How Often Should You Inspect Your Commercial Roof?
The commercial roof on your business enterprise helps to protect your investment and plays a major role in keeping your business up and running. Too many business owners, however, don’t think much about their roofs until there’s a problem. The best way to keep your commercial roof in excellent shape for longer is with regularly scheduled professional maintenance, and Florida’s high heat, bright sun, and humidity – as well as the saltwater in the coastal areas, makes regular maintenance that much more important. Business owners in Florida are advised to schedule roof maintenance with a well-established Florida commercial roofing company.
Walking the Roof
Roof inspections begin with a professional walking the roof. They have the experience and skill to walk across your roof without causing damage and the know-how to locate any areas of concern, such as:
- Cracks
- Blisters
- Holes in the substrate
- Ponding water
- Uplifted seams, nails, or shingles
Your professional inspector will circle in from your roof’s perimeter – where the roofing system’s endpoints are and where concerns are more likely to arise – and will work their way into the middle.
Taking Core Samples
For a commercial roof inspection, the inspector will take one or more core samples – depending on the size and shape of the roof – to help determine important facts about it, including all the following:
- The age of the roof
- The number of roofing layers there are in place
- The roof’s level of saturation or moisture
- The material that the substrate is made from
The inspector will make the necessary repairs related to the core samples when the inspection is complete.
The Inspection Report
After the inspector makes their rounds and takes their samples on your commercial roof, they’ll provide you with a detailed report that addresses matters like the following and includes photos of the problem areas:
- Any areas that are leaking or that could leak
- Those places on the roof that are saturated with moisture
- Recommendations that may include simply continuing with regular inspections and upkeep, making repairs, restoring your roof, or replacing it
Generally, repairs are recommended if you have up to about 5 percent saturation and only a few weak areas. If, however, up to 25 percent of your roof is saturated, it generally means you’ll need a complete tear-off in 2 to 3 years if you don’t have a restoration performed. If more than 25 percent of your roof is saturated, a replacement is generally the most cost-efficient option, rather than taking a patchwork approach and fixing problems as they arise – and at this point, you should expect problems to arise.
A Trusted Florida Commercial Roofing Company Can Help
Serving Florida since 1991, the roofing pros at Roofing Concepts Unlimited recognize how important it is for your commercial roof to be in excellent working condition, and we can help make that happen. Your roof plays a critical role in how your business functions and regular inspections can help you keep it in good shape for many years to come. To schedule an inspection, please don’t wait to contact us online or call 954-786-9350 today.