Did you know that many business owners replace their commercial roofs nearly twice as often as they need to? All it takes is regularly scheduled inspections to catch leaks early and a few basic repairs to double the lifespan of most flat roofs.
What if I told you that just a little bit of preventative maintenance could save you bucket loads of cash, by making your commercial roof last way longer?
While I don't recommend carrying your cash around in buckets, I certainly do recommend keeping your roof in excellent shape for decades, rather than replacing it every 15 years. It's not just me either, I spoke with some local experts from , and they think it's crazy to rebuild your roof when you could just fix it instead.
Think of it this way - do you drive your car until it's out of gas, then throw it away? Or do you toss out a cooking pan when it gets dirty? Of course not!
If you want your roof to last longer than your car or your frying pans, it's actually pretty easy. All you have to do is maintain it, not personally, of course, you should have an expert manage it for you.
It doesn't matter what type of commercial roof you have, whether it's TPO, PVC, modified bitumen, or metal sheeting - it can last a lot longer and save you money if you take care of it.
If you're looking for specifics, many industry experts have published guides that walk you through everything, from how to check out your roof yourself to what you should expect from a professional inspection.
These experts generally say that when properly maintained, commercial roofs can often last up to twice as long, or longer, compared to a similar roof without regular and comprehensive maintenance. Although each material and roofing style has unique needs, this typically includes twice-yearly inspections to check for damage, leaks, and other warning signs, as well as prompt repairs for any complications.
It's not rocket science, it's just regular maintenance.
You can easily manage self-inspections and basic maintenance without requiring any special skills. This includes looking for signs of damage, torn seams, or drainage issues that may require professional attention, as well as simple tasks like clearing dust, debris, and blockages from the drainage system.
While self-inspections can be helpful, experts still recommend scheduling professional inspections in the spring and fall to ensure each roof is ready for the changing weather. These inspections offer a much more comprehensive check into your roof's effectiveness, and often use special tools to inspect areas that are not accessible otherwise.
If you live in an area with extreme weather, such as high winds, tornadoes, blizzards, or heavy hail, you should consider additional inspections after any severe weather events to ensure your roof is still sealed tight against leaks. While quick inspections can be done without professional assistance, many problems cannot be detected without specialist equipment.
If you've called for an inspection, what's next?
In the best-case scenario, which we'll wish for, an expert will come to your business, crawl all over your roof and stare into all the corners, and pronounce that it's still in mint condition!
Unfortunately, most roofs aren't actually in mint condition, but that's why we get inspections. If you have some damage up there, your inspection will end with a conversation about how much damage there is, how long it will take to fix, and if it's cost-effective.
Let me give you a hint, though - it's almost always, always, more cost-effective to fix your roof, unless it's already past its best estimated lifespan.
Why? That's easy - because repairs can cost a bit, sure, but replacing your entire roof? That's a real bite into your budget.
Now, where were we... oh yes. If there is an area with a suspected leak, a professional inspection will include a comprehensive check with fancy tools that most business owners don't have handy. This helps to check for hidden moisture that can indicate a problem, but that could be totally invisible with an infrared scanner.
Each inspection will also include a full assessment of the eaves and drainage systems, which can easily become clogged and lead to water damage if left unchecked. Luckily, this is the easiest problem to fix yourself, in between inspections.
Let's be honest - we're talking about working on a roof, which is an important structure, and it's up high in the air.
For obvious reasons, most roofing repairs should be left to the professionals.
However, the experts have suggested several basic steps that business owners can take to help maintain their roofs. This includes performing regular spot checks for damage, cleaning up debris on the roof, regularly checking the drainage, and scheduling prompt inspections and repairs twice a year, and after major storms.
A blurb I copied from an Apex roofing guide explains, “Twice a year is the magic number (spring and fall). That way, small issues don’t turn into budget-wrecking repairs. Storm just rolled through? Book an inspection ASAP—wind and hail don’t play fair with TPO membranes.”
Take my advice, and don't risk forgetting to schedule an inspection, because even if you forget, your roof will remember.
Schedule your inspections with a local expert such as Apex Restoration & Roofing so you're never caught off guard. Your roof will last longer, you'll save a bucketload of cash - and since your roof will be in tip-top shape, you won't need to use that bucket of cash to catch any leaks.
It's just easier when you keep on top of things, like oil changes or regular roof maintenance.
