Commercial Roofing Repairs: How Spotting Small Problems Early Can Save You Big Money

A commercial roof is like anything else that gets wear and tear — a little problem can turn into a big one if you’re not paying attention. Not only does it cost more to repair a big problem, but when you’re dealing with commercial roofing repairs, it can cost you more in energy expenses, too.

What are the signs of roofing system damage?

Even the most resilient roofing materials deteriorate over time. There’s no way around that. Debris, excessive heat, wind, pooling water, and other naturally occurring events can speed up deterioration. And when service technicians access your roof to work on HVAC or other systems, they’re often unaware that dropping tools or simply walking in the wrong place can puncture the roof membrane. Once water starts to get inside the roofing system, damage to your building starts as well.

The magnitude of the commercial roofing repairs you’ll need as a result are often based on how quickly you find the problem.

When your roofing professional inspect your roof, they’ll look for:

• Signs of building movement
• Ponding water and drainage issues
• Roof attachment failure points
• Damaged or compromised insulation
• Punctures and tears
• Gaps in flashing and penetrations
• Rusted metal
• Material failure that could be under warranty

Other roofing problems you can spot yourself — from the inside.

Let’s hope it doesn’t get that bad, but be on the lookout for:

• Water stains on the ceiling
• Mold or odd odors
• Wet or rotting wood

The only way to know is to look

Physically inspecting your entire roof is the only way to know if there’s a problem. You can have a roof leak for years and not know about it if the water is being diverted to places you can’t see, like inside walls.

With regularly scheduled maintenance your commercial roofing repairs will typically be minor. Major repairs can be scheduled for when it’s not raining outside — which is much better on the budget. And much better for your peace of mind.

At Sentry Roof, we understand managing all the aspects of a commercial property can be challenging so we make the roofing portion easy for you. With our Sentry Roof Care annual maintenance program we contact you when it’s time to schedule your roof maintenance appointments and each visit includes debris removal, inspection, minor repairs and sealing, reports, photos, budgeting recommendations, and more. Please feel free to contact us if you’d like more information.