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Commercial roofers install, repair, inspect and maintain commercial roofs such as those you find on an office building, shopping malls, schools, churches, etc. Like residential roofs, commercial roofs protect office buildings from the outside elements and are the first line of defense against damage to the building and its contents.
Unlike residential roofs, commercial roofs are made using industrial design specifications, and the materials used are much sturdier. Knowing this, it makes sense that the construction and maintenance of commercial roofs should be left to those experienced in installing commercial roofs. Commercial roofers specialize in maintenance, renovation, repair, and inspecting buildings. Read more here.
Why Your Business Needs A Commercial Roofer
For business owners, it’s a must to have a professional to keep your roof in good shape to prevent damages to your building that can cost you time and money. Many people don’t think about calling a professional until they are already experiencing problems which is a mistake since regular maintenance and inspections can prevent many problems by taking preventive measures.
Most people aren’t aware that commercial roof needs are more complex than residential roofs. Most commercial roofs have flat roofs because they cost less and provide better protection. However, they are more challenging because of their tendency to collect snow and rainwater. Therefore, these roofs need to be structurally strong enough to support the roof’s weight but also need to be able to withstand damage that rain and snow cause.
Commercial roofs also need to be inspected twice a year, unlike commercial roofs, which your roof should check more often. The inspection process of commercial roofs is more extensive than residential roofs because of the different materials and designs of the roof. It’s the job of a commercial roofer to inspect the quality and condition of the roof and recommend a maintenance schedule.
Commercial Roofing Expert Services
Commercial roofers provide a comprehensive variety of essential services, and they will be the ones who will take care of installation maintenance and the repair of your commercial roof.
Design
It may come as a surprise to you that in addition to installing a roof that you picked out of a catalog, they can also design one to your specifications. Your commercial roofer looks over the building and then analyzes the roof design. They will have to clear the roof before it can be built. They know what will and will not work and the slopes needed to help prevent water pooling. They will also have to sign off on materials used and make sure that the materials are of good quality.
Inspect
Commercial roofers are the ones you need to call for regular maintenance on your roof. Commercial roofers are trained to know how to inspect a roof properly. They start from the outer perimeter of the roof and work their ways toward the middle. The reason for this is to ensure they don’t forget or overlook an area. Additionally, the roof edges are more susceptible to leaks than the middle.
The roofing contractor will look for unusual signs such as:
- Ponding water
- Holes in the substrate
- Cracks
- Blisters
- Uplifted seams
- Uplifted nails
Areas of problem areas:
- Decking
- Surface membranes
- Roof vents
- Flashing
- Field tears
- Gutters
- Drainage pipes
In addition to inspecting the roof for problem areas, they will also clean debris. Debris like branches, leaves, and other trash will need to be removed so that water quickly drains from your roof. They will also check your gutters and drains to ensure they aren’t clogged and remove any to prevent pooling on the roof. Downspouts can become damaged or crushed from lawn maintenance or vehicles. If they are damaged, they will need to be replaced to prevent any issues.
Installation and Replacement
When deciding on the type of industrial roof that should be installed, considers a few things such as the following items such as:
- The type of equipment needed to be installed on the roof
- What is the required roof load
- Type of protrusions needed
- Where the water will drain
- Amount of foot traffic
- Which system offers the best protection and has the longest life span
- Weather systems and natural disasters
Depending on where the business is located, it may be more prone to natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires which influences the types of roofs they need.
A roof that’s well installed should last for dedicates before needing replacing as long as it’s well maintained. When it comes to having the roof replaced, there are a few steps you need to take to make sure you hire the right contractor to make sure that your roof is installed correctly.
- Request at least three bids from different contractors to compare prices and check out their references and company reviews.
- Select the right roof to accommodate the structure and purpose of your industrial roof. A professional roofer will help you through this process and advise you if a replacement is needed.
- If a replacement is needed, depending on the type of roof selected, your old one will need to be torn off before installing a new one. This process helps determine if any areas need to be repaired before installing the new roof.
- Each roofing system is different based on what’s needed. To determine how long installation will take, the following things are considered.
- Roof deck repair (if needed)
- The type of industrial roofing system
- The size of the roof
- Unexpected weather
- Any permits that are required. Some licenses have specific times and how the work has to be done.
- Upon completion of the installation, you should receive information about any guarantees, warranties, and maintenance programs such as:
- Guarantee covering the roof’s installation
- Warranty that covers materials and parts
- Maintenance program proposal
Don’t Wait to Call A Commercial Roofer Today.
Don’t wait until there’s an issue with your roof before calling a professional roofer. With the proper maintenance, extensive damages to the roof can be prevented. Scheduled inspections discover potential damages before they lead to expensive repairs or internal damage.