Most commercial building owners do not look at their daily schedules and think, “I don’t have enough to do today!” But, if that is you, these commercial roof maintenance tips may save you time, money, and headaches.
Prepare
- Record — Keep a journal of personnel visiting your property’s roof, when they go up, why they are topside, and where, exactly, they are working. This can help you track damage and worn areas.
- Evaluate — As you safely inspect your property’s roof, decide one of three ratings for each area: Good (no action needed), Fair (keep an eye on it), or Bad (let’s get this fixed!). Note each trouble spot’s location and document with photos.
- Toolkit — Pack a bag with these dedicated rooftop inspection essentials: a maintenance checklist, a camera for documenting problems, roof blueprints or aerial photographs, a tape measure, and a flashlight (even on sunny days, shadowed areas exist)
Peer
Peer around inside your building:
- Walls — Are your interior walls discolored, showing signs of mold, or marred by peeling paint? You may have roof leaks.
- Chimneys, Vents — Cool surfaces or dampness around chimneys and vents may mean water is getting past failed flashing and caulk. That water will destroy interior walls, raise humidity levels, and invite mold and mildew.
- Roof Deck — The sometimes cavernous space between your exterior roof and your highest interior ceiling is the roof deck, which you may be able to enter safely. Is it properly ventilated? Can you see daylight as you look up? Are wooden structural members cracked or steel structural elements rusty? Is any part of the deck sagging?
- Leaks — Active water leaks will destroy inventory and equipment. Where are the water leaks? Document with pictures and video, then call your professional, commercial roofer for an inspection.
Probe
Do a little probing around your building’s exterior:
- Damage — If safe to walk the roof, look for damage, debris, and blocked interior drains and parapet scuppers. From the ground, you can also look for broken gutters and downspouts.
- Wear and Tear — Walking the roof can reveal corrosion, rust, rot, missing flashing, waterlogged fascia, worn-out drip edge, and decking.
- Low Slope — With a low-slope roof, look for ponding, membrane punctures, blisters in layered goods, or anything pulling away from the roof.
Division 7 Roofing is here to help you solve your commercial roofing challenges. Contact us today to see how we can perform preventive maintenance and more.