Is 2020 the Year for a New Commercial Roof?

If your roof is getting old, if it has serious damage, or if it’s just full of outdated materials, then 2020 might be the year for an upgrade. New construction for a commercial roof is a big undertaking, but it’s usually worth the effort. Here are some signs that it’s time to get a new commercial roof.

Reasons to Get a New Commercial Roof

  1. Leaks and damage: Sometimes, leaks can be solved with a simple repair, but often they’re signs that something more serious is going on with the roof. If you have severe leaks, you may have other problems, and it’s probably time for a new commercial roof. Other damage to the roof membranes, flashings, or deck can also signal the need for a new roof.
  2. Investing in the longevity of your building: The cost of a new commercial roof can be off-putting, but the investment goes a long way. New commercial roofs can last for more than 20 years, and they also protect the rest of the building from damage. Without a good roof, your building may be prone to damage from storms or moisture.
  3. Improve energy efficiency: Energy efficiency technology has come a long way in the last few years, and roofs play a large part in how many of those technologies function. A new commercial roof can get better insulation or be fitted for solar panels or some other kind of technology to lower electricity bills and make your building more efficient.
  4. Structural roof damage: Old roofs or roofs that have undergone some sort of accident can become structurally unsound. When this happens, it doesn’t just endanger your roof but the integrity of the entire building. If a roof is sagging or bending, it’s time to get a new commercial roof as soon as possible.
  5. Damage to roof equipment or penetrations: Damage to roof accessories like flashings, drains, or penetrations like skylights can be a cause for a roof replacement. Sometimes, these accessories can’t be replaced, and you will need a whole new roof.
  6. Get a new design: Maybe you want to make your building more green. Maybe you want some nice skylights to wow your clients. A new commercial roof opens up a whole world of design possibilities.

If you’re thinking about starting a new year with a new roof, consider Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. We have nearly 70 years of experience and pride ourselves on the quality of our work. To learn more about how Maxwell can help you get the most from your new commercial roof, contact us today.

How to Maximize the Life of Your Commercial Roof

Commercial roofs are a big investment. Business owners who are about to spend big money on a new roof are probably wondering, What is the life expectancy of a roof? 

Brand new roofs should last long enough to make the building owner’s investment worth it, but that isn’t always the case. So, what is the life of a roof? It depends on how you treat it. There are many factors in determining the life expectancy of a roof. Here are some tips for making that new roof last as long as possible:

1. Schedule regular inspections.

Professional roofing inspections help catch roof problems early on and repair them before they can affect the long-term health of the roof. Facility managers should perform regular self-inspections for obvious roof damage, and a professional should come by a few times a year for a forecast assessment. Roofing forecasts can help predict future maintenance needs and help facility managers plan for upcoming costs.

2. Create a maintenance plan.

Maintenance is the single most important thing that a building owner can do to extend the life of a roof. Using information from professional forecast assessments, building managers should be able to create a detailed schedule for minor repairs and roof part replacements. Programs like our own MAXCare® create no-hassle roof management plans for property owners. MAXCare® automatically schedules maintenance and inspections so property managers never miss an important roof check up. 

3. Plan for emergencies.

Even the best maintenance plan can’t control the weather. Storms, falling trees, and other emergencies are always a risk. To be sure that an uncontrollable calamity doesn’t affect the life of your roof, you should have an emergency plan. Responding quickly in an emergency can prevent the need for a major repair or roof replacement, this is why MAXCare® includes 24/7 emergency response. 

4. Choose more durable materials if buying a new roof.

The typical life of a commercial roof made with conventional materials is anywhere between 10 to 30 years, depending on installation and how it is treated, but what is the life of a metal roof? Metal roofs can last up to 70 years depending on the materials used. If you’re buying a new roof or are in need of a roof replacement, consider a long-lasting material like metal.

To learn more about how to extend the life of your commercial roof, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today.

5 Reasons Comprehensive Roof Assessments Are a Must

Plenty of things can go wrong with a commercial roof system, but it takes a trained eye to find the small problems. Only a trained roofer can tell what parts of a roof need maintenance and repair, which is what makes regular comprehensive roof assessments a must for any facility manager. Here are just a few of the reasons that roof assessments are so important:

1. Stop a small problem before it becomes a big problem.

What’s an almost undetectable maintenance problem today, could become a leak or major repair down the road. Comprehensive roof assessments give roofers a chance to fix the little things before they become big, expensive problems.

2. Proactively plan your budget.

It’s a lot easier to come up with the money for a repair when you know that it’s coming. A regular roof assessment is the only way to know your roof condition, which allows you to plan for whatever maintenance is in the future.

3. Prepare for the changing seasons.

A small puddle in the summer can become an ice blockage during a winter freeze. An assessment gives a roofer a chance to clear the roof of anything that might become an issue when the season’s change, preventing a major problem later on.

4. Ensure you get the most out of your warranties.

Many roof parts and equipment come with good warranties. To take full advantage of these warranties, the roof needs to be well-maintained and the equipment with the warranty needs to be monitored carefully. Regular roof assessments are a chance to make sure everything is functioning as it should be and to cash in on those warranties if it’s not.

5. Extend the life of your roof.

When paired with maintenance, roof assessments are the best way to extend the life of a commercial roof. If left alone, a roof can develop problems that will eventually threaten its structural integrity. With a regular roof assessment, small repairs are completed before they can become a major leak.

6. Save money.

Roof inspections prevent roofs from developing costly problems, saving your business time and money. While there is an upfront cost for an inspection, it’s nothing compared to the cost of a major repair or re-roof.

To learn more about how Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. can help make your roof last longer with regular assessments, contact us today.

How to Prepare Your Commercial Roof for a Nashville Winter

Harsh winter conditions can spell disaster for an unprepared commercial roof. Even Nashville’s mild winters should be a concern for facility managers who want to keep their buildings in good shape. The shift from a hot summer to a cold winter leads to many changes on a rooftop, and if left alone, a roof can crack in the winter or spring a leak. Here are some tips for roof winterization in Nashville.

Why Worry About Winter?

The most common problem that roofs face in winter is the accumulation of ice. Moisture can build up on a roof during the summer and fall. Sometimes, this water can seep into caulking and roof panels or sit inside drains. When winter arrives that water freezes and expands, cracking the roof and creating clogs and leaks. 

How to Prepare a Roof for Winter

Every roof management program should include a plan for the winter transition. In places like Nashville, where snow is not common, roof winterization is typically focused on debris and moisture removal. While regular cleaning can sometimes be done by a general maintenance team, the cleaning in preparation for winter should be done by a professional so that they can properly inspect for clogs and ensure that all the drains are working properly.

Some roofs will also need small repairs in advance of winter. Small separations of roof panels and cracked caulking provide the perfect places for water to seep in. In winter, this water turns into ice and can cause structural problems in the roof or create a leak.

Emergency Response

Preparing an emergency response plan is also critical for winter. Ice storms can cause trees to fall or quickly fill a roof with dangerous debris. It’s critical to have a plan in place that allows you to respond quickly to these roofing emergencies. Having a professional on-call at all times during winter could save your building extensive damage in an emergency situation.

Prepare with a Management Program

Whether it’s winter or spring, all commercial roofs should have preventative maintenance plans to keep them working for the duration of their expected lives. The best way to do this is through a roof management program with a local roofing company. These programs provide customers with everything from forecast assessments to discounted repairs and roof winterization. Some programs, like Maxwell’s MAXCare® program, also provide 24/7 emergency response services to protect their customers’ roofs during extreme weather.

To learn more about how Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc.’s MAXCare program can help you prepare for winter, contact us today.

Commercial Roof Preventative Maintenance 101

Not even the best commercial roofs last forever, but with proper maintenance and preventative care they can last a long time. The key to extending the longevity of any roof is to keep it in the best condition possible. Here are the basics anyone with a commercial roof needs to know about preventative maintenance.

What Is Roof Maintenance?

Roof maintenance encompasses everything from cleaning and repairs to general assessments. If left completely alone, roofs will accumulate debris and small damage. Without intervention, these little problems will worsen, causing the roof to need to be replaced prematurely. 

To maintain a commercial roof, building managers should schedule regular cleanings to remove debris that might cause damage. Yearly inspections are also important to uncover developing leaks and to reveal which specialized roof parts—flashing, gutters, etc.—might need to be replaced.

Good roof maintenance is also critical for complying with factory warranties. Most roofing products come with a guarantee that they will last a certain amount of time. If the manufacturer finds that the roof is not properly maintained, however, it can void the warranty.

How Does Roof Maintenance Save Money?

Roof maintenance can be expensive, but it saves a building owner’s money in the long-term by extending the life of the roof. The best way to save money and still get the benefits of preventative roof care is to join a roof management program, like Maxwell’s MAXCare®

MAXCare helps building owners save on each individual inspection and get discounted repairs. MAXCare customers are also the first priority in an emergency situation, like a storm. With an emergency repair, every minute could cost money in further damage to the roof or other parts of the building.

How Do You Assess Your Roof Maintenance Needs?

With MAXCare, you don’t have to assess your own roof maintenance needs, because a professional will do it for you. Starting with a forecast assessment, a professional roofer will lay out a maintenance schedule for the entire life of your roof, helping you prepare your budget for the future. All roofs have different needs, so it’s best to let a professional handle the planning.

Another advantage of using MAXCare is the program’s industry-leading reporting. Using cutting-edge software, Maxwell technicians log all of their work in one portal so that property managers have easy access to the information they need. With MAXCare, there are never any unwanted surprises or questionable repairs.

To learn more about how MAXCare can help your company keep its commercial roof maintained, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today.

Best Practices for Commercial Roof Drain & Gutter Debris Removal

Leaves and small debris may not seem like something that can damage a hardy commercial roofing system, but if left alone these little messes can turn into major problems over time, causing leaks and other damage. Regularly cleaning gutters and roof drains should be an integral part of any roof management program. Here are some tips for keeping those roofs sparkling clean:

Know your draining system

You’ve probably heard of gutters, but what is a roof drain? Roof drains are typically used on large commercial roofs to drain from the interior part of the roof and not just the edges. Whether you have gutters or a roof drain will change the frequency and type of debris removal that your roof requires. A professional roofer should be able to immediately identify which type of draining system a roof uses and to remove debris accordingly.

Safety first

Whether you’re the one going up on the ladder or you paid a professional to do the job, safety is the most important consideration when removing debris from a roof. Proper safety gear like goggles, gloves, and safety tie offs should be employed during the entire process. It’s also important to consider how the debris will be removed. Throwing leaves and sticks off the side of a roof can be hazardous to people below and workers should consider using bags to store the debris and remove it safely.

Watch out for clogs

A debris cleaning is a great time to examine the gutter and drain systems for clogs and wear and tear. When cleaning a roof, you should also water-test drains and gutters to ensure that moisture on the roof is able to escape properly. Check for loose bolts and screws on gutters, and examine flashings, sealants, and seams for problems. Not just any maintenance worker can do this kind of detailed inspection so it’s important to call in a professional at least a few times a year to make sure everything is working properly.

Prepare for winter

What is just a pile of damp leaves in the fall can become a frozen drain blockage during the winter. Small amounts of water pooling can also become an issue as water seeps into a roof and then freezes and expands. Just because roof debris seems innocuous in the summer doesn’t mean it won’t be an issue later on. Anticipating the change of seasons is an important detail in roof maintenance.

To learn more about how Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal can help keep your commercial roof debris-free, contact us today.

The Benefits of White Reflective Roof Cleaning

White reflective roof membranes, or cool roofs, are one of the most popular choices for commercial roofs. The light color reflects the sun’s rays away from the building, lowering the roof temperature and easing the effects of harmful UV rays. 

It’s true that using a light-colored roof surface can help lower electricity bills and even prolong the life of the roof, but this only works if the roof maintains its light color and reflective properties. The best way to ensure that a cool roof stays cool is to get regular cleanings by a professional roofer. 

Most roof manufacturers recommend building managers have commercial roof cleaning services contracted to be performed at least once a year. While it may be tempting to attempt this cleaning with in-house janitors, roofs require special care. Only certified roofing companies have access to proper commercial roof cleaning products and the safety equipment necessary for performing a precise cleaning.

The Benefits of Commercial Roofing Cleaning

  • Roof cleaning keeps white roofs white. Roofs are a building’s first line of defense against the elements. Roofs are constantly exposed to rain, mud, dirt, pollen, and air pollutants, and even the most cared for commercial roof will eventually become dirty. Only regular cleanings can keep grime from building up and permanently discoloring a roof.
  • Roof cleaning improves energy savings. In order to maintain its heat-reflecting properties, white roofs need to remain free of debris and dirt. A clean roof will better reflect sunlight away from the building, deflecting extreme temperatures and lowering cooling bills.
  • Roof cleaning improves longevity. Not only can dirt and grime make a roof look shabby, it can also lead to damage. Pollutants in the air can build up and break down a roof’s waterproofing materials, causing leaks and holes. Contracting a roof company for commercial roof cleaning services allows opportunity for roofers to uncover small damage that otherwise would have gone unnoticed and could have led to major repairs.
  • Roof cleaning prevents mold. While white roofs have a lot of advantages, there are some studies that show they may be more susceptible to mold due to moisture. Regular roof cleanings eliminate the possibility that a commercial roof will develop a mold problem.

To learn more about commercial roof cleaning and preventative maintenance, call Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today.

5 Ways Summer Heat Can Affect a Commercial Roof

Your roof has escaped the winter storms and spring hail, but that doesn’t mean it’s totally safe. For commercial roofs, summer can bring serious problems as extreme heat and high humidity put a strain on its structure and materials.

Unlike major cracks or leaks caused by other types of extreme weather, heat damage can be hard to identify. To prevent long-term roof problems, it’s important to perform self-inspections during the summer and to have a professional roofing company to make regular evaluations.

Here are five things to look for when the summer heat has started to bear down on your roof:

Thermal Shock

Commercial roofs are constantly exposed to sunlight and can reach more than 180 degrees on hot summer days. When the sun goes down, the roof temperature rapidly decreases. This quick temperature change can cause problems as your roof materials quickly expand during the day and contract at night. This severe temperature change is known as thermal shock, and it can cause your roof to warp or create gaps over time.

Sun Damage

Just as UV rays can gradually damage your skin, they can also damage your roof. The sun degrades materials on the roof if they aren’t properly treated, bleaching or blackening the roof. Wood and shingles are particularly vulnerable to damage.

Drying

Roof heating can also dry out the oils in some roof materials. When roof linings or structural materials get dry, they become brittle and can crack. If left untreated, those fractures can damage the structural integrity of the roof or degrade its waterproofing materials and cause leaks.

High Humidity

High heat combined with high humidity is one of the biggest risks to a commercial roof. When a roof has expanded, due to high heat, it can absorb additional moisture. In places like the Southeast, where the summers tend to be humid, commercial roofs are at high risk for retaining moisture. Water patches can cause leaks and, if left unfixed, can lead to roof collapses.

Popped Seams and Loose Screws

The combination of high heat, harsh UV rays, and an expansion and contraction of the roof surface can lead to popped roof seams and loose screws. Penetrations like skylights and vents are hot spots for this type of damage.

The key to beating the summer heat is to schedule ongoing roof maintenance and evaluate your roof’s vulnerability. To learn more about how Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. can protect your roof, contact us today

5 Common Misconceptions About Commercial Roofing Preventative Maintenance

If not carefully attentive on an ongoing basis, a lot can go wrong with a commercial roof. However, businesses often ignore their roofs until disaster strikes. There are many myths about modern roof maintenance and how frequently roofs should be inspected. To clear up some of the rumors, here are some insights to several common misconceptions about commercial roofing preventative maintenance, so you can get back on track with proper preventative roof maintenance practices.

MYTH 1: Waiting to fix roof problems saves money.

Many business owners think that waiting for damage to take its course or waiting for roof replacement can save money. The fact is that leaving roof damage until the last minute only leads to more damage to the building. Leaks and holes in the roof can cause water damage in other parts of the building. Tears and damaged insulation can have a direct impact on a building’s heating and cooling bills. Commercial roof preventative maintenance is the only thing that could save money in the long run by preventing disasters before they happen.

MYTH 2: Roofs only need to be examined when there is damage.

For commercial roofs, damage can begin very slowly and go almost unnoticed. Waiting for roof damage or replacement to get an inspection is a missed opportunity to have prevented the damage in the first place. By following a roof preventative maintenance checklist, facility managers will regularly check problematic parts of the roof. Regularly caring for the roof can prevent slow building damage and keep the roof in shape so it can face storms and other types of common damage. You can wait for an inspection until your roof is damaged, or you can avoid small problems before they become full-blown damage.

MYTH 3: Flashing only needs to be replaced when you get a new roof.

It’s easy to think of a commercial roof as one system. But, while each part of a roof has to work together to function, every individual piece has its own maintenance schedule. Flashing should be specially maintained to prolong its life, but even then, it may need to be replaced earlier than other parts of the roof.

MYTH 4: Every roof maintenance company can handle every type of roof.

Not all roof materials are created equal. Shingle roofs need a very different type of care than asphalt roofs. Metal roofs also require special care and may be best handled by a company with an in-house fabrication shop. Not every roof maintenance company has the expertise to handle metal roof maintenance.

MYTH 5:  Warranties cover all roof problems.

Roof warranties only cover manufacturing defects. In some cases, a warranty may cover major damage to your roof, but usually manufacturer defects start as small problems and only grow to a disaster once the warranty is expired. To catch these small issues, it’s important to get regular roof inspections from a professional roofing company.

Maxwell Roofing and Sheet Metal, Inc. has great pride in the thoroughness of our maintenance program. To learn more about our roof inspections, contact us today.

What to Expect During a Commercial Roof Inspection

Commercial roofs can be complicated structures, and even when they are well constructed, they can develop hidden problems over time. Regular inspections are critical for extending the life of a roof and preventing roofing disasters, which is why it’s important to find a roofing partner that makes inspections and reporting a key part of the maintenance routine. But, not all inspections are created equal. Quality roof inspectors will go above and beyond, checking things that may be causing hidden damage to your roof. 

A good roofing inspection starts before anyone even looks at the roof. Qualified professional roofers will start with these two steps: 

  • Identifying Active Warranties and Guarantees

    Certain types of roof work can invalidate the warranty of some products. Before performing any work, a good roofer will check this information, as it may influence what types of repairs can be done and can save customers money, especially if parts of the roof are failing earlier than expected.

  • Examine Records and Talk to Occupants

    By examining a building’s records and plans, roofers can figure out what issues they may need to pay close attention to during the inspection. Talking to people who spend their time in the building—residents or employees—might also help identify leaks or other problems.

Once the roofer has a better idea of what to expect, they’ll begin the roofing inspection. A comprehensive roofing evaluation will include: 

  • An Interior Inspection

    Before climbing atop the roof, roofers should walk the inside of the building, looking for water stains, signs of rust, or potential weaknesses. The source of a leak may be from inside a building.

  • Building Envelope Inspection

    The building envelope is the membrane and structure that seals a facility’s interior from the outside. A roofing inspection should include an examination of the building’s structure to ensure there are no defects.

  • Flashings, Edges, and Joint Inspections

    Roof inspectors will pay careful attention to the edges of roofs and where different segments come together. These are vulnerable spots in any roof and can easily crack or collect moisture.

  • Gutters, Drains, and Scuppers Inspection

    It’s critical that water can escape the roof surface. Roofers must make sure that the roof is draining properly and isn’t blocked.

  • Rooftop Equipment and Penetration Inspection

    If your facility has an HVAC unit or any other type of roof penetration, inspectors will need to make sure that the seams are watertight and that the penetrations haven’t damaged the roof surface.

Every building is different, and roofers may need to rely on other tools to properly examine certain types of roofs. These additional services may include: 

  • Infrared Moisture Inspections

    Not all leaks are easily apparent to the naked eye. Using infrared scanners, roofers can identify moisture leaks and cracks that they have missed during other parts of the inspection.

  • Drone Inspections

    Some buildings have roof areas that are difficult or dangerous to reach. Many roofing companies have licensed drone pilots that can take images of the roof while safely planted on the ground.

The most important part of any roofing inspection comes after the roofing inspection is done, with a detailed report about the roof’s condition and suggestions for repairs and future maintenance. This isn’t a report that a roofer should complete quickly in their service truck. Instead, it should be a detailed and well-thought plan. 

Finding the Right Roofing Partner 

Because roofing inspections should be a regular part of any maintenance routine, it’s important to find a contractor who will work as a long-term partner. Find a company that schedules bi-annual inspections, and be sure they aren’t recommending unnecessary repairs. A roofing contractor’s goal should be to provide the client with a detailed report to assist with planning for the future. The inspection isn’t meant just to point out emergency defects, but rather to provide long-term solutions to issues that may be underlying or on-going for the client. By providing budgetary costs for maintenance, repairs, and replacement, we allow the client to decide when to “pull the trigger”. 

Our team at Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. prides ourselves on professionalism and our industry-leading reporting. If you’re ready to start a maintenance relationship with a company you can trust, contact us today, or see what some of our current customers are saying.

Rooftop Safety Compliance 101

Each year, around 50 roofers will suffer a fatal fall. In the construction industry, falls are responsible for about 40 percent of all work-related deaths. But, despite these sobering statistics, fall protection is the most violated health and safety standard according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

In 90 percent of the fatal falls that occur, there was not a proper fall-protection plan in place. To stop these preventable accidents and protect from injury and liability lawsuits, it’s important that roofing companies stay up to date on OSHA regulations and that facilities take precautions to protect employees who will be working atop a roof.

Fall Protection Basics

Fall Exposure Risks—The first thing an employer should ask at a work site is if their workers are exposed to the risk of falling. OSHA defines fall exposure in the construction industry as any potential fall of more than 6 feet. Generally, fall exposure on rooftops occurs in five different ways:

  • Roof Access—Many falls occur before anyone even reaches the roof on a ladder or on scaffolding.
  • Roof Edge—A roof’s edge provides the most obvious danger for a fall and can send people down multiple stories to the ground.
  • Obstacles and Openings—Many commercial roofs have skylights or vents that workers can mistakenly fall into.
  • Roof Systems—Many commercial roofs will house important equipment like HVAC systems. Because workers often need access to this equipment, the area surrounding rooftop systems presents a high risk of fall exposure.
  • Navigation—Rooftops with tricky obstacles or low visibility can pose a safety risk to workers.

Preventing Falls—OSHA requires that employers provide fall protection systems for their employees. This includes:

  • Covering holes like skylights or other penetrations using a cover or railing
  • Building guardrails and toe-boards near certain ledges and on lifts
  • Creating warning systems for areas with a fall risk
  • Providing fall restraint systems (like harnesses) when workers will be near edges
  • Securing ladders and other equipment used to access a building’s roof

In some cases, OSHA also recommends the use of fall arrest systems, such as safety nets. In commercial roofing, personal fall arrest systems are also common. These systems use harnesses and some sort of shock-absorbing line to prevent workers from falling quickly to the ground.

Innovation In Fall Safety

Roofing is a constantly evolving industry, and new technology is finding its way into fall safety. While physical barriers, fall restraint, and arrest systems are critical for protecting people on a building’s roof, there is new emerging technology that helps make roofing even safer. 

  • Drone Inspections—The best way to prevent a fall is to keep people off the roof entirely. The use of imaging drones for inspections allows roofers to identify problems or create maintenance plans without ever putting themselves near a dangerous ledge.
  • Finding a Roofing Partner that Values Safety

    No matter how safety-conscious a general contractor or facility manager may be, employees will be at risk if roofers don’t also value safety. It’s important that roofing companies work to protect their own workers while on the job and to install safety equipment on the roof to protect other workers in the future. Here are a few things to check for when vetting a roofing company’s safety regulations.

    1. Does the roofer conduct a Job Hazard Analysis?

      The first step in preventing a workplace accident is to conduct a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). This includes a specific protocol for evaluating fall risks and creating a rooftop safety plan.

    2. Does the roofer follow OSHA standards by providing railing systems, roof anchors, and penetrations?

      OSHA lays out specific building requirements for roofs with skylights to prevent people from falling through them. The agency also requires railing systems for ladders and has specific requirements for roof anchors that can support workers in harnesses. A safety-conscious roofing company should be able to provide engineering and installation for each of these safety requirements.

    3. Does the roofer consider HVAC worker safety?

      Once a roof is built, HVAC workers will likely be the most frequent visitors to a building’s rooftop. Roofers who prioritize safety will recommend a guardrail to protect HVAC workers that will be near a roof’s edge.

    4. Does the roofing company provide safety training to its employees?

      All employees who are going to be working on a roof should receive some sort of safety training. Roofing companies that value safety will often participate in certification classes through OSHA. Another company safety program is the Certified Roofing Torch Applicator (CERTA) program, which teaches workers how to use roofing torches. Though not specifically designed to prevent falls, CERTA and other certifications show that a company cares about safety.

    Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. prioritizes safety as our highest concern. To learn more about how we help protect our employees and the importance of maintaining commercial rooftop safety compliance and fall protection, contact us today.

7 Steps for Fixing Hail Damage on a Commercial Roof

April showers bring May flowers…and huge costs from hail damage from spring and summer storms. As with most maintenance issues, prevention is key. As a business owner, you keep up-to-date insurance policies, repair and maintain your structure, and address any issues as they arise. You get regular roof inspections and have implemented waterproofing and weatherproofing techniques. When it comes to Mother Nature, though, there are no guarantees. If you happen to be in the path of a vicious spring storm, hail damage on a commercial roof can be costly, and fixing it can be a headache. Here are seven steps for fixing hail damage on a commercial roof.

1. Determine the Extent of the Damage

Once the clouds have passed, you’ll want to survey the damage on the roof itself. Take all necessary precautions when making the initial inspection. If additional storms are in the forecast or the sun is setting, you may want to wait until a more opportune time to view the damage.

Once you have eyes on the roof, you’re looking to classify the type of hail damage the storm caused. An insurance professional will verify this assessment, but knowing the extent of the damage upfront will help you start to craft a strategy for repair and start researching professionals to help you get the job done right. There are a few signs of commercial roofing hail damage to keep your eyes open for when you’re surveying the structure.

2. Look for Circular Dents

This classic damage pattern can be seen on a variety of commercial roofing materials, including metal, wood, or composite materials. The dents are often arranged in a scattershot pattern, although there may be sections of the roof that have more damage than others. A circular indent indicates the presence of large hail and can range in diameter from a few centimeters to several inches in length, depending on the size of the hail.

3. Check for Missing Shingles

Shingles that are missing, askew, or not fully secured is also a sign of hail damage. Depending on the material of the shingles, inclement weather may have had the force to remove small pieces of roofing or the damage may cover the entire structure. If roofing material is darker in color, it can be difficult to determine if small sections are missing or damaged. When possible, touching material with your hands can indicate the presence of damage, even if it’s not immediately apparent to the naked eye.

4. Photograph any Black, Red, Yellow, or White Markings

Some roofing materials are able to withstand an onslaught of weather, and the only signs of structural damage may be markings from hail impacts on the commercial roofing materials or shingles themselves. Different materials show damage in different ways, and colored streaks of black, red, white, or yellow markings could indicate damage from a sudden storm.

5. Contact Your Insurance Professional

Once you’ve viewed the damage, your next call should be to your insurance professional. Having expert eyes view the damage can give you a better idea of the scope of the damage and the possible cost of repairs. Providing the assessor or agent with photographic evidence may help your claim be processed more quickly, which is essential for getting repairs completed in a timely manner.

6. Don’t Leave Commercial Roofing Damage Unaddressed

It’s important to remember that commercial roofs are not residential roofs. The cost of replacing even a small section of a commercial roof tile can be much higher than a large section of a residential roof. Commercial and industrial roofs are also subject to stricter building and safety codes. The cost and complexity can make business owners hesitate when they consider replacement. Letting even minor damage linger through a second cold winter or storm season could cause even greater costs in the long run.

7. Partner With a Company that Specializes in Commercial Roofing

Companies that mostly handle residential roofing don’t have the tools, materials, and experience to patch, replace, or repair commercial roofing. While your insurance company may give you suggestions on what company to contact, you’ll need to do careful research to make sure the contractor you work with can properly repair your commercial roofing. Unaddressed roofing issues can lead to moisture ingress, mold issues, or high heating or cooling costs due to escaping air.

Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. has years of experience installing, maintaining, and repairing a variety of commercial roofs. Schedule a call with us today to learn more about how we can help protect your investment by maintaining your building’s longevity.

5 Ways to Avoid Unwanted Surprises through a Roofing Forecast Assessment

Even the best commercial roofs don’t last forever, and keeping tabs on the health of a building’s roof is one of the most important jobs for any facility manager. Leaks and other serious damages may be easy to spot, but what about hidden damages that lead to big problems down the line?

Because they are such complicated systems, commercial roofs can have plenty of problems that build slowly and aren’t apparent to an inexperienced eye. Concealed moisture, bad weld jobs, loose seams, and other seemingly small problems can lead to a big and costly surprise down the road. Here are five tips for avoiding unwanted surprises with your commercial roof:

1. Get regular roof assessments.

Don’t wait until after a hail storm to get your roof assessed. Trouble with a roof isn’t always weather-related, and catching little problems before they become big problems is the best way to save on costly repairs.

2. Only trust professionals with roof inspections.

A facility manager may be involved with everything going on inside a commercial building, but there are some types of damage that only a professional roofer can recognize. Roof inspectors are specially-trained to spot damage as it happens, not once the roof starts to leak.

3. Prepare your budget for an emergency.

Even carefully monitoring your roof can’t prepare you for an unexpected accident or weather event. Don’t get caught off guard—keep a budget for roofing repairs. A good rule is planning to save $750 for each simple repair. Roofs with patios and roofs that support heavy equipment will need more repairs than roof tops that rarely see traffic.

4. Find a roofer with forecasting assessments.

When looking for a roofing company, find one that does forecasting as part of their traditional damage assessment. Forecasting allows you to see into your roof’s future and plan for big expenses down the line. Good reporting is critical to forecasting, and the best roofers will offer comprehensive reports with the roof’s current condition and future recommendations.

5. Prevent disasters with a maintenance plan.

With regular roof forecasting assessments, you can make a long-term maintenance plan to extend the life of your roof. Addressing small problems on your roof through preventative maintenance and weatherproofing is the surest way to avoid a costly roofing emergency.

Get All the Prevention Tools You Need in One Place

Our team at Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. prides ourselves on the quality of our roof management program. Through our MAXCare program, customers get regular roof assessments with forecasting. Each assessment in this long-term monitoring program comes with one of our industry-leading reports that includes details on a roof’s condition and projections for future maintenance and costs. For unplanned emergencies, MAXCare also gives customers access to roofers 24 hours a day.

Visit us today to learn more about MAXCare and how it can help extend the life of your commercial roof.

Professional Development: CERTA Train-the-Trainer Certification

Commercial roofing can be a hazardous business. In addition to working from dangerous heights while installing complicated equipment, many of the tools used during a project should be handled carefully. Torch-down systems are one of the most potentially-hazardous aspects of the job. For this reason, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) developed the Certified Roofing Torch Applicator (CERTA) program to train installers on the safe use of roofing torches. As the need for CERTA training increased, the NRCA was looking for a way to scale their training program.

Investing in Our Employees Through CERTA Train-the-Trainer Certification

Earlier this year, Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. was selected by the NRCA to host its regional Train-the-Trainer Authorization program, which allows roofing contractors (and others) to lead the CERTA class without NRCA’s assistance.

The training was held in advance of NRCA’s International Roofing Expo. More than 40 attendees, including Maxwell Roofing employees and other roofing professionals, spent an entire Sunday learning the ins-and-outs of CERTA Training. As the host, Maxwell was honored to partner with the NRCA, as they provided the knowledge and training for proper roof torching.

“I was fortunate enough to be a part of this event and earned my CERTA Train-the-Trainer certificate,” said David Daniel, Project Manager for Maxwell Roofing. “I got to meet others in the industry and trade best practices,” he adds.

Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc.’s Commitment to Employee Development

For the Maxwell Roofing leadership team, employees are family. Whether it’s hosting an employee appreciation event or offering specific professional development opportunities for commercial roofers, we believe that investing in our employees is an important priority.

“Safety and training are key to the future of the industry. Being able to participate in something like this makes me proud to be a part of the team here at Maxwell Roofing,” Daniel affirms.

If you’re looking for a commercial roofing partner in Nashville or Huntsville who values training and continuing education and skills, we invite you to learn more about our services or read how we’ve partnered with businesses like yours.

Preparing Your Roof for a North Alabama Winter

With average lows between 32°F and 35°F between the months of December and February, North Alabama winters, while not comfortable, are generally mild.

But, however sporadic they may be, freezing temperatures and snowfall can represent real risk to your commercial roof if it’s not correctly prepared.

Here are four ways you can prepare your roof for a North Alabama winter:

1. Perform an inspection of the roof before winter officially begins.

Ideally, this inspection will be performed by a professional, as they’ll know the exact signs to look for and may be able to point out potential roof health issues before they occur.

The professional roofer will look for visible cracks or seams in the roofing material, cracks in the roof’s caulking, structural damage to flashings, and gaps or punctures anywhere on the roof’s surface, including the edges, to avoid potential leaks or wind uplift.

This step is important in all climates, but it’s crucial here in North Alabama, as the heat of the sun can cause expansion, drying, and/or cracking of the roofing material that may prove hazardous when the roof material cools and contracts.

2. Clean, clean, clean.

Structural integrity isn’t the only risk factor for your roof in inclement weather. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for any branches, debris buildup, or foreign objects on your roof’s surface.

While these objects may not have caused any damage yet, their presence presents a risk to your roof during inclement weather, as they can either puncture the roof’s membrane or, in the case of debris, it can collect moisture from fall rain or winter snow. The more moisture the debris retains, the bigger chance for mold or rotting.

This also means cleaning your gutters, as clogged gutters may keep water from cleanly flowing off the roof. The risk here is that the water will end up pooling on the roof itself or flowing over the gutters onto the walls of the building.

3. Examine the insulation.

It’s easy to think the only function of insulation is to keep us warm. And, while that’s true, it also helps prevent a major winter weather roof problem: ice damming.

Ice damming is what happens when improper insulation allows heat to transfer to the roof, where ice or snow melts into water, then flows to the gutters and edges of your roof. It then refreezes, leading to added weight that could damage the gutters or pull them away from the roof itself.

4. Make a plan.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes roofing emergencies occur, whether it’s due to a falling branch or an unexpected spell of extreme weather.

Create a plan for what you’ll do if you experience a roofing emergency during the winter months. Do you have a relationship with a roofing company that performs emergency services? Do you have a budget for emergency roof repairs? Who is responsible for identifying roof damage and contacting the emergency repair team?

Preparing your roof for winter in North Alabama is not a complicated process, but it does require planning and work—and, it’s much easier when you have the guidance of a professional.

If you want to learn more about preparing your roof for the winter and how Maxwell can help keep your roof in tip-top shape despite lower temperatures, click here to contact us.

How Severe Weather Can Affect Commercial Roofing

Severe weather puts things in perspective. It can make us stay home from work, check on loved ones we haven’t talked to in months, or hide out in a basement for hours on end. Mother Nature is indifferent to our plans, our jobs, and especially our roofs.

Whether you’ve recently experienced a severe storm or you’re about to, here’s what you need to know about how severe weather affects commercial roofs.

Material Matters

Not all commercial roofs are constructed the same way. There are multiple types of commercial roof builds, and each respond to severe weather differently. Here are a few of the most common commercial roof build types and how they respond to severe weather.

1. Built-Up Roofing—Built-Up Roofing systems, also referred to as BUR, generally are composed of alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing fabrics that create a finished membrane. There are two types of layers for BUR roofs. The first is either gravel or some other type of granule, which endures hail well, but is vulnerable to wind, which can blow off this top layer, leaving lower layers open to damage from water or hail. The second is a smooth finish, such as asphalt. Smooth finishes on a built-up roof, while less susceptible to wind damage, are more vulnerable to hail.

2. Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) Roofing—EPDM roofing is rubber roofing. This type of roof generally fairs well in severe weather. However, like all roofs, if there is not a sufficient slope and water starts to pond in specific areas, then there is a risk of damage due to the weight of the water and the fact that, after repeated instances, it may eventually eat through the surface of the roof and cause a leak.

3. Metal Roofing—Metal roofing generally holds up well during storms, sustaining mainly superficial damage. One thing to be aware of, though, is the roof’s finish. The finish can be “chipped or cracked by the hail, which can then lead to the development of rust.”

4. Thermoplastic Roofing—Because thermoplastic roofing is made to flex, it is generally resilient in the face of hail. However, severe hail could damage the layers beneath the surface without showing any visible damage. An important thing to note is that thermoplastic roofing is a comparatively new technology. Working with a professional roofer can help you properly evaluate how this type of material holds up to severe weather in your area.

Severe Weather Risks with All Commercial Roofs—Regardless of Construction Material

Regardless of their construction material, all commercial roofs are susceptible to damage from wind uplift and water. Wind uplift is when “strong air gets underneath the roof materials and pulls them up.” When this happens, “rain can get underneath and begin to rot out the materials.” Water damage can either be acute or occur over time. If wind uplift severely damages the integrity of the roof, water can enter within a short time frame. But if wind uplift does not occur, there is still a risk of ponding water on roofs without sufficient slope.

While ponding water may not cause an immediate problem, over time, it can wear down the surface of a roof and form a leak. No matter what type of roof you have, if you’ve recently experienced severe weather, you’ll want to check for damage. This is best done by a roofing professional, as some damage may not be immediately noticeable—or may be so subtle that it can only be detected by an experienced professional.

Contact Maxwell Roofing today to learn how our emergency repair services can get your roof back to 100%.

3 Ways Our Nashville Team Maintains a Commitment to Safety

Roofing projects are known for being hazardous to the crew and those in and around the building. According to OSHA, 34 percent of construction-site fatalities from 2003-2013 were the result of falls from roofs.

There has been a lot of incredible work done to create policies and procedures for protecting roof workers over the past few decades. However, many of the injuries that occur in roofing are due to complacency.

This reality is what our Maxwell Roofing team works diligently to avoid. We recognize that no one walks on a job site at the beginning of the day wanting to injure themselves. Injuries happen when we fail to recognize new potential dangers or rely a little too much on our skills and experience to keep us safe.

3 Ways Maxwell Roofing’s Nashville Team Maintains a Commitment to Safety

Throughout the lifecycle and maintenance of your roof, those who work on the roof can face many different threats, such as skylights and units close to the roof’s edge. Here are three ways we proactively work to keep safety top-of-mind for everyone involved with one of our commercial roofing projects:

1. We Conduct Job Hazard Analysis on a Regular Basis

Before any roofing project begins, we conduct a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) to survey the project and essentially answer the question, “What are the things that could go wrong?”

This is not required by law; however, more building owners are starting to request it and many contractors submit a JHA as a matter of course. Additionally, we strive to re-visit and re-submit the JHA on a weekly basis to ensure that supervisors are continuously evaluating the conditions on and around the roof.

2. We Equip Workers with High-Grade Safety Devices for Fall Protection & Injury Prevention

Thankfully, the days of lunch atop a skyscraper with minimal safety equipment are behind us. Today, there are a host of retrofit options that make roofs a safer working environment. Through rooftop safety mechanisms like Roof Davits and Roof Hatch Guard Rails, our team has the skill to control these hazards and maintain a safe environment on your roof.

3. In-depth Documentation & Training

Beyond physical protection measures, we recognize that it’s also important and necessary to have robust policies in place for roof safety. Our team has developed policies that dictate how all installations, routine maintenance checks, and repairs should be conducted to create the safest environment possible. We also train each employee on how to respond in real-world situations that commonly lead to injury.

Roofing contractors are faced with dozens of hazards every time they step foot on a job site—from inclement weather to hazardous substances. This is something that everyone in our organization, from the top to the bottom, is mindful of each day. If you’re looking for a commercial roofing partner in Middle Tennessee, Northern Alabama, and their surrounding areas, we invite you to learn more about our services or view some of our recent projects today.

How to Proactively Prepare for a Commercial Roofing Emergency

Emergency repairs are inevitable over the course of a roof’s life. Exposed to the elements for decades on end, your roof is under attack throughout its entire lifecycle.

Unfortunately, most businesses don’t think about a roofing emergency until they experience one. Between getting the issue fixed immediately, dealing with insurance or warranties, and figuring out how you’re going to pay for the repairs, the process can eventually become a lot more stressful.

And, while you may not be able to prevent every commercial roofing emergency, there are ways you can make the process of dealing with them with much less burden or worry.

How to Proactively Prepare for a Commercial Roofing Emergency

Here are three ways we work with our clients to help them proactively prepare for emergencies that are outside of their control:

1. Develop an Emergency Response Plan

The first step to address roof issues as they arise is to have an action plan before an emergency occurs. All emergency plans should work in conjunction with the building’s regular maintenance plan and include a project schedule, initial inspection procedure, a prioritized list of repairs, and a process for recording the emergency work.

2. Be Financially Prepared with Capital Budget & Warranties

For many businesses, a roofing emergency can potentially seem more damaging to their bank accounts than the roofs themselves. Maxwell Roofing’s team works alongside our clients to consider capital budget strategies to proactively prepare for potential emergencies. We also educate them on the important things to consider when evaluating a commercial roof warranty. By taking these two ideas into consideration, the financial burden of an emergency roof repair won’t be an issue.

3. Address Potential Emergencies through Weatherproofing & Preventative Maintenance

The best defense against potential emergencies is a good offense. There are a few different ways we work to help our clients address potential emergencies before they become significant issues. Each commercial roof is weatherproofed based on specific factors and the unique structure, geography, and materials involved. Additionally, our Roof Monitor system keeps tabs on the conditions of the roof in the midst of damaging weather. Our Maxcare® program is designed to quickly address unexpected emergencies and also prevent small issues before they become big ones.

Is Your Roof Adequately Protected from an Emergency?

No one wants to think about the worst-case scenarios. However, proactively preparing can help you quickly resolve whatever emergency might occur without any stress or headaches. Taking time to implement these three ideas will ensure you’ll be in better shape if a roofing emergency arises.

If you’re interested in learning exactly how we can help your business proactively prepare for a commercial roofing emergency, click here to contact us today. Our team of professionals is ready to assist.

How to Know When It’s Time for a Roof Replacement

It’s a surprise no one likes. It’s more than added stress, noise, and disruption. It’s a five- (or six) figure check for a new roof. Like taxes, roof replacements can’t be avoided. No matter how good you treat your roof, you’ll have to replace it eventually. However, it’s possible to plan for a roof replacement instead of being surprised by it.

A Roof’s Lifecycle

A roof falls into four categories during its lifecycle.

  1. 0-3 years: Honeymoon Phase
  2. 3-5 Years: Preventative Maintenance Phase
  3. 5-15 Years: Ongoing Maintenance Phase
  4. 15-20 Years: Re-Roofing Watch

But, don’t be fooled by those categories. Not all roofs make it to 15 years old. Some fall victim to severe weather, others to faulty installation, and many to poor maintenance practices.

Smart Roof Maintenance

All roofs must be replaced eventually, but there are some easy things you can do to make your roof last longer and save money in the process.

1. Perform Roof Inspections Regularly. Regular roof inspections will help you identify potential problems before they turn into actual problems. We recommend hiring a professional to perform these inspections. Unless you have roofing knowledge or experience, you might not know what you’re looking for. If you miss a small issue, it could turn into a big issue down the road. If you decide to perform a roof inspection yourself, take pictures and notes. You want to have a record of your roof’s condition, so if any major problems arise, you’ll be able to provide your roofer with background information.

2. Put Maintenance at the Forefront. A new roof may need preventative maintenance as early as three years after being installed. Be willing to pay a small price for preventative maintenance to avoid paying a big price for repairs.

3. Fix Problem, Not just Symptoms. Imagine your ceiling has started leaking. The leak is the problem, right? Fix it, and the problem is solved. Not exactly. By this point, the problem could be that the insulation is so saturated with water it can’t absorb anymore—along with the fact there is a hole in the roof. In this case, the leak is the symptom, and there are two problems. The first is the hole causing the leak, and the second is the saturated insulation. When repairing issues, fix the whole problem, not just the symptom. It might be more costly at the time, but it will help extend the life of your roofing system and save money in the long run.

4. Budget for Repairs. Budget about $750 for a simple repair. You can estimate the number of repairs on the amount of foot traffic expected on the roof, as well as the number of repairs needed in previous years.

When to Call a Professional

Sometimes, your roof needs special attention. You should call a roofer if you notice:

  • Cracks, blisters, tears, or other blemishes on the roof’s membrane
  • Failing flashing
  • Soft insulation
  • Water stains on inside walls
  • Leaks

An experienced commercial roofer will be able to identify the severity of these issues and recommend a course-of-action to fix them. An experienced roofer can also estimate how much life your roof has left within these ranges:

  • 1-3 years
  • 3-5 years
  • 5 years or more

So, if your roof has an estimated three years left, you can start budgeting for a roof replacement and eliminate the surprise that too often comes with roof replacements.

When Should You Replace Your Roof?

Only a professional can accurately tell you when your roof should be replaced. However, the four major factors that contribute to the necessity of a roof replacement are:

  1. Roof age (How old is the roof?)
  2. Roof usage (Does it experience a lot of foot traffic?)
  3. Maintenance history (Have you performed maintenance throughout the roof’s lifecycle?)
  4. Roof damage (Has the roof experienced major damage from weather or people?)

Not sure how long your roof has left? Just click here to contact us and learn how we can help!

How MAXCare® Makes Roof Maintenance Simple

You don’t notice some things until it’s too late…like the burnt burgers on the grill or the leaves overflowing from your gutters. That’s often how commercial roof maintenance goes, too. It’s often ignored until there are buckets littering the floor, catching drops of water falling from the ceiling. We’d guess this happens because people are intimidated by the idea of developing a proactive roof maintenance plan.

How often should my roof be evaluated?

What’s the typical cost of repairs?

Does it truly save money in the long-run?

Why MAXCare?

The fact is: Roof maintenance can seem like a vague concept that people tell you is important but have a hard time explaining. “You’ll save money,” they say. And, you know it’s true, but you have a hard time taking any action because you’re not sure how much you’ll save, or if it’s worth all the effort.

That’s where MAXCare® comes in. We know roof maintenance can get confusing. And, too often, people try to sell you on vague concepts without clearly explaining how they will help you or save you money. We created MAXCare so you could get a clear understanding of your roof maintenance plan—and how much money it could potentially save you.

MAXCare is different from Maxwell Roofing’s regular service and maintenance offerings in the way that Maxwell provides reactive daily response to roof maintenance needs, where MAXCare stands apart in its proactive, relationship-driven approach to roof maintenance that is built around an asset management. “Through the MAXCare program, you increase the return on investment in your assets. With roofing, that return is most prominently affected by extending its life or reducing operating costs over its life,” says John Maxwell, President of Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. “The real value of MAXCare is partly dependent on the stage or life cycle of the roof and can often depend on the construction being correct and complete, if the damage was caught early and corrected, if the roof was monitored and cared for from day one, and if the roof gets a lot of traffic. When customers invest in MAXCare early on, there’s great value in having document intelligence of all these matters to help maintain the roof’s current life cycle and inform any future changes or needs,” he adds.

How MAXCare Works

MAXCare is our comprehensive roof management program. Here’s how it works:

We start with a roof assessment, where we look at the state of your roof and generate a report that details planning, work recommendations, and forecasting for each section of your roof. We’ll be 100% transparent with you about the state of your roof and what we recommend to keep it healthy. You’ll also get access to the MAXCare online portal, where you can access educational content, tools, resources, historical reports for each of your buildings, and invoicing. MAXCare will show you exactly how healthy your roof is now and how you can best plan for future expenses. John explains, “One of the most significant values of MAXCare to our customers is in the regular monitoring we perform. When repair needs arise, our customers quickly learn that with MAXCare the question isn’t about the condition itself, but rather how long did it take this condition to develop. With long-term monitoring, you’ll have less costly surprises along the way.”

MAXCare helps you say goodbye to vague statements like, “You’ll get a few more years out of it.” We’ll forecast, as clearly as we can, future repairs to your roof, along with a prediction of costs and general timeline. As a bonus, our MAXCare portal lets you report leaks, check the status of work orders, and review invoices, so you can stay up-to-date on everything related to current and past work. MAXCare members also get discounted rates on other Maxwell Roofing services.

Who Needs MAXCare?

While MAXCare may not be the right fit for every commercial roofing partner, it can be greatly beneficial for property or industrial managers who are responsible for maintaining multiple buildings, roofs, and units. Though it might seem like you’re paying a bit more in upfront costs, MAXCare can save on overall maintenance costs in the long-term, and it can be greatly beneficial in proving your attentiveness to roof maintenance if ever faced with a complaint of negligence. “If you’re looking to break away from a run-to-fail model, MAXCare is right for you,” affirms John. “A run-to-fail model doesn’t cost much to operate, but there’s always a surprise factor that appears,” he adds.

Is MAXCare Right for You?

MAXCare is a result of our years of experience in the field and our desire to make roof maintenance as simple as possible for our customers. With MAXCare, you don’t have to guess. We take the effort off your plate and consolidate all your roof maintenance needs into a simple online portal.

If you’re interested in learning how MAXCare might help simplify your roof maintenance program, just click here to contact us.

3 Tips for Weatherproofing Your Roof

Drip.

Wait. Was that water?

Drop.

Where is it coming from?

You look up and feel another drop of water land on your face.

For a business owner,this is the beginning of a headache that will likely span weeks, beginning with a drop of water and ending with a check for thousands of dollars leaving your pocket. But, what could you have done? And, how can you prevent this from happening again?

The fact is, all roofs will need repair at some point, but, thereare things you can do to prolong the life of your roof and avoid costly repairs for as long as possible. One of the best ways to avoid excessive repair costs is to make sure your roof is properly weatherproofed. Here are three, simple things to consider when weatherproofing your roof.

  • Roof Structure—Most commercial roofs are flat and can be made of a variety of materials, including bitumen, metal, plastic, foam, and more. Before beginning the process of weatherproofing your roof, you must know what you’re working with. What is your roof made of, and what weatherproofing capabilities does it currently have? Where is it lacking? No matter which type of roof your building has, it will eventually leak and wear down, but determining the structure of your roof and understanding its strengths and weaknesses will give you a clearer picture of what must be addressed during the weatherproofing process.
  • Geography—Where is your business located? What’s the weather like? If you’re located in the Mid-South, you likely experience all four seasons. So, you’ll have to protect against heat and intense sunlight in the summer, as well as freezing temperatures and ice in the winter. To fully understand how to weatherproof your roof, you must know exactly what weather elements it needs to be protected from.
  • Materials for Weatherproofing—Depending on your business’ location, weatherproofing may not be the same thing as waterproofing. To use the previous example, if your business is located in Tennessee or Alabama, you may need heating cables in the winter for ice protection, as well as additional coating in the summer to protect from intense sunlight. If you want your roof to be completely weatherproof, you may need to use a variety of materials to achieve that goal.

There are many variables to consider when weatherproofing your roof, but if you do your homework, it can be a straightforward process. You simply need to understand the material you’re working with and the weather elements you need to guard against.

While the process can be straightforward, some intricacies may best be addressed by a professional. If you’d like some guidance to determine the best way to weatherproof your roof, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. We’d love to help you protect your building and avoid costly, unplanned repairs.

When Is the Right Time for Preventative Roof Maintenance?

You go to the doctor for a checkup. You get the oil changed in your car. But, you completely take for granted the roof over your head.

We get it—preventative maintenance isn’t sexy. Nobody’s pulse speeds up when they hear about commercial roof inspections or flashing repairs. But, if that doesn’t get you going, we can guarantee there is one thing that will make your eyes bulge: The cost of putting a new roof on your facility.

We say this all the time, but it bears repeating: Every roof will need to be replaced at some point. But, if you perform preventative maintenance regularly, you can greatly extend the life of your roof and keep small repair costs from turning into big replacement costs too soon.

What Is Preventative Roof Maintenance?

Before we continue talking about why preventative maintenance is important, let’s define exactly what it is. Preventative roof maintenance includes inspecting your roof regularly and performing pro-active services before they become large issues, causing costly repairs. Essentially, preventative maintenance is checking on the health of your roof regularly and providing timely tune-ups when needed to give your roof a healthier and longer life.

Can Preventative Roof Maintenance Save Money?

So, you may be wondering—how exactly does preventative roof maintenance save your company money (and potential stress)? Consider this example:

Let’s say you had your roof installed in 2013.

“It’s a brand-new roof,” you thought. “There’s no way it’ll need any attention for at least a few years.”

So, you ignored it. Little did you know, the roofing crew was in a rush to finish the job on time, so they sped through the installation. Because of this, a tiny crack formed at the corner of the roof.

As time passed, the alternating heat of summer and cold of winter caused that crack to expand.

It turned into a leak in late 2014, but since it was on the corner of the roof, the water flowed down the side of the building—and the leak went unnoticed.

In early 2015, you decided to have a roof inspection performed.

“I doubt it’s necessary…but, just to be safe,” you said to the inspector.

After the inspection, he said, “Everything looks great, except for one thing. Did you know you had a crack in this corner of the roof?”

He pointed to the ceiling.

“No…we’ve never noticed anything.”

Fast forward a few days and after some further investigation.

“Bad news. That crack is a leak, and you have wet insulation. You’re going to have to get that section of the roof replaced, in addition to the insulation and possibly the drywall.”

And, just think: If you would have caught that crack earlier, it could have been patched in a matter of minutes for a fraction of the cost.

When Is the Right Time for Preventative Roof Maintenance?

Preventative roof maintenance probably won’t help you win any popularity contests or make you sound interesting to an attractive stranger, but it will save you from unplanned expenses and help you with budgeting roof expenses. The right time begins as early as new roof installation. Unlike fine wine, roofs do not age better with time. If you’re interested in learning exactly how a preventative maintenance plan can help your business, click here to contact us today. Our team of professionals are ready to assist.

Preventative Roofing Maintenance: Tips for Your Common Weather Woes

Commercial roofs are under constant assault from Mother Nature. They are built to withstand weather events like run-of-the mill thunderstorms, rain storms, periods of sustained winds and snowfall. However, all roofs are vulnerable to extreme weather events and you won’t necessarily know just how vulnerable your roof is until something happens. The good news? You can take steps to help guard against weather damage and to receive alerts when wind, hail, rain or ice/snow does a number on your roof.

The Best Defense in Roofing Is A Good Offense

The most important thing that building managers can do to protect the integrity of their roofing system is to know the condition of the roof. Regular, professional roofing inspections can identify damage or defects and can also identify potential vulnerabilities should a nasty weather event occur. In between inspections, facilities managers should conduct check-ups to monitor the roof and to identify any new issues as soon as possible.

Knowing the condition of the roof is important, but it’s only half the battle. Management should be prepared to correct the defects and damage found during inspections and self-checkups. Facilities staff can seal cracks, secure areas that may be vulnerable to high winds, and remove puddled water. Any preventative measures should be shared with your commercial roofing partner, however, so that they can examine those small issues and create a plan for a permanent fix. Putting off repairs, however minor, can leave the roof system vulnerable in the event of a storm.

Keep “Eyes” On The Roof In Any Weather

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to receive an alert if something happened to the roofing system instead of discovering water on the floor of the building? There is a product on the market called Roof Monitor™ that keeps tabs on the conditions of the roof 24/7/365.

The product keeps tabs on water and snow load on flat and low-slope roofs and it alerts building managers if the roof’s perimeter is breached or if the deck experiences sag. The sensors send a signal that triggers a call to building managers and immediately dispatches an authorized repair team to the site to assess the situation and make necessary fixes to protect the roofing system.

Ice And Snow Don’t Have To Cause Stress

They say everything is bigger in the South, and when it comes to hail, nothing could be more true. All southerners are familiar with the sounds and the stresses of a hailstorm which can pound ice chunks on a roof at speeds of 90 miles per hour. Hail can wreak havoc on a commercial roof, and it’s important to take precautions to protect sensitive systems. Installing a high-density coverboard over the insulation and under the membrane can guard against hail damage.

There isn’t much snow in the South, but Northern states can deal with several feet of snow over the course of a winter. Those loads can lead to serious roof damage, and in worst cases, collapse. It is good practice to install heating coils on a roof to melt snow in the event of a heavy storm, guarding against major malfunctions.

Whether it’s rain, hail, snow, or wind, Mother Nature can cause real damage to roofing systems. Regular professional inspections and self-checkups are important to keep tabs on the physical conditions of the roof. Construction features like coverboards and heating coils can provide extra protection, as can a sensor system like Roof Monitor™. When it comes to all-weather roofing, prevention is the best medicine.

Building a Capital Budget: How to Plan for Today and Tomorrow

When a roof fails, most building owners and property managers find themselves scrambling to scrape together tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars that were not allocated in the capital budget. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a way to proactively plan for this? The good news: You can. Building owners can build a better capital budget that eliminates roof failure anxiety.

The Key To A Better Capital Budget For Roofing

Regular roof inspections are critical when trying to predict future expenditures. However, many people prefer not to think about their roof until a problem arises. The fact is, even a brand new roof is subject to damages or defects. The best and most effective way to keep a handle on the lifespan of a roof and to manage minor problems before they become major (and expensive) issues is to conduct regular inspections of your roof.

These regular inspections alleviate the budgeting process by keeping an eye on the horizon. If the roof is given a life expectancy of three years, for example, the planning team can begin to move money around early so that the budget is in order and the funds are available by the time a replacement is needed.

Building A Roofing Safety Net

Most roofs fail prematurely due to damage. That damage may be caused by weather events, but in actuality, it is most often caused by people. This is especially true of buildings that allow tenants to use the roof as recreation space and buildings with a great deal of heavy equipment on the roof. The more activity that happens on the roof surface, the higher risk there is for damage.

When building out a capital budget, teams should include line items for repairs and incidentals on the roof, especially if the roof experiences high traffic. A good rule of thumb is to budget around $750 for a simple repair. Some repairs will cost a little less, others will cost far more. $750 is a round number that the budget committee can work with, as long as the estimated number of repairs can be justified. This may require digging into data and past records and estimating the amount of traffic expected on the roof in a given year.

The Bad Budgeting Ripple Effect

Failing to budget for roofing expenses can have even bigger consequences on the bottom line for building owners than just the cost of a new roof. Building owners and property managers are not the only ones affected by leaks. Tenants in residential, office and mixed-used buildings often pay a premium for top-floor space, and when the roof leaks, they expect it to be fixed, and fixed properly. Patches and repairs can alleviate water leaks in one section of the roof but does not prevent them from popping up elsewhere. If the space is no longer deemed adequate, tenants may decide to relocate elsewhere.

Mold and mildew accumulation from leaks can also leave employers and building owners open to lawsuits from tenants who can show that exposure has caused or exacerbated medical issues. The health and safety of those who use the building are of extreme importance, and neglecting roof maintenance and repair can have a significant impact on a building owner’s finances and public image.

Planning For The Future

A few commercial roofs are designed to be run-to-fail, but not most. Knowledge is power when it comes to building a better capital budget—and a trusted partner can help. Their experience working with a variety of roofing materials and on buildings of comparable size and structure allows them to provide accurate information and keen insight into the longevity of your roof.

The information uncovered in regular inspections helps mitigate any small issues in the present and proactively plan for events in the future, ultimately allowing building owners to predict when they will require a full roof replacement.

5 Things Every Facility Manager Needs To Know About Their Roof

The roof is one of the most important components of the building, but “out of sight is out of mind”. So, many facilities managers and property owners tend to forget their roofs until a problem arises. This approach leads to repetitive leaks, ongoing patch jobs, expensive repairs and ultimately that, “Oh no” moment of panic and dread when the roof needs to be replaced. Now, facilities managers can learn about and understand what’s happening above them. Here are five things that every facility manager needs to know about their roof.

#1: What Is The Leak History of the Roof?

The leak history of a roof tells the story of what’s going on in a roofing system. The pattern and presence of leaks over time can inform diagnosis of the problem. Repeated leaks around skylights, for example, may indicate a construction defect rather than roof damage. (That’s right, roof leaks are often more a result of a design or construction flaw than a roof defect, per se.)

Leak history can also help the contractor more accurately assess the roof’s potential remaining life. A complete record of where water has gotten in and how it was repaired can help the contractor and Owner know whether or not water has infiltrated the roof system and saturated the insulation – which is the death knell for a roof.

#2: Who Is Getting On The Roof?

While Mother Nature can be hard on a roof, humans are usually a roofing system’s biggest enemy. If a roof is accessible to tenants or to other trade contractors for heating, ventilation and air conditioning; and other repairs, the roof is at risk of puncture, cuts, tears, and other damage.

Controlling access to the roof is essential for protecting the integrity of the roofing system. However, facilities managers don’t need to be fearful of granting access. People who use the roof should be able to come to the manager and let them know if they inadvertently caused damage. That means being friendly and available to tenants, repair workers and contractors who want access to the roof. Good access control and good communication allows managers to track issues they may never have known about otherwise.

#3: What Are the Safety Hazards Of The Roof?

Every roof is rife with safety hazards beyond the sheer height of the building. Some hazards are obvious, such as the edge of the roof being a fall hazard. Others are not quite as evident.

Skylights can be an extreme hazard. These features are not built for sitting or holding a lot of weight, and people on the roof may be tempted to rest on top of one, or place toolboxes on the skylight, putting themselves and the people inside in danger. Hidden corners, drop-offs and L-corners are also a hazard for anyone walking on a roof, especially they have never been on that particular building before. It’s easy to approach edges and corners in non-square layouts without realizing it.

#4: How Is The Roof Made

A thorough facilities manager should know as much as possible about the way the roof is built including:

  • When the roof was built
  • Where the design plans are
  • The roofing materials
  • The manufacturers of those materials
  • The company that installed the roof
  • The terms of the warranty

Knowing these details can help form a baseline understanding of the roof itself, and allows the facilities manager to communicate more effectively with a roofing contractor.

#5: When Was The Last Inspection?

Regular roofing inspections are the key to maintaining a roof that performs well and lasts as long as possible. One of the most important things a facility manager needs to know about their roof is the inspection history. If it has been more than a year, or if no one on the facilities team has any idea when the last inspection was, it’s been too long.

These roofing inspections help get ahead of major issues, keep the facilities team in the loop on areas to watch and conditions to observe, and ensure that budgets can properly be set for future repairs and re-roofing projects.

The more familiar the facilities manager becomes with the roof, the better. When it comes to prolonging roof life, choose a good contractor and make strong repair decisions, always keep in mind that you can never be armed with too much information. It is worth the time for a facility manager to learn and file away as much information as possible about their roof, in order to get the most value from the system.

Do You Know What’s Happening On Your Roof? An Inspection Guide For Facilities Managers

Effective facilities managers are vigilant. They keep a watchful eye on every aspect of the building in their care. However, roofing systems are a proverbial horse of a different color. Even the most thorough and proactive manager can sometimes miss things that can lead to costly repairs and roof replacements. Here are some of the most common mistakes that facilities managers make when inspecting their own roof, and tips on how to avoid them.

The Biggest Roofing Inspection Mistake

Proactive inspections of a building’s roof are critical for keeping tabs on the conditions of the roof. Identifying potential issues early will save big money and big headaches down the line. Although do-it-yourself inspections by facility managers are key, the number one way they can prevent costly future repairs is to ensure professional roof inspections are being done on a regular basis by a trusted roofing partner.

While major defects like wide tears or holes in the membrane may be obvious during a DIY inspection, other defects are far more nuanced and subtle (yet no less damaging to the integrity of the roofing system). When caught early, those defects can help stave off major failures and can prolong the life of the roof.

Potential defects outside of obvious holes are wide-ranging and many are unique to the type of roofing system used on a building. For example, thermoplastic membranes are vulnerable to “cold welds,” wherein a section or sections of the membranes were not properly fused together during the welding process. Defective welds can be a result of moisture, dirt, or incorrect welding temperatures. Only an experienced roofer with expertise in thermoplastic membranes could spot such a defect on an inspection before that defect led to a major issue with the roof.

The Time And Place For DIY Inspections

A trusted roofing partner can and should conduct regular, professional inspections, but it is still a wise practice to get up on the roof in between those formal inspections. You never know when something could go wrong, and as they say, two heads are better than one. After each formal inspection, sit down with the roofer and go over their results and insight. Have the inspector walk you through the places and spaces that may require a little TLC in the future, and learn which areas of the roof you should keep a close eye on for changes.

Having eyes on the roof in between inspections is helpful for the roofer, as well. Spotting damage or changes in the roof’s appearance early can prevent major water leakage and damage in the future. Facilities manager should create a checklist for these regular, self-inspections that include:

  1. Checking for obvious holes in the roof
  2. Studying the draining system (i.e. clearing debris from drains and gutters)
  3. Monitoring access areas
  4. Examining the areas around HVAC units and other heavy equipment on the roof
  5. Identifying potential damage after an extreme weather event
  6. Identifying damage after trade contractors have been on the roof

Regular examinations in between formal visits from your roofer ensures that damage will be spotted and repaired quickly. It can mean the difference between a tiny puncture in a membrane and a saturated roofing system.

Overcoming Common Roofing Inspection Mistakes

As discussed in the thermoplastic membrane example, experienced roofers know that defects look a certain way under specific circumstances. While the facility manager may be intimately familiar with the inner workings of the building, they don’t necessarily know how the roof has been assembled, how all of the components should work together, and how to spot problems in their particular roofing system.

The vigilance of the facility manager who conducts regular DIY inspections of the roof coupled with the expertise of a roofing contractor who conducts regular inspections and maintenance can ensure that potential weaknesses are spotted and dealt with early, thus ensuring the roof performing its desired function.

Your Roof Is Asking For Help: 5 Red Flags to Look Out For

With the exception of an act of nature, roofs rarely open up and allow water to pour in without warning. Most leaks begin small, getting worse with time as more and more water seeps into the roofing system. A commercial roof will “communicate” with the people inside, offering signs of stress. These are the 5 indoor roofing red flags to keep an eye on.

1. Water, Water Anywhere

The number one leaky roof red flag is the presence of water anywhere it should not be. The location of the water can be misleading, and may not be an accurate indication of where the water is coming from. Don’t assume that water stains near a window are caused by the window itself. Water travels on the path of least resistance, and that means that moisture from the roof can run down walls and show up nearly anywhere in the building.

2. Moisture On The Ceiling

Condensation can accumulate on the ceiling tiles for many reasons and may not always indicate a roof leak. Sometimes it can be the result of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or plumbing issue. However, if it occurs on the top floor, odds are it’s caused by a roof leak. Any time condensation appears on the ceiling, the cause should be immediately investigated.

3. Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew require water to grow. If mold or mildew are spotted on or behind walls, this is a major roofing red flag. Again, this could be the result of a plumbing or ductwork issue, but in many cases of mold, water is likely getting in between the walls through the roof.

4. Rot In an Unused Area of the Building

Some buildings have restricted or unused areas that are not regularly visited by employees or tenants. When a section of a building is not populated, it can be a while before signs of leaks are found, which can cause rot. If rot is present in a little-used section of the building, the source may be the roof.

5. Irregular Roofing Inspections

When was the last time your roof was inspected by a professional roofing contractor? If no one on the facilities team can recall, or if it’s been more than a year, the building is at high risk for roof leaks, especially if that roof is more than a few years old.

Proactive Indoor Searches For Signs of Outdoor Damage

Leaks are often not spotted in their early stages, especially if you’re not conducting regular inspections and roofing maintenance check-ups. Typically, the first time a roofing red flag is noticed occurs when water is already dripping or pouring down into a building.

When facilities teams conduct inspections of the property, they should create a checklist for their examinations that includes:

    • Looking for signs of moisture on the ceiling.
    • Examining areas around windows and door openings for wetness, warp or rot.
    • Scanning for visible signs of mold or mildew.
    • Studying the roof deck, if visible, for signs of moisture.

Water leaks damage more than just the roof. If a leak is not detected early, or if it is not repaired in a way that corrects the damage done by the water, it can lead to widespread mold and mildew, drywall may need to be replaced, carpeting removed, window frames rebuilt, etc. These residual repairs can significantly add to the total cost of the repair.

The best way to keep water from getting inside is to ensure the roof is an impregnable barrier against the elements. Working with a trusted partner and expert can help keep water outside, where it belongs.