For most business owners, the roof of your commercial building is about the furthest thing from your mind. You have inventory, customers, services, and overhead to worry about and roofs, for the most part, take care of themselves. The fact of the matter is that while commercial roofing is designed to protect your building for a long time, it’s not as hands-off as you might think and this is especially important for business owners who have bought their commercial property. If you want your offices to serve a long time and sell for a profit if you ever change locations, it’s time to start taking care of your roof today.
The good news is that with the right maintenance steps, you can avoid the expense of major roof repairs because a healthy roof can withstand one or two damaging incidents as long as it is repaired quickly and efficiently. These five tips can help you increase the longevity of your roof and ensure the value of your commercial property over time.
1) Inspect for Leaks Below
The first step to responsible roof ownership doesn’t require a single ladder. Simply walk the entire floor plan of your building from time to time inspecting the ceilings and walls for signs of leaking. Dark spots, mold or musty smells, and the appearance of pooling behind ceiling paint can all be signs of a damaged and leaking roof if not a result of faulty plumbing inside the walls.
2) Trim Trees Growing Above
One of the biggest risks to any roof, commercial or residential, is trees. While it’s true that they are beautiful reaching out over the neighborhood, simply stop and wonder what would happen if one of those huge reaching branches broke loose and fell onto the roof itself? The result is not pretty even if the integrity of your roof survives. To avoid this risk and to reduce the possibility of branches being blown onto your roof during a storm, make sure to trim trees back away from your rooftop on a regular basis.
3) Maintenance Every 6 Months
Roofs go through a lot more wear and tear than most people realize and six months is long enough for a small problem to become a major one, even if it has been undetected the whole time. Whether or not there has been a major storm or significant tree branch movement, make sure to call for a roof inspection and any needed repairs once every six months to make sure that your roof remains in good shape and isn’t sneakily developing a more costly problem.
4) Keep Clear of Debris
Rooftops are hard to get to and dangerous to walk on but every now and then you may need to clear it of piled debris. You might be surprised just how much damage piles of leaves or snow can do to the top of your roof. Primarily, they hold in moisture and can create compromised soggy and soft spots in your roof that will turn into leaks if not structural damage as well. Simply sweeping your roof off from time to time can prevent this much more serious damage.
5) Assess After Major Storms
Finally, the number one risk to any modern roof is a storm. Whether you’ve got a flat top or shingles, the driving winds, pounding precipitation, and occasional flying debris can do a lot of damage to a roof. After every serious storm, from rainstorms to tornadoes, call to have your roof inspected and prepare to need at least a few small repairs.
For more professional advice, tips, and tricks for commercial roofing in Minnesota, contact us today!