Owning a commercial building is a big responsibility. Unfortunately, many owners get so caught up on what’s happening inside the building (including efforts to collect rent) that they neglect what’s happening on the outside.
Your building is an investment, but that investment can be a ticking time bomb if you ignore aspects of maintenance and repair. You can’t collect rent on a building that is unsafe for tenants or property.
Here are 3 common mistakes commercial building owners make with regards to their roofs. Are you making any of these errors? Contact Roberts Roofing today to get an honest inspection of your roof so you know what you might be missing.
1. Lack of Roof Maintenance
You can’t see the roof, so for many commercial building owners, it’s “out of sight, out of mind.” But your roof is continually subject to change based on weather conditions. In Northeast Ohio, we get intense weather for all four seasons, and no roof is impenetrable forever.
Roofing systems need regular inspection and maintenance to maintain their strength and integrity for as long as possible. Problems can arise even when there haven’t been obvious potential hazards such as hail or wind storms. Maintenance includes:
- Examining seams and edges for wear and tear
- Checking for standing water or signs of standing water
- Examining fasteners for integrity
- Examining drainage systems
- Checking for holes, tears and other signs of damage
Put simply: maintenance saves money. Regular commercial building roof maintenance can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in costly repairs.
2. Lack of Understanding of Your Roofing System
Nobody expects you to be an expert on every aspect of your commercial building, but understanding a few details about the type of roofing system you have can help you proactively and properly care for it.
By understanding the type of commercial roof you have, you can know how those systems can fail and watch for relevant signs. An experienced roofer can help you when it’s time to make a decision about partial or total roof replacement.
- Age: Know how old your roof is. If you are unsure, a roofing professional should be able to give you an estimate.
- Warranty: Understand any warranties that may exist for your roof, and know the dates those warranties expire.
- Type: There are so many types of roofing systems, and your roof may be a combination of more than one type. Whether your roof is metal, PVC, EPDM, modified bitumen, built-up or single ply membrane, asphalt, tar or something else, understanding how these materials react to time and weather can help you proactively plan for maintenance and protection to extend the life of your roof as long as possible.
3. Cheaper Isn’t (Always) Better
Total roof replacement can be very costly, but skimping on costs by going to the cheapest provider possible can be a recipe for disaster.
Experienced, professionally trained roofing professionals know that attention to detail, quality workmanship and high-quality materials are all important components to a successful roof replacement. The money you put into your roofing system can save thousands of dollars over the life of the roof, so going with the cheapest provider isn’t always the best option. When it comes to protecting your building, you get what you pay for, and what you need is peace of mind and properly installed, long-lasting protection for your building.
If you get a super low quote that seems too good to be true, be skeptical. Corners may be cut that could come back to bite you down the road.
Replacing Your Commercial Building Roof
When it’s time for replacement, you may assume the best choice is putting on the same type of system. But advances in types of roofing systems and the various materials and components of those systems are always changing and improving. You may not have the best type of roof for your building. Making a different choice could save you a lot of time, hassle and money over the long run. Consult with an experienced roofing professional who will give you their honest opinion on the best type of roof to protect your building.
Trusted Roofing Experts
Roberts Roofing has been serving Northeast Ohio companies for more than 40 years with repair and installation services of nearly every type of commercial building roof available. Contact Roberts Roofing online or call us at 440-946-2233 so we can help.