Tag: Winter

5 Steps to Prepare Your Roof for Fall and Winter

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

The changing of the seasons is a prime time for roofing problems to begin or worsen, but there are a few simple steps you can take to prepare your roof for the temperature and weather change that accompany fall and winter. By taking these precautionary steps, you can winterize your roof and avoid some of the damage that can result during the colder months.   

1. Landscape in early fall.

Overhanging branches and overgrown trees are always something to be aware of when you’re assessing possible damage to your roof. That’s especially the case during the autumn months. Before temperatures drop too much, take the time to trim vegetation and remove any problematic trees before they begin dropping leaves, branches, or other debris. Anything you can avoid hitting your roof will help extend the life of your commercial roof.

2. Clean your roof.

During the fall, leaves, sticks, and even nesting materials can collect on a roof or in gutters and drains. While this might seem like just a minor nuisance, debris can damage a roof if left for too long. Leaves and sticks can block drains and allow moisture to pool on the roof. In the winter, this pooled water can freeze, causing damage. The end of fall is the ideal time for a roof cleaning in order to prepare for winter. When you’re cleaning your commercial roof or having your roof cleaned, check for debris and low-lying areas where water could collect. Both of these issues should be addressed before winter. 

3. Get a roof inspection.

As the weather gets colder, it’s critical that a commercial roof operates at peak performance. Missing a leak and winding up with wet insulation could be a disaster in cold weather. Getting a roof inspection is the best way to identify any small problems that could worsen as the seasons change.  

4. Finish repairs before winter set in.

Winter is not the best time for repairs. Snow and ice can create hazardous conditions for both the building owner and the workers. If your building has tenants living in it, they likely spend more time indoors in the winter and could be inconvenienced by leaks. Following your fall inspection, it’s best to get any repairs done as soon as possible before winter sets in.

5. Plan your winter maintenance. 

If snow is common where your building is located, it’s important to schedule a maintenance visit before your locale experiences snowfall. Choose a company familiar with commercial roofing to assess the condition of your roof before the winter. Ideally, photos of the roof in good condition could be taken to help support any insurance claims that might later result from storm damage. Scheduling a maintenance visit is a good idea to know your roof’s current health before the storms, high winds, hair, or other winter hazards.

If you’re ready to prepare your roof for fall and winter, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal today. Our team is ready to help.

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! 

Winterizing & Preparing A Commercial Building for Ice, Snow, and Cold

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

Winter is almost here. And, for the commercial roofing industry, that means that we’re gearing up for winterizing maintenance and inspections—an integral piece of any long-term roofing plan. We put a great deal of focus on this time of year for a few reasons that we’ll cover in this article. But, the most important reason is that we want to keep undue stress off you and your business—especially stress that is completely preventable. 

By working with your contractor to winterize and prepare your roof for ice, snow, and cold, you can extend your roof’s lifespan and keep your building safe. 

5 Essential Steps to Prepare a Commercial Building for Winter Weather

1. Consider your roof’s surroundings. 

If you see that your building is below tree limbs or other possible hazards, consider that winter elements like snow and ice can make those branches much heavier, causing them to fall. Your roofing contractor may recommend cutting a few of the branches, if possible, to protect your roof from the crushing blow of a broken tree limb. 

2. Schedule your routine inspection. 

At Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc., the one piece of advice that you will see in every one of our articles is to ensure that you stay up to date with your roof’s inspections and maintenance. This process will provide you and your roofing company with a good idea of the overall health of your roof and what you could do to extend its lifespan. Seemingly insignificant cracks or loose pieces can seem harmless, but they are far from it, especially as the seasons change. Your roofing contractor can spot those potential hazards and make a plan to take care of them before they snowball into future damage, or even a roof replacement. 

3. Clear all leaves and debris from your roof. 

In our fall checklist, you’ll see that we stress the importance of clearing leaves and debris from your roof’s gutters and drains. That is because when water can’t drain properly, it will begin to pond, especially on a flat roof. Standing water like this is already quite heavy—five pounds per square foot when the water is only standing one inch—and can easily freeze during the winter. Water can get into cracks and crevices of your roof’s membrane and freeze as well, expanding these areas and causing leaks or other damage. Additionally, wet leaves and debris can freeze into large blockages that create further drainage issues all winter long. It is much easier, and more efficient, to clear your gutters and drains on a set maintenance schedule so that you aren’t faced with avoidable damage. 

4. Discuss recommended repairs with your roofing partner.

Your roofing partner will likely recommend minor to major repairs. Discuss your options with them to determine what is best for the life of your roof and integrity of your building—as you want to protect your budget, but most importantly, you want to protect the people inside. 

5. Watch for possible signs of damage. 

Preventative maintenance will help protect your commercial roof in the winter. However, severe weather events, such as heavy snow or ice can damage your roof even when it’s in perfect condition. You and your team must be vigilant in taking note of any irregularities that you see, especially potential leaks. Alert your roofing contractor the moment that you see signs of roof damage to prevent further issues. 

Do you need help winterizing your commercial building’s roof? 

If you need help maintaining your roof throughout the winter, we can help. Don’t hesitate to contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today! Our team is equipped and ready to schedule your routine maintenance plan, repair damages, and uphold your building’s integrity.

How to Avoid Ice Damage on a Commercial Roof

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

Considering it’s only frozen water, ice is surprisingly adept at causing damage to a commercial roof. Left unprotected, a roof can emerge from winter much worse off than it was going in. Here’s some helpful information regarding what ice can do to a commercial roof and what to do to prevent damage.

Ice Damage to Commercial Roofs

When it gets cold, any water that is already on a roof may freeze and expand. This ice can block drains, buckle flashings, and expand gaps in the roof. Storms can also dump ice directly onto a roof. The weight of this ice can stress roof structures and, in some cases, even cause collapse. Even small amounts of ice will eventually melt, possibly causing water damage.

One of the most common problems is an ice dam on a roof. Ice dams occur when commercial roof ice melts and flows to the edge of a commercial roof. When this water re-freezes, it creates a wall, or dam, that can prevent future ice melt from leaving the roof. 

Preventing Ice Damage

Preventing ice damage on a commercial roof begins before winter even starts with an inspection in the fall. During this inspection, a roofer will examine the roof for moisture that may later freeze into ice. The inspector will also identify any clogs or blockages that will prevent ice melt from leaving the roof. For some roofs, the inspector may recommend a commercial roof ice system, known as an ice shield or ice guard.

Once winter is underway, some roofs may require regular de-icing. Chemical de-icers can prevent ice buildup during a storm and help clear a roof before ice buildup becomes a problem. It’s important to make sure that any chemicals used on the roof won’t damage the building materials and also comply with local environmental regulations.

Commercial Roof Ice Systems

Roof ice shields or ice guards are a protective coating that sits on top of a commercial roof deck. The membrane protects the roof from leaks as the ice melts. Once ice has melted, the water that doesn’t leave the roof will leak down to the ice guard, which will catch it and direct it toward the gutters. Installing this type of system in problem areas prevents standing water on a roof and ensures that ice doesn’t accumulate.

To learn more about how to protect your commercial roof from ice and snow, contact Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. today.

How to Prepare Your Commercial Roof for a Nashville Winter

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

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.

Preparing Your Roof for a North Alabama Winter

Posted on by Kathleen Maxwell

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.