Spring is Here—5 Signs That Your Roof Could Need a Check Up
As a business owner, one of the most important and most overlooked things is the roof over your business. Luckily, there are some things you can look for to be proactive in the care and maintenance of your roof, and spring is great time to do that.
If Your Roof is Old
You should have a professional commercial roofing company like Wayne’s Roofing inspect your roof every year. We’re experts at identifying any potential points of failure. With continuous maintenance, your roof can live a long and happy life.
However, if your roof is over 20 years old, it’s time to consider your options. With old age, comes the potential for catastrophic failure no matter how often you check it. At this stage, it’s best to ask about replacement options.
If Your Roof is Sagging
In the industry, it’s called “ponding”. That is, when you notice pools of water that never seem to dry from the surface of your roof. Water is the worst enemy of any roof, no matter how new it is. In fact, roofs are designed to drain away water before it has a chance to do any damage. If you notice any standing water on your roof, then the structural integrity may be suffering, causing sagging, and ultimately impeding the natural slope that’ll keep water from standing.
Once your roof starts sagging, it’s only a matter of time before irreversible damage occurs. It’s best to call in a commercial roofer as soon as you suspect there’s a problem. And don’t forget to get an annual inspection—this is something any professional roofer will look for and address.
Your Roof is Shedding Shingles
Shingles act as a hardy exoskeleton for your roof. They repel the elements and are constantly receiving a beating from the sun and weather. With UV light from the sun, constant wind, and pervasive rain, it makes sense that your shingles will eventually start to fall off, especially after a storm.
Once a shingle comes off, you leave the interior of your roof exposed to the elements, and once you get an excess amount of moisture inside your roof, there will be much bigger issues. It’s best to call in a commercial roofer if you start to see missing shingles or find them in your gutters or on the ground.
Your Roof is Missing Its Flashing
Flashing is the material that covers the seams of the exterior portions of your roof, such as the chimney or your rooftop HVAC system. It’s an important feature, as it seals out water at the precise spots where water can find a way in. It’s not uncommon to see areas of your roof where the flashing has been ripped off—typically caused by wind.
The flashing on your roof is what keeps rain and snow from the inside of your building. If you see that flashing has ripped away, call in a commercial roofer so they can do a full inspection, and quickly replace that flashing for you.
Your Roof Isn’t Insulating Like It Used To
One of the most important jobs of a roof is to act as an insulator. Think of it as a hat. In the winter, it keeps your building’s heat from escaping, and in the summer, it keeps heat out by providing protection from the sun—keeping cool air inside.
However, if your roof isn’t doing what it’s supposed to, your building’s heating and cooling system will need to work overtime to compensate. If you notice a sudden change in your utility bills, and you’ve ruled out any mistakes by your power supplier, it’s time to have a roofer come in for a full inspection.
You’re Better Safe—Than Sorry
You know your building better than anyone and you’ve probably done your share of maintenance. For this reason, you know when something changes. You may notice some ponding on the roof long after the last rain. Or maybe you see some missing shingles or flashing. Beyond that, many other things can trigger your sixth sense regarding your building. If you think there might be something wrong, it’s best to play it safe and have your roof inspected.
In fact, it’s better to get ahead of a problem before it even starts! Which is why Wayne’s Roofing offers a Professional Roof Inspection Maintenance Evaluation Program, better known as PRIME.
Maintaining a relationship with a professional roofing contractor is the best way to protect your roof. A roofing contractor’s hands-on experience and knowledge of different types of roofing systems make them the ideal candidate for maintaining and managing your roof system.
Wayne’s Roofing has been one of the leading installers of commercial roofing materials for over 50 years. We pride ourselves on providing personalized service and quality workmanship to our clients. This approach has served as the foundation of the development of our PRIME maintenance program.
Learn more about our PRIME Program HERE.