Service and maintenance
Commercial roof maintenance
A commercial roof should be inspected at least twice a year, usually in the spring and in the fall. Most warranties require it.
Why the warranty depends on it
Most roof system warranties carry specific maintenance guidelines that have to be followed in order to keep the warranty in effect. Skip them and the coverage you paid for quietly stops applying. In some cases, enrolling in a qualified maintenance plan can actually extend a warranty term.
The schedule is not just ours. The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that building owners have their roof systems inspected at least twice a year, in the spring and the fall, which lines up with what most manufacturers ask for.
Because a commercial roof is far more complicated and technical than it looks to an untrained eye, the safest way to protect the investment is to hire a roofing specialist rather than hand the roof to a general building maintenance crew.
Preventative practices
Things that cost nothing and save a lot
Beyond scheduled inspections and warranty repairs, there are proactive measures that extend the service life of a roof, and most of them are about what happens on the roof between visits.
Anyone with roof access should be briefed on the basics. It is the cheapest maintenance available.
Brief your roof access list
- No smoking on the roof
- Walk only on designated walk paths and pads
- Clear drain clogs promptly
- Never leave tools or materials on the roof
- Log every trade that goes up there
Establishing a plan
Documenting the history of a roof is what makes a maintenance plan work. Keep both a digital and a hard copy of the system details, the warranty, every inspection report and every repair.
On our visits we use thermographic equipment that detects trapped moisture and potential leaks before they are visible from either side of the deck. The goal is simple: keep the roof in shape so you can get back to running the building.
Want the roof on a schedule instead of on your mind?
We will put together a preventative plan sized to the building and the system on it.
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