Commercial Roof Maintenance Tips

Prevention is the best practice
There is no way to really stop the elements from doing some type of damage to your roof. That is why taking preventive measures, like adding walkways or using better roofing materials is always a good maintenance step.  But in case, you cannot do that, there are some important maintenance steps you can take that will help give your new roof a longer lifespan. Maintenance takes a little work but repair and replacement takes a lot of work.  Plus, those two options are far more expensive than spending some money maintaining your roof.

Create a roofing maintenance plan
This is always a good idea as it can be used to train new maintenance personnel as well as guide your current maintenance workers. Having a good plan of action to follow helps keep your roof in top shape. Here are some tips for what you should include in your plan:

1. Know your roofing material and the tips to keep them in good shape- to all roofing materials can be cared for in the same manner. Knowing the difference helps you prepare maintenance products to lengthen the roof’s life.
2. Create a maintenance budget- different roofing materials cost different prices when it comes to maintaining, repairing, and replacing them. Make sure you have enough money in your roofing budget to buy all the materials needed to maintain the roof.
3. Check your roof warranty- if it covers maintenance then you are well ahead of the game. Your workers can see if the damage is covered and will have a phone number to call in approved roofers to do the work
4. Separate DIY from professional fixes- this section will tell your workers what they can work on and what areas they should not touch but leave to professional roofers. This saves them from making costly mistakes
5. Lay out the process for fixing different roof items- have instructions on what to do if the vents need work, the drip edges need upgrading, and other key roofing components maintenance. These instructions can help avoid making a small problem worse

Tips for maintaining your commercial roof
Most building owners are not roofers. They know how to rent the place out, do general clean up, and so on but when it comes to maintaining a roof, they need tips to guide them. Here are some key tips to guide your roof maintenance program.

#1. Hire someone who knows the roofing material- this is an important decision to make. Regular maintenance workers may not know all the roofing materials or how to maintain them.  Having one person on staff who knows that specific roofing material saves money, and time and spares you a costly repair or replacement cost.

#2. Provide walkways- if there are a lot of people going up on your roof on a daily basis, then have them walk on these walkways. They will spare the degrading of the roofing materials by reducing the foot traffic to none at all.  Keeping your roof in top shape means cutting down on wear and tear as well as accidents. These walkways are for roof workers as well.

#3. Watch the roofing equipment- when workers go up on the roof make sure they are aware that they need to be careful with their tools and roofing equipment.  Accidents can happen even with professional roofers and to keep your roof lasting longer, you need to have the workers avoid damaging the roof with these items.

#4. Pick the right roofing material- some roofing materials are better than others and the best way to maintain your roof is to buy one guaranteed to last for decades.  Sort through the different roofing materials and pick the best option for your building’s situation

#5. Clean the roof- you will want to do this on a regular basis as debris and other items can damage the roof when left alone. Tree branches, dust, and other debris can wear a roof down, clog water vents, and do other damage.  It is best to sweep and wash the roof at least once a month if not more to avoid damage to the roofing material, vents, flashing, and so on.

#6. Schedule regular inspections- you cannot maintain the roof if you do not know something is wrong up there. Regular inspections will spot any areas that need maintenance work.  These inspections help you avoid seeing a very minor problem turn into a very major one. They will cut your roofing expenses down so they are affordable.

#7. Trim overhanging tree branches- moving branches can damage a variety of roofing materials. This means that you need to trim any branches you see hanging over your roof, even if the tree does not belong to you.  Prevention is the best maintenance and this is a great prevention method to utilize.

#8. Fix the problems ASAP- nothing good comes from waiting till later when it comes to roofs. The longer you wait to repair a roof problem, the more expensive and extensive it gets.  Fix all roof issues as soon as you see them to avoid creating a bigger problem than you currently have.

#9. Keep petroleum and other hazardous products off the roof- spills will do a lot of damage. If you need these products on the roof for roofing purposes, watch that you do not tip the cans over or spill the liquids.  Also, make sure to remove the cans as soon as the workers leave for the day. Preventing accidents is good maintenance.  When your building has not had a lot of maintenance done on it, call our company Motor City Roofers. We are Detroit’s go-to roofing company and we handle all sorts of roofing issues.

We can do inspections, maintenance, repair, and even replacement work at an affordable price. Protect your roof by calling in our experts to see what needs to be done to extend your roof’s lifetime. When you want the best results you call in the best. Call our office today.