If you own a commercial building in our great state of Pennsylvania, you are probably very aware of maintenance issues on the inside of the building. However, it may not be so obvious to you that issues are developing or already present on the exterior of the building.
Nowhere is this more true than on its roof. All too often, the roof of a commercial building is “out of sight, out of mind.”
These are 3 common mistakes building owners are likely to do when replacing a commercial roofing system:
1. Lack of Roof Maintenance
Your roof is your the first line of defense of your building against severe weather conditions, including high heat and freezing temperatures, heavy rain and snow, and high wind conditions.
Roofing systems need regular inspection and maintenance to maintain their strength and integrity. All building systems degrade over time, and your roof takes the brunt of every seasonal extreme.
Any roof inspection must include the following 5 points:
a- Examining seams and edges for wear and tear
b- Checking for standing water or the effects of standing water
c- Examining fasteners of integrity
d- Examining drainage systems
e- Checking for any damage including holes and tears
Setting up a regular maintenance program for your commercial roof can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in costly repairs over the life of your roof.
2. A Lack of Understanding of Your Roofing System
There are a variety of commercial roofing systems that are commonly installed in Pennsylvania, each with its particular strengths and weaknesses. By understanding which type of roof you have on your building, you can be more aware of potential problems and proactively care for it.
Here are a few details that are helpful to know concerning your commercial roof:
– Age: You should know how old your roof is. If you do not know, a roofing professional should be able to provide a reasonably accurate estimate.
– Warranty: Understanding any warranties that exist and their details could save you significant money.
– Type: Your roof could be a single material system or a combination of various types including metal, PVC, EPDM, built-up or single ply membrane, modified bitumen, asphalt, tar or some other type. It is important to know how each substrate ages and reacts to weather conditions over time.
3. Being Overly Focused on Price
A total roof replacement can be very costly, but skimping on price by picking the cheapest roofer can cost you even more over time.
This may sound self-serving coming from a commercial roofer like Kautz Construction, but it is a fact that over the past 50 years we have been in this industry, our roof engineers and technicians have been called hundreds of times to do emergency repairs on a commercial roofing system that was just cheaply installed, and often built with subpar materials.
Experienced commercial roofing companies with professionally trained personnel know how to design, install, and maintain the specific type of roofing system that will perform the best over time for your particular situation.
If you ask for several quotes for a commercial roof replacement job, and any of the quotes you receive is much cheaper than the average, be very skeptical. The roofing contractor may cut corners, and this will come back to bite you in the future… especially if it is a fairly new company that provides low prices to get into the market.
Instead, consider the longevity of the commercial roofing contractor you plan to work with. Think about it: your roof will be around for many years. Do you want to be stuck with faulty workmanship from a roofing contractor that is no longer around a few years down the road?
Also, be aware of technological evolution. When the time comes to replace your roof, the better technical choice is probably not the same roofing system which is installed on your building currently.
Advances in types of roofing systems, materials, and installation technologies provide building owners with new opportunities to save money right now and over time with a superior product.
Bottom line: only work with a quality contractor specializing in commercial roofing. They will be able to offer options that will work with your budget and the ongoing maintenance needs of your roofing system.
Call Kautz Construction today at 717-290-7077 to schedule a complimentary roofing inspection.