Do not wait to contact your contractor if you notice any signs of roof damage. You may not realize that what you think is a minor problem could be a sign of escalating issues. This can cause problems in other areas of your building, putting your property and livelihood at risk.
Learn to Recognize Damage
As a property manager, CFO, or any other professional, you have the responsibility to protect both your employees and your investments. Imagine two scenarios:
Property Manager A receives complaints about streaks and leaks but doesn’t consider them serious enough to warrant action. Over a year, the leaks worsen. By the time a contractor arrives, water damage and moisture have spread to the walls and insulation, causing parts to swell and potentially compromising structural integrity. Major repairs are required, and additional contractors may need to inspect the rest of the building.
Property Manager B is in a similar position but recognizes these complaints as red flags. Upon inspection, they see water standing in a dip and immediately call a contractor. Together, they find an immediate solution, requiring only a few commercial roofing repairs, costing a fraction of what Manager A would have to pay.
Annual maintenance is another way to prevent damage. A professional roofer can recognize early signs of roof damage and has the right tools and techniques to inspect every part of your roof, including the fascia, parapet walls, drip pans, and more. They can identify any damage caused by previous repairs, check for leaks, and determine the cause.
Consider this: any water leakage into your building can lead to corrosion, mold, mildew, and rodent infestations. Mold can cause health problems and is an eyesore. Dripping water on tile or hardwood floors can also pose a safety risk. Pooling water can attract mosquitoes, a health risk in themselves, and if not properly drained, standing water can cause more damage to your roof.
Why It’s Urgent
It is crucial to act quickly at the first sign of roof damage. Delaying repairs can lead to increased stress and expensive projects. Standing water on the roof could indicate a broken roof deck beam or previous wet conditions.
Let’s contextualize the problem with another story. A hotel hired a contractor to do roofing who came in on budget and ahead of schedule by cutting corners. Inadequate flashings, reused old cap metal, wrong-sized roofing sheets, and inferior products were used. The owners thought they got a good deal until storms hit. Leaks and moisture appeared but seemed minor, so they postponed contacting a roofing contractor. When a tropical storm hit, the poor workmanship led to uplift pressure blowing back roofing material. Now, the hotel faces legal issues with the roofer and must find a new, reputable roofer to fix the job. If they’d called a reputable roofer initially, they could have prevented this.
Avoid Major Damage: A Preventative Guide
Adopt a proactive approach to roofing to prevent hazardous situations. Here are five simple steps to get you started:
Hire a Reputable Commercial Roofing Contractor to Assess Your Roof
Perform a routine roof maintenance inspection at least once a year. If you suspect any problem, do it again as soon as possible. Do not wait until the next regular inspection.
Request Quotes from Reputable Commercial Roofing Contractors
Ask for an inspection report, photos, and a tailored plan. Expect the price to increase if they quote you without a proper inspection.
Start Repairs Quickly and Thoroughly
Once confident in your contractor choice, get the project underway as soon as possible. Prevent damage from spreading or worsening. Address the initial damage efficiently and thoroughly.
Regularly Inspect for Potential Damages
Regular maintenance inspections by trusted contractors can prevent minor damage from becoming severe. Regular inspections keep your roof in top condition, minimizing damage from major events like hurricanes.
Not all severe damage can be prevented, but regular maintenance helps to avoid minor and average problems from becoming major ones.
Take Action Now!
Do not wait any longer to ensure the integrity of your roof. Old Time Roofing is qualified to identify issues and develop a strategy to quickly fix your roof and protect your business. Do not hesitate to contact us or call us at 727-390-7171 in case of a roofing emergency.
This post was written by Ted Williams! Ted is the owner of A Old Time Roofing which is the premier roofing company that offers St Petersburg FL roofers! Ted is a Master Elite Weather Stopper GAF Roofing Contractor, a double award winner of Best Steep-Slope Contractor from GAF and achiever of Master Elite Consumer Protection Excellence from GAF. He has been serving the Pinellas County area since 1978. Old Time Roofing has a tradition of quality workmanship, servicing residential and commercial properties.
