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If you run a business, one of the most important things you need is a roof over your head. Commercial roofs help provide shelter for both customers and employees, ensuring that the building maintains its usable condition.
A problem in the roof can lead to the closure of your business for a few days, which can cause significant loss of money and even potential customers. With that said, you must perform regular commercial roofing maintenance and understand how to extend the life of your commercial roof.
This also implies understanding the different issues that can reduce the roof's lifespan and how you can prevent these problems from occurring. We’ll take you through everything you should know about extending the lifespan of commercial roofs.
Causes of Commercial Roof Deterioration
Different problems can affect commercial roofs, and these problems are due to various factors. In some cases, these factors can be controlled; sometimes, they are beyond our control, such as if it’s a weather-related concern.
It’s important to always look out for factors that can cause your roofing system to fail or deteriorate. Weather can affect the roof's lifespan and cause it to deteriorate.
Basically, the roof is designed to prevent snow and rain from entering the property and keep the interior comfortable by providing shelter from sunlight and blocking out wind. As the roof protects your business and building against changing weather conditions, it’s important to note that these elements leave some damage on the roof.
Spring showers
Showers in April can bring flowers in May, but this damages commercial roofs, especially in areas with heavier rainfall. Commercial roofs are mostly flat, and if they are not correctly installed and maintained, rainwater can accumulate on the roof and cause damage over time as the water will start to seep through the roofing material and cause damage.
Summer heat
After the rainy spring comes the summer sun, but the heat from the sun and ultraviolet rays from the light can cause problems for commercial roofs. The roof can absorb the rays from the sun, and this can cause a breakdown in the roof materials over time.
Excessively high temperatures can also cause the materials to expand uncontrollably and shrink when the temperatures drop. Repeated contraction and expansion of the roof can cause further deterioration in the roofing materials.
Fall season
The fall season is usually rough for many because of the different transitions. This season is generally characterized by temperature fluctuations and intense storms, both of which can reduce the lifespan of commercial roofs.
Winter snowstorms
Snowstorms during the winter season can cause accumulation on commercial roofs, thereby increasing the load on the roof. As mentioned earlier, commercial roofs are flat, so the snow will linger on the surface for a long time and can only melt when the temperature increases. The additional weight on the roof can cause serious damage, like a roof collapse.
How to Keep Your Roof in Optimum Condition
Even though you cannot protect your roof from rain, hail, or snow, there are different things you can do to safeguard your commercial roof and keep it in peak condition. Here are some of the approaches you can apply to extend the life of your commercial roof:
Clean the roof regularly
Depending on the height of the commercial building, debris like leaves and gravel can fall on the roof, and it’s important to clean it regularly. Without regular cleaning, the debris can accumulate and increase the weight on the roof. This can also lead to the accumulation of water on the roof, which can trigger the growth of mildew, mold, and other vegetative growth.
Cleaning the roof regularly includes collecting the debris from the surface, including the debris in the gutters, and draining accumulated water away from the building and roof. Another benefit of cleaning your commercial roof is that it increases the effectiveness of reflective roof coating.
Keep trees pruned
Trees around the commercial building offer different benefits, some of which include saving in cooling costs and also providing shade on hot summer days. They can make your business appear more inviting. However, trees can grow and start to hang over the roof of your property, and this can increase the potential for damage.
If you have trees near your property, you must ensure they are not within striking distance of the roof. Always keep the trees pruned and trimmed to lower the risk of damage to the roof. You can also get the service of a professional tree service to maintain and manage trees in close proximity to your property.
If you’re thinking of planting new trees close to your property, you’ll need to consider the height of the tree and the possibility of it hanging over your property. With the help of a tree service, you can easily determine the best location to plant trees.
Fix damages immediately
Fixing damage quickly reduces the chance of the issue spreading to other parts or becoming more complex. After a snowstorm, heavy rain, or thunderstorm, it’s advisable to have the commercial roof checked by a professional. If there’s any damage on the roof, the best thing is to get it fixed immediately to prevent water damage and other issues from developing.
Consistent roof maintenance
Performing regular and consistent commercial roof maintenance is a great way to prevent small issues from transforming into more complex issues. It’s also a great way to stay proactive and maintain your roof's structural integrity. To increase the life of your roof, here are some vital things to include in your maintenance program:
- Clear the roof immediately after snowstorms.
- Inspect the perimeter and flashing to ensure no punctures, cracks, or leaks.
- Perform inspection after hailstorms, heavy winds, or thunderstorms.
- Canvass the roof surfaces for signs of damage.
- Clean the roof and gutters regularly and remove debris.
- Hire a roofing professional to fix issues after they are detected.
Conduct roof inspection
Whenever the problem on a commercial roof becomes so serious that it can be detected even without going on the roof, a simple fix will not be enough to solve the problem. By scheduling regular roof inspections with a professional roofer, you can stay updated on the condition of your commercial roof.
Also, whenever the inspector detects any issue, they can recommend solutions to fix the problem. The big question is, how often should you get a roof inspection? Getting a commercial roof inspection at least twice a year is usually recommended, and this should be from a licensed roofing company.
Also, you can schedule the inspection in early spring to fully determine the damages caused by winter conditions and the other inspection in autumn to ensure no leaves are left on the roof. You can also assess damages caused by the heat and sun of the summer season.
Rely on Commercial Roofing Experts
A professional roof inspection is an excellent way to extend the lifespan of your roofing system. These inspections will help prevent roofing issues, maintain roof warranty, verify that past problems stay corrected, fix issues created when working on the roof, save your business money, and increase the lifespan of your roof.
The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to perform commercial roof maintenance or inspection independently. You can hire an expert roofing company to handle this task for your business. These roofing experts come fully equipped to handle all roofing needs. They will help you identify and resolve any issue with your roofing system, thereby increasing the lifespan of your roof.
