Tag: commercial roof inspection

What Facility Managers Should Know About Roof Inspections

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

Before a damaged roof can undergo repairs, it needs to be inspected by a professional roofer. We’ve created this guide to help facility managers better understand what they need to know about roof inspections.

What is a commercial roof inspection?

Annual commercial roof inspections are the first crucial step toward maintaining a roof throughout its lifespan. Inspections provide insight into how a roof is aging. A timely inspection can also alert facility managers to any incipient problems that may worsen with time. During an inspection, roofers examine a roof for regular wear and tear as well as unusual or accidental damage. Then, they issue an inspection report detailing their findings.  The report will inform facility managers if any repairs are needed and suggest maintenance measures to plan for in the near future.

When should you get an inspection?

Commercial roofs need inspections at least once a year, and it’s best to schedule inspections around the changing of each season. Seasonal changes in temperature or precipitation can cause damage to a roof if it is left unprepared. With an inspection, roofers can identify extraneous debris or aging materials that may not hold up well during a seasonal change and get them fixed before a problem arises.

Who performs a commercial roof inspection?

Facility managers and building maintenance staff should maintain a regular roof checklist that helps them keep tabs on a roof’s condition throughout the year. It’s especially important to check on a roof after a storm or severe weather event. In addition to these regular inspections, a professional roofer should inspect the roof several times a year in order to check for less obvious problems. Roofers can use equipment like drones or infrared cameras to assess hard-to-reach places and detect any existing moisture.

How do regular inspections impact your roof’s lifespan?

Commercial roofs can last for decades if they are properly maintained, but an unchecked problem can cause damage that will greatly shorten a roof’s life. With consistent inspections and a scheduled maintenance plan, businesses can save money and avoid stress.

If you’re ready to get started, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal today. Our team is ready to help guide you through the roof inspection process.

5 Ways to Prepare for a Commercial Roof Inspection

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

Regular inspections are essential to extending the life of a commercial roof. Without inspections, problems on the roof can go undetected and lead to deterioration. While inspections are necessary, they can be intimidating for building owners who haven’t gotten one before.

Here are some tips for what to do before getting a commercial roof inspection:

1. Do a self-inspection.

You’ll need a professional roofer to diagnose a problem, but a self-inspection can help identify areas of concern that the inspector should watch closely. Walk the roof, scanning for debris, standing water, and obvious damage. Take note of what you think the inspector should be aware of.

2. List known problems.

Often commercial building owners call in for an inspection because of a problem. This may be a leak or a loose piece of flashing. It could also be a strange noise coming from the roof or something else that doesn’t have a clear cause. Lay out these known problems in a list, and make sure your contractor explains the problem to you after the inspection.

3. Track down warranty information.

All your roof’s components should come with a manufacturer warranty. Warranties will help you get a repair or replacement for free in case of a defect, but they can be tricky to redeem. Having all of your warranty information on hand will help the inspector determine if any part of the roof qualifies for replacement.

4. Find a contractor.

The most important step in getting a roof inspection is finding the right contractor. Look for a roofing company with a good reputation and a long history in business. Try to find a company that can be a long-term partner in the health of a roof rather than a roofer who may not stay in business.

5. Get a customized management plan.

The first inspection should only be the beginning of a roof management plan that lasts the life of a commercial roof. Quality roofing companies can provide building owners with a comprehensive management plan that automatically schedules inspections and projects when repairs are likely to be needed. Developing a plan like this greatly extends the life of a commercial roof.

Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. offers forecasting assessments, inspections, and a full management plan called MAXCare®. To learn how the Maxwell team can turn a routine inspection into a plan to extend the life of your roof, contact us today.

The Importance of Reporting During Roofing Maintenance

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

Everyone knows that making a commercial roof last requires persistent maintenance and regular inspections. But, equally as important as the roof work itself are the reports that come from those inspections. Facility managers often overlook quality reporting as a desired quality in a roofing company. 

Here are a few reasons why you should care not just about maintenance but also about the reports that commercial roof inspections yield:

  • Proof and Understanding—Inspection reports provide detailed proof about what is happening on a roof. Top-notch inspection reports will include imaging—that may be photos, infrared moisture images, or drone footage—to show exactly why a roof needs repair. The best inspectors will walk building owners and property managers through exactly what the report says and explain why a problem needs fixing. The best roofers understand that not everyone understands how a commercial roof works, and they will ensure that their customers understand why they should spend money on this important part of their building’s structure. 
  • Preparation for the Future—Forecast assessments are used to determine a roof’s condition and predict what sort of maintenance and repairs will be required in the future. This type of assessment allows property managers to plan ahead and budget for roofing expenses instead of being caught off guard by an accident or emergency. These assessments are useless without a quality report that lays out a maintenance schedule and estimates a cost for future repairs.
  • Managing Warranties—All quality roof systems have warranties, but getting them fulfilled often requires a lot of work. A manufacturer is not simply going to hand out a refund. Instead, they will want proof and a report of an inspection. Professional roofing companies keep their employees up-to-date on warranties and ensure that inspectors are aware of the implications of their reports. A poorly done inspection report could cost your company thousands in a lost warranty.
  • Juggling Multiple Properties—Worrying about a commercial roof can be stressful, and property management companies often have dozens of roof maintenance schedules floating around on their calendars. Roof management programs like Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc.’s MAXCare® allow property management firms the ability to track all of their roofs in one online portal. Maxwell’s industry-leading reporting is at the center of MAXCare, informing all the maintenance schedules and budget planning.

Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc.’s roofers aren’t just trained to conduct thorough inspections, but they also learn how to make the best reports in the business. This is why Maxwell is consistently considered an industry leader in reporting. To learn more about what Maxwell can do for managing your commercial roof, contact us today.

What to Expect During a Commercial Roof Inspection

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

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.

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

Posted on by John Maxwell

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.