
- Keep track of maintenance requirements
- Assess the conditions of your roof(s) regularly
- Identify repair needs
- Document all roof maintenance assessments and repair activities.
In addition to inspecting your roof at regular intervals, CRC can also examine your roof after severe weather-related events. Hail, high winds, or snow can cause significant damage to a roof that might not be immediately visible. By conducting an inspection after a major weather event, CRC can make necessary repairs and prevent cumulative damage.
By avoiding the most common roof maintenance mistakes and having a roof maintenance plan in place, you can avoid and prevent common roof issues, save your company money, and significantly extend the life of your commercial roof.