If you’ve noticed water stains on the interior walls of your building – or worse yet, you’ve noticed leaks on the ceilings or walls – it is past time to call in an expert. A professional roofing contractor will conduct a commercial roof inspection to identify the source of the intrusion, hopefully before the situation becomes too serious. If left unaddressed, a roof leak can have catastrophic effects on your building and the health of the people inside it.

Did You Know? Once a leak is discernible inside the building, it may be quite serious up on the roof. Call for a commercial roof inspection immediately.

Why is Routine Commercial Roof Inspection Vital?

Your roof represents approximately 30% of the entire building structure – but it covers and protects 100% of the assets that reside below it. Still, many property owners never think about the roof until there is an issue. What they may not realize is that a roof is under constant attack from sun, rain, wind, debris, foot traffic, and even chewing critters. Although the roof is tough, it is easy for these adverse conditions to cause damage, erosion, or deterioration over time. By scheduling regular inspections, facilities managers can guarantee that they catch problems early – and before equipment and tenants are vulnerable to drips falling from the ceiling.

By proactively checking the roof for issues, contractors can discover and fix minor issues, potentially saving the building owners significant amounts of money.

How Often Should a Roof Be Inspected?

Experts agree that commercial roofs should be inspected at minimum twice annually. You may also wish to have the roof inspected after a significant weather event, such as a tornado, hurricane, or hailstorm. You may also wish to check the roof if there have been excessive amounts of rain, as water can begin to pool if drains become clogged and water backs up.

Committing to a regular maintenance plan for your commercial roof can greatly reduce the likelihood of recurring issues and help to extend the longevity of the roofing system.

Common Issues Identified During Commercial Roof Inspections

These are the issues that professional roofing contractors typically look for and identify during an inspection:

Ponding water, drains clogged with debris, compromised roof slope (i.e., depressed insulation)
Rust/corrosion around penetrations and fasteners
Storm damage, including hail and debris
Damage due to UV rays and sun exposure, such as drying/cracking of seals and roofing material
Structural or thermal movement
Punctures, cracks, and tears in the roof surface caused by weather conditions, mechanical damage, or worker foot traffic
Dirt, mold, and other surface contaminants
Breaches due to poor installation or inadequate maintenance protocols

Areas Checked During a Commercial Roof Inspection

Professional roofing contractors performing inspections will work from a multi-point roof inspection checklist that may cover the following points:

Exterior walls, roof edge, fascia/coping, expansion joints, roof penetrations (vents, skylights, exhaust fans), flashing and seams
Roof drainage system including gutters, downspouts, and scuppers
Field of the roof, including surface condition, rust/corrosion, ponding water, and granule loss
Substrate firmness, level, and slope
Interior roof deck, ceilings, and interior walls
Rooftop HVAC systems, communication equipment, signage, or solar panels

The amount of time required to complete a comprehensive commercial roof inspection primarily depends on the size of the roof, but also will vary based on the roof type(s), number of penetrations/HVAC units, construction/design of the roof and any accessibility challenges. Still, you can expect the inspection to last no more than a couple of hours.

Unicoat Industrial Roofing is dedicated to ensuring that your roof is in top condition – and that it lasts as long as possible. Our innovative roof coating systems can extend the life of your roof by decades, and our maintenance programs ensure that small issues don’t escalate into large catastrophes. Call us today to learn more,