Out of sight, out of mind: you know the old saying. It is applicable in so many situations, but perhaps none more so than your roof. When was the last time you had the roof on your commercial office building inspected by a trained service technician? It has probably been a while. Roofs are often neglected until a problem arises. And they are almost never replaced until it is absolutely necessary. But there is a better way!
If you have ever visited our blog before, you know we believe in proactive, preventive maintenance as a way to avoid emergency repairs, extend the life of your equipment or, in this instance, your roof, and save you money. For these reasons (and more), the National Roofing Contractors Association recommends conducting roof inspections twice a year: spring and fall. Furthermore, it is a good idea to inspect your roof after any major storms. And Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia have been hit with more than their fair share of storms this winter.
When was your last roof inspection?
11 Reasons to conduct Regular Roof Inspections
- The average life of a roof is somewhere between 15 and 30 years, depending on the style of the roof. Regular roof inspections help ensure your roof lasts closer to the 30 year mark by addressing normal wear and tear as it occurs. Remember the old adage a stitch in time saves nine? The same theory holds true for your commercial roof.
- It is important to clean debris from your roof from time to time. This debris can range from tree branches to manmade objects. Items left on roofs can become flying objects in high winds, which pose an immediate threat to your roof.
- As we have mentioned, it has been a harsh winter throughout Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. As a result, your roof has taken a beating: wind damage, hail damage, and other storm damage. Roofs should be inspected immediately following weather events to prevent further damage due to water infiltration.
- After a snow storm, remove snow around HVAC condenser coils. After thunderstorms, hail, and heavy winds, check to make sure that rooftop mounted HVAC units were not damaged and remove all debris and leaves.
- Oh no, is that a leak? The primary trigger of roof inspections across the country, roof leaks may be a sign of a more serious problem. It takes a trained professional to conduct a thorough leak investigation and diagnosis. Remember, the source of the leak may be far away from the detection point.
- Drainage is IMPORTANT. We cannot stress that enough. Leaves, trash, debris can clog or obstruct roof drains, creating pools of standing water, which increase the likelihood of leaks and moisture infiltration.
- When not cleaned regularly, roofs can develop vegetation. Roots can penetrate through the roof membrane and create leakage, which is bad news. Regular roof inspections can help solve these issues before they become issues.
- Another important part of roof maintenance: cleaning. This cost-effective task can save business owners tons of money in the long run.
- An often overlooked benefit of regular roof inspections is safety and security. When skylights or roof hatches are damaged or left unlocked, it puts your entire commercial facility at risk.
- When a leak is detected, a business owner should have a qualified person perform an inspection to determine whether or not to file a warranty claim.
- Finally, regular roof inspections help facility managers identify needed improvements.
Regular roof inspections are a great way to keep your roof in tip-top shape.
To learn more about Roof Inspections, maintaining your rooftop HVAC units, or how Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. can help you with your commercial integrated facilities maintenance needs in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia, please contact us by calling 202.600.2787 or email sales@crockett-facilities.com or submit a form for a service quote. You can also follow CFSI on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google+ for up-to-date tips for preventive maintenance for your heating and cooling systems and your mission-critical data center cooling equipment.
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