Regular maintenance is crucial to the performance and life span of a commercial roof system. And by keeping your commercial roof functional and in excellent condition, you can ensure the safety of your building and its occupants.
Furthermore, proper roof maintenance keeps you from dealing with the hassle of expensive repairs that could be disruptive to business. It’s also important to note that roofing issues that are left ignored can eventually affect operations as well as the comfort of the occupants — the impact of which can potentially be felt through a decrease in profits or a dip in employee productivity.
Considering these things, you have to give commercial roof maintenance due to importance. Having a commercial roof maintenance plan can help you achieve consistency when it comes to the upkeep of your roof system.
Read on to learn more about commercial roof maintenance plans.
What Is a Commercial Roof Maintenance Plan?
A commercial roof maintenance plan is a program to conduct regular inspections, cleaning and maintenance of commercial roofing. It is facilitated by a roofing contractor, and its aim is essentially the prevention of severe roof damage. Furthermore, a commercial roof maintenance plan offers a convenient way for building owners and managers to ensure that the roof remains under warranty and in good shape.
There are three types of commercial roof maintenance plans:
- A contract requiring the contractor to regularly visit the facility for a visual roof inspection and report as well as gutter and drain cleaning
- A contract requiring gutter and drain cleaning, debris removal, visual roof inspection, small general repairs and a report
- A contract requiring gutter and drain cleaning, debris removal, full roof inspection, medium general repairs, roof survey and a report
Why Is a Commercial Roof Maintenance Plan Important?
A commercial roof maintenance plan is obviously beneficial to building owners and managers because it enables the proper care and regular upkeep of the roofing. But apart from keeping the roof in tiptop condition, a commercial roof maintenance plan is also crucial to the validity of your roofing warranty.
Remember that the person in charge of the facility or building is responsible for maintaining the roof system. If the roof is not regularly inspected, cleaned and repaired, the roofing warranty could be voided in the event that a leak or some other issue develops. This could cost you a lot of money since the warranty will no longer be there to cover the expenses.
Typically, a commercial roofing warranty requires at least one roof inspection by an authorized contractor per year. Through these annual inspections, you can have the roof checked for current problems and other issues that could potentially occur in the future. Regular inspections also enable you to carry out roof repair before the problem gets worse and requires costlier solutions.
Top Considerations When Creating a Commercial Roof Maintenance Plan
To get started with a commercial roof maintenance plan, you should first hire a company that can effectively run the program. Oftentimes, the original roofing contractor that installed the commercial roof also ends up handling the maintenance. If you plan on sticking with the same company for your commercial roof maintenance plan, you should thoroughly vet the contractor and ensure they are reliable and trustworthy.
Below are some of the top considerations when looking for a company to oversee your commercial roof maintenance plan:
- Communication
Ensure the company maintains good communication practices. They should be able to keep the lines of communication open, regularly updating you and your team and documenting all the work done on your commercial roofing. There should also be a quick way to reach them in case of an emergency.
- Services
Apart from regular roof inspections, your maintenance plan should also include other essential services such as gutter and roof cleaning, debris removal and repairs.
- Reputation
You can’t go wrong with a company that has a good reputation among its past and current clients. One way of learning about a contractor’s integrity is through online review sites.
- Safety
Make sure your roofing contractor performs work with safety measures in place. You can check the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website if a particular company has received safety complaints or committed safety violations.
- Warranty Adherence
One advantage of having your original contractor handle your commercial roof maintenance is that they are already well-versed in your roof warranty guidelines. But if you prefer hiring a different company, make sure they have a good understanding of your roof warranty and they can perform work in accordance with your roof warranty.
Setting Expectations for Your Commercial Roof Maintenance Plan
Here are some tips to help you set the right expectations when initiating a commercial roof maintenance plan:
- Set a Budget. Make sure your budget is realistic. Naturally, you’d want your maintenance program to last all year round. However, it’s also important to set aside money for roofing emergencies. Furthermore, take note that other factors can also affect your budget, including the size of your facility, the location of your facility, how often your contractor would need to visit your facility, etc.
- List the Services You Need. The services covered in your commercial roof maintenance plan should be clear to you and your contractor. Generally, roofing companies can do visual inspections, roof surveys, gutter cleaning, debris removal, major and minor repairs, and roof status reports.
- Agree on a Schedule. Ideally, roof maintenance and repairs should be done at least twice a year. Discuss with your contractor the best times to carry out these tasks so that you’ll know when to expect them. Additional inspections are also usually needed after an extreme weather event.
Get a Free Roofing Quote Today!
Summit Roofing & Restoration, Inc. ensures top-notch craftsmanship for every job entrusted to us. With several years of industry experience, we can guarantee quality roofing systems and first-rate customer service. We offer an array of services including roof replacement and repair, and our team is equipped to handle small and large projects for residential, commercial and industrial clients.
Call (731) 206-3821 (Dyersburg) or (901) 676-7449 (Atoka) to schedule a consultation. You can also fill out our contact form to request a free quote.