There is a world of difference between maintaining a residential roof and maintaining a commercial roof. One of the reasons why there is such a difference is simply that requirements regarding commercial roofs vary from those pertaining to residential roofs.
Residential roofs are a part of houses, which means that though there are technical guidelines regarding how often different roofs should be serviced, it’s up to the homeowner to decide when to get in touch with roof maintenance companies. A homeowner can choose to take the risk of putting off roof repairs; because the property is privately owned, those delays affect only the home’s residents.
But when a commercial roof goes without repairs, the potential resulting complications can endanger everyone within and around the building, including employees and customers. Business owners usually must follow legal requirements regarding commercial buildings — and those often extend to commercial roof maintenance.
With that being said, there are ways in which business owners can care for their roofs without spending more time and money than necessary. This, of course, begins with finding the right roof maintenance companies from the start. Commercial roof maintenance is crucial not only for the long-term maintenance of the roof but for the maintenance of the entire building. If a roof is not properly maintained, it could collapse and damage the rest of the building; it could also allow for escaping energy, which would cause monthly maintenance bills to rise. Let’s look into some of the factors to consider when maintaining a commercial roof. The more you know, the more money you can save and the longer your roof will last.
1. Take Inspections Seriously
It’s easy to assume that roofs are undamaged. When a roof is without leaks or aesthetic issues, you may think that it doesn’t need an inspection. After all, commercial roof inspections do cost money and you may not want to spend that money unless you’re worried about the roof already.
However, most commercial roof maintenance companies recommend that building owners have two inspections per year. These will usually take place after winter and summer, as these are the hardest seasons on roofs. The reason why it’s important to have these inspections done is that some roof damage is internal. If that damage is left alone, it could easily grow. As a result, you could be putting yourself in danger while increasing the potential costs of a bigger repair. Many commercial roof maintenance companies charge reasonable amounts for inspections as well, understanding that regular inspections can be considered necessary preventative care.
2. Consider Metal Roofing
At some point in time, you may be considering a roof replacement. The question is: should you maintain the same type of roof that you already had, or should you consider other materials?
While it’s important to ask roof maintenance companies about how attainable switching materials are, there are a lot of benefits of shifting to metal roofing. Metal roofing reflects UV rays, which are not only harmful to those within the building but also can potentially negate the air conditioning. This can cause your air conditioning need to work overtime in response, forcing you to spend more money on your cooling system each month. Metal roofing also lasts far longer than standard asphalt roofs and tend to require fewer repairs, which can make this change much more economically viable in the long run.
3. Weigh The Costs Of Replacement Versus Repairs
There are a lot of issues that come with repairing a roof frequently. For one thing, a roof shouldn’t need to be repaired every year. If you constantly need to have repairs done, you’ll gradually spend the same amount of money that you would to replace the roof outright. A roof should, depending on the materials, last roughly 15 to 20 years. If you know that your roof is approaching that age but simply want to put off spending money on a replacement, consider the fact that a replacement is a long-term investment instead of a short-term solution.
There are a lot of responsibilities to consider when navigating commercial roofing. However, if you’re careful when choosing the company to work with and take their guidance to heart, the process should be easier than you expected.