While this article pertains to commercial roofing systems, which are bigger and made of different materials than regular home roofs, its still a great thing for owners to know the ins and outs of these types of systems. Additionally, its a great idea to know the upkeep and make a routine commercial roof maintenance plan. This adds years of life to the roof and helps it look its best. Another plus is that, with yearly routine maintenance, should there be any issues with the roof, then you will be aware right away and can fix it before it worsens and spreads to more areas of the roof.
Self Roof Maintenance
After a roof installation, the roofing company should provide a maintenance plan or plenty of advice on how to help the upkeep. While its true that you won’t have to worry about any issues with your brand new roof, yearly maintenance is crucial to keep it in good standing. When we talk about a maintenance plan, we are primarily going to focus on cleaning, inspections and repairs when necessary.
Easy or basic maintenance should be done twice a year, primarily in the spring time after winter has passed and in the fall time, right before winter begins. When starting your maintenance routine, make sure there is someone else with you present in case of emergencies.
Here are 4 tips for self-inspections
1. Safety First
Make sure to wear proper, no slip shoes, protective headgear and that the ladder you are using is in good condition. Additionally, be wary of where you step, there could be compromised parts of the roof, water pooling in an area, etc.
2. Make Sure to Take Care of Simple Things
Since you’re already up there, do clean any debris, sticks or other types of items that you might find up there. Look for any obvious signs of damage, such as sagging areas, discoloration, or water pooling in certain areas.
3. Do Not Perform Your Own DIY Yet
Before you begin any type of repair, its important to know that making any minor fixtures might potentially void your warranty. We recommend to read on your labor and material warranties first, see if you can contact your roofing contractor and give them a call. Most roofing companies have a clause in their contracts stating their warranty is voided after repairs are conducted by other companies or people. You do not want this to occur, especially if the roofing company is at fault and therefore responsible for the repairs.
4. Check The Interior
Look at the ceiling and your walls for any signs of leaks or water damage. Inspecting the interior of your commercial building is just as important and helps you know what’s going on with your roof. Besides, its easier than climbing up on the roof. Watch out for any water stains, leaks or water dripping from the ceiling.
Commercial Roof Maintenance by Your Exterior Contractor
If you opt for having your roof maintenance routine done by a certified roofing contractor, they will make your life easier. Basic maintenance services from a roofing company includes them checking for damage, any signs of potential or future areas of damage, color discoloration and more. The greatest benefit of having a roofer be part of your team is that they are able to detect early damage and act accordingly. This not only saves the integrity of your roof but also saves you money in the long run.
Not sure where to start? Ask your local roofer. They will be able to provide different maintenance options after installation. However, a good roofing company will also be able to advise you on your current roof, even if they did not install it. Ask for their basic and higher end plans to know what you’re getting and what’s best for you.
A standard maintenance plan includes: complete roof reports and warning signs, advice and timeline for each problem area, coverage of repairs. Some companies even provide no leak guarantees. Always read the fine print and ask the roofing contractor if you have any questions. The plan is also made of three essential factors, these are: roof inspections, cleaning services and necessary repairs. Of course, the repair and costs are addressed separately from the plan payments. Do ask your roofing contractor if they offer any discounts when added to their maintenance plan.
Cost of Commercial Roof Maintenance in the Midwest
The cost of the maintenance plan depends mostly on the size and length of your roof. Typically, plans cost between $0.05-$0.07 per square foot. This is an average for the Midwest, but we do recommend to inquire first, inflation and material shortages have made prices fluctuate in the past year, usually skewing on the higher end. Obviously, the larger the roof size is, the higher the maintenance costs. Of course, other costs are added as well, depending on the roof’s layout, pitch, condition and how easily accessible it is.
If, for example, the roof is not easily accessible or requires additional equipment for access, then these additional costs will be added to the overall price. The condition of the roof is another important factor. A roof in good or fair condition will cost less for maintenance than one that requires constant upkeep. Lastly, the other factor to keep in mind is how many layers and what material of the roof is currently installed. For example, EPDM roofing material costs less than PVC.
Is a Roof Maintenance Plan Worth It?
The answer depends on each owner. Statistically speaking, roof replacements and major repairs costs thousands of dollars for commercial buildings. By the time you find an issue, it might be too late. Repairs not only take place in the area of damage, but contractors need to take extra measurements and remove larger areas around the perimeter in order to make sure the area of damage is contained. Normally, commercial buildings do need to more attention because of the upfront investment that has been put in. This is something we do recommend.
With a good roof maintenance plan, your roof is well maintained and secure. Not sure which plan option is best for you? We recommend to ask your local contractor and start with the basic option first and see how you like it. If you think you can get a better bang for your buck and want to upgrade, that is another potential option as well. See what the premium coverage has to offer and if its the better option.
Conclusion
We hope to have brought more insight into the ins and outs of commercial roofing maintenance. While this is a general explanation, contact your local company to see their offers and stipulations. They might even come inspect the roof first and can custom make packages for you. It depends on which roofer you work with. Contact Oscar Roofing if you’re in the Indianapolis area, we have over 20 years of commercial roofing maintenance experience. From installations, repairs to routine maintenance, we do it all. Click here to contact us. Also, check out some of our projects here.
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