Tag: summer

A Seasonal Guide to Commercial Roofing Maintenance

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

If you’re familiar with Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc., you’ll know that we make preventative maintenance and repairs a priority for our commercial roofing customers. We support our customers with tools, such as MAXCare® and provide a comprehensive set of solutions that help them to get the maximum lifespan out of their roofing investment. In addition, it’s important to us that we help educate our customers, so that they feel well-equipped and confident to keep their commercial roofs lasting longer. So, no matter the time of year, here’s what you should know about preventative maintenance during every season.

Winter

Your commercial roof will be vulnerable after ice and snow storms during the winter months, with a chance of hail damage at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Though it may seem as though your roof was not damaged during a storm, it is essential that you have it inspected. The roof may have sustained damage that you cannot see at first glance. For instance, with hail damage, although the hail did not penetrate the roof, it can cause spider cracking and lead to further damage down the line. Proactive repairs can prevent this issue.

Resources to check out: 

Spring 

Hail could still present issues in the spring months, but your biggest concerns will be heavy rains and high winds. In Nashville, Tennessee, we saw both a tornado and a derecho in 2020. Though these instances can be rare, it’s always a good idea to have someone do a visual inspection to ensure that no storm damage has occurred. As the rains are typically heavy during these months, you should also consider that your drains should be free of debris so that any water can make its way off the roof easily.

Resources to check out: 

Summer

Though you can expect some thunderstorms that may cause damage, summer is often the time that businesses take advantage of the calm weather to start new projects. It is hot and humid; however, the summer is when you have the most time to make the proper repairs without major interruptions—such as it being too cold in the winter or too rainy in spring. This time is especially important, considering that some roofing products must be a certain temperature before they are effective, eliminating the possibility for some projects in the winter. This is also a great time to make sure that your building is well-insulated and that the reflective quality and roof are clean to optimize energy-savings. 

Resources to check out: 

Fall

In the fall, you’ll want to be vigilant about cleaning your gutters and drains, so that they are free of fallen leaves and other debris. This maintenance step keeps your drainage flowing and can prevent pooling water and leaks. You will also need to be aware of any repairs that need to be made, preparing your roof to be water-tight before you head into winter.

Resources to check out: 

Is Your Commercial Roof on a Maintenance Schedule?

Our team is experienced and ready to help. We offer a comprehensive set of roofing services, as well as MAXCare® to help you stay on top of maintenance and Maxwell Monitors to help you monitor the state of your roof if you don’t have the capacity. The more damage we can prevent, the longer your roof lasts, and you can keep your building and its people safe. If you’re ready to get started, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today! 

A Summer Checklist for Commercial Roof Maintenance

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

Have you begun preparing your commercial roof for the summer heat? Extreme heat and humidity can damage your roof if it’s not properly monitored, inspected, and repaired. The summer temperatures are rising fast, and we want to help you protect your commercial roof from premature replacement or costly damages. To help, we’ve put together a list of items for you and your team check when the summer heat creeps up on you. 

  • Identify any holes or damaged pieces. Even small damages could potentially make your roof vulnerable to leaks. Ensure that every piece of your roof is not properly secured.
  • Clean all debris. If you find any loose limbs, leaves, or other debris on your roof, remove it, so that it doesn’t block water drainage or attract pests.
  • Inspect your roof’s flashing. Identify any potential damage or irregularities in your roof’s flashing, as they may become increasingly worse over time and cause water damage. Pay particular attention to any spots that look loose or buckled.
  • Check your roof’s penetration areas. Identify any gaps in caulking around penetrations or masonry panel joints.
  • Look for water stains on the walls and ceilings. If you see any water stains in your building, this could indicate that your roof has a small existing leak that could become worse over time.
  • Schedule regular inspections with your contractor. Your commercial roofing partner can set up a regularly scheduled inspection to ensure that all maintenance is taken care of, issues are identified, and damages are repaired. This keeps your roofing investment lasting longer throughout harsh weather conditions.

The Importance of Regular Inspections

In any season, your best protection against harsh weather conditions is a regular inspection from your commercial roofing contractor. Self-inspections are important, as you can identify problem areas for your contractor to address; however, it’s crucial that your roofer is doing a more thorough inspection so that they can fix any issues prior to them becoming large-scale damages. This schedule ensures that your company’s commercial roof lasts as long as possible, making your roofing budget stretch further. At Maxwell, our customers rely on our MAXCare® program to stay on top of their roof maintenance, invoices, documentation, and more. 

Our New Service, Maxwell Monitors

As we noticed that our customers’ needs were changing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our team worked to design a new monitoring service, Maxwell Monitors. Whether your building is currently unoccupied or it’s business as usual, we have a service plan to ensure that your facility is monitored. This service offers monitoring plans as well as a downloadable inspection checklist that will help your team identify potential problems. We can monitor your building so that you can focus your time and energy on your employees, customers, and core functions.  

Contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today to schedule an inspection.

How to Prepare Your Commercial Roof for Summer Heat

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

As we’re enjoying the mild temperatures of spring, summer is right on its heels. It’s getting warmer by the day, and soon enough, the extreme temperatures of summer will be here. Now is the time to consider how you will prepare your commercial roof for the summer heat and humidity—before they begin to deteriorate your roof’s materials. In this article, we’ll share how the summer heat can damage your commercial roof and what you can do to protect it.

How Summer Heat Can Damage Your Commercial Roof

Summer heat and humidity pose a significant threat to the integrity of your commercial roof. Here are a few of the issues that you must be on the lookout for throughout the summer:

Thermal Shock—Summer temperatures rise quickly during the day, and fall quickly at night. Severe temperature changes, known as thermal shock, can cause your roof to warp or create gaps over time.

Sun Damage—The sun degrades roofing materials if they aren’t properly treated, which can cause bleaching or blackening of the roof.

Drying—When roof linings or structural materials dry out from the heat, they become brittle and crack. If left untreated, those fractures can damage the structural integrity of the roof or degrade its waterproofing materials.

Moisture Retention—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.

How to Prepare Your Commercial Roof for Summer Heat

Your primary defense from the summer heat is a regular roofing inspection. Important throughout the year, inspections allow your roofer to mitigate issues before they snowball into serious, and costly, damages. An inspector will look at the interior and exterior of your building to identify signs of weather damage and normal wear and tear. 

We mentioned a few potential heat damages in the section above. Here are other signs of damage an inspector might find:

  • Water stains on the walls and ceilings
  • Cracks in the walls or roof materials
  • Loose or buckled flashing
  • Gaps in caulking around penetrations or masonry panel joints
  • Cracks or blisters in the membrane
  • Loss of UV reflective granules

Any of the damages we’ve discussed could have been caused by heat or will be made worse throughout the summer as temperatures increase. Regular inspections are crucial to catch these issues early and extend the lifespan of your commercial roof. Proactive maintenance like this allows your business to get more value out of your roofing investment, saving your budget. 

As you plan for your next building project or your next roof replacement, talk to your roofing professional to choose the best materials for your region and the typical weather conditions.

Contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today to get a quote on your next commercial roofing project. Our team of experts is here to help you choose the materials that best fit your building’s needs.

5 Ways Summer Heat Can Affect a Commercial Roof

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

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