When it comes to maintaining your commercial building, it’s important to have a process in order to make sure nothing is missed. Your property’s roof is a critical system and requires regular maintenance. Doing a general inspection of your building’s flat roof is a smart decision. If you find any problems, you’ll know you need to call a contractor to take a more in-depth look and inform you of what needs to be done.
1. Preparing Your Flat Roof Maintenance Checklist
The typical commercial membrane roof, when properly installed and maintained can give you, on average, around 20-25 years of service before it needs replacement. Keeping a log is a valuable tool for keeping track of service calls, regular maintenance, and more.
• Keep a record of everyone who goes onto the roof. Be thorough and record when, where, and why they were doing on the roof. Keep detailed records of what was found during an inspection, and any repairs you were advised to have done. Also, keep track of any repairs completed to the roof.
• Record the condition of each item you inspect including seams, vents, and other components like skylights and drainage. Do they need repairs or replacement? Where on the roof are they located? This information is valuable for your contractor as it can give them a general idea of the scope of work and materials needed. You can also give them a precise location and condition of the problems you found. Record this information in your roof log along with pictures of any damage.
Create a toolkit to make your roof general inspections go smoothly. Make sure it includes:
• A copy of your checklist along with a pen and pencil for taking notes.
• A camera for taking pictures of any damage or questionable areas of the roof.
• A copy of any roof plans, and aerial photos, and a log of repairs.
• A tape measure for recording precise measurements of any holes, rips, or items needing repair.
• A flashlight for dark areas
These are just general guidelines to help you get organized and make sure your inspection is thorough and documented.
2. Inside The Building
If you’ve prepared the items in the previous section, you’re ready to begin a general inspection to determine if you need to call in a professional. There are some significant signs to watch out for inside your building which can indicate a problem in need of repair.
Start inside the building on the top floor.
- What is the state of the walls?
- Is the paint peeling?
- Do the walls have wet spots or show signs of mold?
- Check the area around vents for damp spots.
- Make sure your roof is properly ventilated.
- Visually check for cracks in the rafters and sheathing.
- Make sure there is no sagging decking which may need to be replaced or light showing anywhere that it shouldn’t be.
- Look for leaks.
If you find any leaks make a notation where they are and take pictures to show your contractor. Water and time can create serious issues which need to be addressed immediately or they can quickly become more expensive to repair. Your contractor can perform a more thorough inspection and advise you on how to proceed and the costs involved.
3. From Outside The Building
After inspecting the interior, now it’s time to inspect the exterior of the building. Avoid getting on your roof is possible, it’s best left to professionals who know how to traverse the roof.
- Look for any debris like tree limbs, or leaves.
- Look for obvious signs of damage like tears or separating seams.
- Check and see if the roofing material is pulling away from the roof.
- Check flashing, vents, and drainage systems.
- Carefully look for holes, punctures, or blisters in the membrane material.
- Look for “ponding” or puddles of standing water on the roof.
If you find any of these, contact a contractor as soon as possible. Having an experienced contractor inspect your roof ensures you’ll have the best service done possible. If you live in Central Florida, give the experts at Alan’s Roofing a call. With over 30 years of experience, we’ve built our reputation on quality work and a commitment to customer service. Contact us and schedule a free estimate today!
