5 Commercial Roof Maintenance Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Across the United States, commercial rents are rising and threatening the viability of independently-owned businesses. For this reason, a lot of business owners choose to own commercial real estate.

However, when you own your business property, you have a lot more responsibilities. You’ll want to take care of your building much like you take care of your home. This includes your commercial roof.

To keep your roof in good shape, avoid these commercial roof maintenance mistakes.

1. Fixing Things Only When They Break

One of the most common commercial roof maintenance mistakes is only fixing things when they break. You know the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but that doesn’t apply here.

Letting your roof deteriorate until visible and obvious issues arise is never a smart idea. It’s affordable and effective to complete regular roof maintenance to prevent big problems from occurring down the line.

2. Not Getting Insulation

When creating a roof maintenance budget, you should always consider insulation. The correct amount of insulation will improve the roof’s efficiency and weather performance.

A commercial roofing expert recommends keeping an eye on insulation.

Moist insulation can cause premature deterioration of your roof’s material. Insulation can prevent excess buildup.

3. Relying on Temporary Fixes

Commercial roof issues have various temporary fixes, but you’ll eventually need to find a long-lasting solution.

For example, you can use roof mastic and duct tape to stop a roof leak until an expert arrives. The fix isn’t designed to last forever.

A permanent solution, while costly, is the best option. In the long run, you’ll be saving more money because you won’t have to fix the problem over and over.

4. Fixing the Problem Yourself

Unless you understand the art of repairing roof damage, you aren’t going to do a better job than a professional. A DIY fix is actually one of the worst things you can do to your commercial roof.

Yes, you’ll save on labor costs, but what if you make the problem worse while attempting to fix it? Trying to fix a roof issue on your own might lead to premature failure of the roof and early replacement.

Always hire a professional that focuses on your type of roof. For example, if you have a metal roof, hire commercial metal roof repair services.

5. Stepping on Your Roof

During roof maintenance or inspection, you might go up to your roof. However, be mindful of where you step.

If you end up stepping on an area of your roof that is structurally weak, you could cause damage to it. You might not notice the damage your weight has caused until later down the line when it turns into a larger problem.

Commercial Roof Maintenance Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

A commercial roof is a large investment that business owners tend to forget about. If you want your roof to last, you need to avoid these common commercial roof maintenance mistakes.

Consider a maintenance plan, get the right insulation level, and don’t rely on temporary fixes. Always call an expert and avoid stepping on the roof when you can.

For more helpful business tips like this, check out the other posts on our website.