How to Prolong the Life of Your Commercial Roof

Your commercial building is most likely one of the most significant investments you’ve made in your business. So it stands to reason that you’d want to make every part of it last as long as possible. The roof is one of those integral parts of your building that you want to take care of—without a roof, your business won’t be able to operate, leading to lost revenue and downtime.

With more than 80% of commercial roofs being replaced prematurely, business owners should consider how they can increase the lifespan of their roofing systems.

Thankfully, with the right maintenance, a commercial roof can last for over 20 years[1]. A routine roof maintenance plan is essential to ensure longevity, maintain your warranty, and get the most out of your roofing system.

Why Roof Maintenance Should Be a Top Priority

Keeping your roof in tip-top shape is essential if you want to prolong the life of your commercial roof and avoid replacing it prematurely. Regular inspections and repairs will help you stay on top of potential issues, positively impacting your business operations in the long run.

Why Roof Maintenance Should Be a Top PriorityHere are five benefits of maintaining your commercial roofing system:

  1. Manage your expenses: When a roofing emergency happens, you often have a hefty bill. But with a maintenance plan, you can build regular inspections and minor repairs into your budget in a manageable way. Additionally, when you invest in roof maintenance, you extend the life of your roof and save money on premature replacements.
  1. Prolong your roof’s lifespan: A roof maintenance plan can help you identify minor issues before they become major ones. The plan allows you to fix said issues before they become irreversible damage, allowing you to get the most out of your commercial roof.
  1. Reduce the risk of liability: A faulty roof is a recipe for disaster. You could find yourself dealing with water leaks, mold, structural damage, or injuries to your employees or visitors. When you actively maintain your roof, you can avoid these problems and reduce your liability exposure.
  1. Increase your property value: A well-maintained roof is an asset to your property while you own it and if you decide to sell or lease it. A history of maintenance, inspections, and repairs can increase your property’s value.
  1. Maintain your warranty: Most roofing companies offer a warranty on their products. However, most require regular inspections and maintenance to qualify for the warranty. It’s essential to keep up with these requirements if you want your roof to stay under the manufacturer’s warranty.

8 Commercial Roof Maintenance Tips to Extend Its Lifetime

In recent years, reports have shown that roofs only last half of their projected lifetimes[2] —that means you’re only getting 10 years out of a 20-year roof. With the average cost of a commercial roof being anywhere from $11 to $17 per square foot plus labor, you’d be spending a minimum of $220,000 every ten years versus 20 years for a 20,000-square-foot property. That is a substantial amount of money that could be better invested in other areas of your business.  

So, what can you do to extend the lifespan of your commercial roof? Here are eight tips to help your roof last as long as possible.

1. Schedule semi-annual roof inspections with professionals

Schedule semi-annual roof inspectionsThe National Roofing Contractors Association recommends semi-annual roof inspections and maintenance to keep your roof in its best condition. These inspections help ensure you’re addressing issues before they become untenable. By hiring a professional, you can rest assured that every corner and potential issue is being assessed and addressed.

Not all leaks, cracks, and weak spots will be noticeable to the untrained eye. You may go up to the roof and think everything looks great, but a trained professional can go in with their years of experience and identify issues that might have been overlooked otherwise.

2. Get needed repairs completed immediately

When your roof needs repairs, they must be completed immediately. Many roof repairs can be minor inconveniences, but they can become much larger issues if left to their own devices. A great example of this is leaks—a small leak might not seem like an emergency, but the longer you leave it, the more of an emergency it becomes. It can affect multiple areas of the building, including electrical units and other equipment, and has the added risk of making the roof collapse.

By addressing issues immediately, you can save yourself money and extend the life of your roof.

3. Check the roof after storms

Here in New Jersey, we enjoy experiencing all four seasons. And while it’s lovely for residents, it does mean that you need to pay extra attention to your roof during certain times. It’s essential to check your roof after storms. Especially in fall and winter, checking your roof after a storm lets you clear away debris. This includes removing leaves, branches, dirt, and any other blockages from drain pipes. Clogged drain pipes can lead to leaking, cracking, or flooding, so ensuring your drain pipes are always clear can help maintain the integrity of your roof.

4. Clear the roof after snow

Too much additional weight on your roof can stress membranes, ultimately impacting their strength and durability. Snow is a very common additional weight in New Jersey’s winter months. When it snows, it’s important to clear the snow from your roof safely to protect it from damage.

5. Keep it clean

Keeping your roof clean can help keep algae, moss, and other unwanted organisms at bay. These issues can wreak havoc on elements of your roof system, such as sealants, so it’s essential to keep it clean to avoid this kind of problem.

6. Trim nearby trees

While keeping your roof clean and free of debris is essential, trimming the trees near your building is another step you can take to keep your roof free from debris. Keeping trees tidy and pruned will cut back on cleaning your roof, reduce the chances of debris building up, and give animals less access to relocate their homes to your building.

7. Avoid walking on the roof unnecessarily

Avoid walking on the roofWhile inspections and cleaning should be considered essential activities, limiting the amount of foot traffic crossing your commercial roof is important. The roof shouldn’t be used as a place to hang out, and if you find the space needs to be used regularly, install walking pads to buffer the weight and reduce damage caused by frequent walking. This will help to increase the longevity of your commercial roof.

8. Maintain your warranty

Staying on top of your warranty responsibilities is essential to prolonging the life of your roofing system. Your roof’s manufacturer can help you with the cost of repairs and premature replacements, but only if you uphold the warranty responsibilities. Manufacturers set these responsibilities because they know this is the best way to maintain your roof.

While all warranties are different, most require that all repairs made to a warranted roof be performed by a manufacturer-certified installer/service provider. Additionally, lack of ongoing, regular maintenance is often listed as a circumstance that voids or excludes the warranty. So, if you have not stayed on top of your regular maintenance, you won’t be able to rely on your warranty.

Proper Maintenance is Essential for Extending the Life of Your Commercial Roof

At NU-TEK Roof Systems, we understand the importance of preventative maintenance to prolong the life of your roof and keep it under warranty. We know the true cost of a roof replacement is more than $11 to $17 per square foot of roofing—it’s the downtime, the replacement of other damaged equipment, and more.

Want to get the most life out of your commercial roof? Download our free Warranty Compliance Checklist today to extend the lifespan of your roof.

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