When planning to replace or repair your current commercial roof system, you want to not only provide the best possible roof for your building but also ensure the longevity of your roof.

As a commercial building owner or property manager, it is your responsibility to make sure the best practices and procedures are in place after repairs or a new roof is installed, to increase the lifespan of your roof and save money.

If you want to increase the lifespan of your roof, you should try to avoid these common commercial roofing mistakes:

1. Hiring an Inexperienced Contractor:

Hiring a qualified and experienced roofing contractor is key. If you try to handle repairs yourself or use a general handyman, you are likely to run into problems and run the risk of possibly making your repairs worse. Most handymen are not trained on how to properly install commercial roofing materials or what materials need to be used. A knowledgeable experienced roofing contractor will be able to identify the cause of any problems and fix them quickly and correctly.

2. Using Low-Quality Materials:

The materials you and your roofing contractor choose to put on the roof will have a big impact on longevity. Since low-slope commercial roofs do not drain as easily as residential steep-slope roofs, it’s important to choose materials that will be able to withstand things such as ponding water or ice in the colder months.

3. Having Improper Drainage:

Because low-slope roofs do not drain as easily as steep-slope roofs, it’s important to make sure your roof has proper drainage. If your roof does not have good drainage this will lead to ponding water and debris build-up. This will lead to water damage and eventually leaks into your building.

4. Ignoring Signs of Damage:

Minor signs of roof damage such as areas of the membrane lifting or small holes in the membrane may not seem that important to fix right away. However, these small issues will almost always lead to bigger problems. If you notice signs like this, you should have a roofing contractor look at it. Even if you cannot see any major issues, there may be hidden damage already.

5. Lack of Maintenance and Inspections:

Even the best roofing systems and materials need regular inspections and maintenance. It’s important to schedule annual inspections with a roofing contractor because they will be able to spot issues you did not realize were there. Spotting these issues early prevents you from having to pay for major repairs or even a complete reroof. You should also clean your roof as often as you can to prevent debris from clogging your drains or creating any other damage to the roof.

 

Properly taking care of your commercial roof will help to increase the lifespan of your roof and save you money along the way. The key to keeping your roof in good condition is regular inspections and maintenance and using a qualified contractor like Independent Roofing for all your repairs.