As we head into winter, every commercial building owner or business that owns a commercial building should be thinking about how to prepare their roof for the winter weather. Commercial roofing is designed and built to be durable, but winter weather can be severe and aging roofing materials can lead to extensive damage and costly repairs.
The goods news that there’s still time to make the necessary repairs to your commercial roof before the winter weather sets in for the long run. Here are a few ways you can get your roof ready for the winter.
Assess its Inspection History
When was the last time your building had a roof inspection? Do you even know this date? If you’ve recently acquired the property, you’ll want to try and figure out how old the roof is, how long ago it has been since repairs have been performed, and what repairs have been completed.
If it has been some time since its last inspection, bring in a team of commercial roofing professionals to make sure everything is prepared to handle the winter weather.
Check for Proper Drainage
Snow will pile up, melt, and then continue to pile up all throughout the winter. Without proper drainage, water will not be able to escape the rooftop. As temperatures dip, this water will freeze, only to have more snow eventually pile on top of it. This can lead to structural issues and extensive damage. Make sure that your commercial roof has proper drainage and that those drains are clear before the snow begins to pile up.
Take Care of Leaks ASAP
If you’ve been having issues with leaks, even if they are minor, they can cause big issues in the wintertime. Small leaks may not be a large issue during the driest point of the summer, but during the winter they can become a much larger issue. The leaks you have in your roof cannot wait until spring to be fixed. It’s best to get them taken care of before they become worse over the winter.
Don’t Rule Out a Roof Replacement
All the repairs in the world cannot save an old and failing roof. If it’s time to replace your building’s roof, it’s worth it to have it done before the winter sets in. Repairs and new roofs can be completed over the winter, but it’s always going to be on a “weather permitting” basis. To avoid having to wait to get your commercial roof replaced, take the initiative and get the work done as soon as possible.
Need a quote on your commercial roofing job? Get in touch with our roofing experts today!
