Fall Roof Inspections for Commercial Properties
Before winter arrives, property managers should have their commercial roofs inspected. This is because fall roof inspections fit well in terms of seasonality and operations at many properties. While the benefits of commercial roof inspections are well known, here’s why the fall is one of the two best times of year to have a roof inspected.
Budgeting and Capital Expenditures
Since the fall means budget and capital for most properties, it is one of the best times to perform a roof inspection. Due toroof replacement costs easily exceeding $100,000, knowing a roof’s condition is extremely important during the budget and capital planning process. This is why roof replacements are common CapEx project. Property managers, however, can’t plan without knowing the condition of their roof. Fall roof inspections provide the most up to date information to guide property managers in the decision making process.
Post Hurricane Season Roof Inspections
Even though hurricanes do not impact the entire country, they pose a significant threat throughout the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Whenever a storm makes landfall, properties in the area need a post storm roof inspection. Properties hit with severe weather, but not a direct landfall from a hurricane, should also schedule a roof inspection. This is because harsh weather can still cause significant damage to commercial roofing systems. Even though hurricane season officially runs through November 30th, storm activity peaks around September 10th. Consequently, fall roof inspections make sense for commercial properties in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Winter Ready Commercial Roofs
While property managers in the Northeast and Midwest do not worry about hurricanes, they must worry about snow and winter weather. This is because snow accumulation can cause a number of problems on flat and low slope commercial roofs. In a worst case scenario, snow accumulation will cause a roof to fail completely and collapse into the building. While this is rare, it is a catastrophic problem. In addition to a roof collapse, snow buildup can lead to roof leaks and all the problems associated with water penetrations into a a commercial building.
Reviewing Summer Heat Damage
Lastly, areas of the country that experience intense summer heat, fall roof inspections offer a chance to see how much damage was caused by the summer heat, sun and humidity. This is especially important for older buildings, as older roofs are more susceptible to heat damage. While heat and humidity impact roofing systems differently, they will eventually create issues for flat, low and steep slope roofs.
- Thermal shock leading to roof leaks
- Discoloration and fading
- Degradation from heavy UV ray exposure
- Condensation build up resulting in leaks
In time, all of these concerns can lead to major roof issues at commercial properties. This is another reason why the fall is a great time of year to have an annual roof inspection. Once summer is over, the roof inspection can properly assess any damage caused by summer heat, sun and humidity exposure.
Find Commercial Roofers Using BidSource
While there are many ways to find commercial roofers for fall roof inspections, property managers can use BidSource to have the Property Manager Insider team connect you with a local roofing contractor.
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