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When you live in Atlanta, you already know that the weather loves to surprise you! The heavy rains and the scorching heat can hit your commercial roof pretty hard. Those small problems can quickly turn into big and expensive challenges later down the road. When you take care of your roof now, it can help to save you thousands of dollars.
It can also make your building last for more years. I'm here to share a few easy steps that every Atlanta business owner could follow.
Schedule some regular inspections, tackle repairs as soon as you find them, and also think about energy-efficient upgrades for your property. You deserve a roof that'll work hard for you.
Let's get your roof back into better shape and keep your business safe!
Why Are Regular Inspections Important?
Regular roof inspections might feel like some extra work. But they can save you from even bigger problems down the line. You should have your roof checked twice a year because spring and fall give you the best chance to catch some problems early! This easy schedule helps you to fix those problems before they get out of hand.
You need an inspection after the winter because ice, snow, and frigid temperatures can damage your shingles faster and create weak places. When you have your roof looked at in the spring, you can repair any winter damage before those summer storms hit hard.
I learned this the hard way when I skipped a spring check-up a few years back. A small leak turned into a serious problem during a heavy downpour.
The repair bill ended up costing far more than regular maintenance would have, and it disrupted my whole schedule. Fall inspections are just as big a part of your schedule as those in the spring. They help you to find damage from summer storms and the intense heat that might otherwise go unnoticed. Your inspector can point out problems before the winter weather makes them worse - which matters in a location like Atlanta, where summer storms can be pretty strong.
You might think that a few missing shingles are nothing to worry about. But when the rain hits hard, and the winds pick up, those small problems can give you some water damage even faster throughout your building. It's best to fix these kinds of problems while they're still small.
There's a big cost difference between checking your roof and dealing with serious emergency repairs. When you spend a few hundred dollars on an inspection, it can save you from shelling out thousands later. This includes things like the loss of business and damaged inventory that can happen if you need serious repair work. Most serious roof problems start out small and snowball if you don't catch them early on.
Atlanta's weather tests your roof in different ways. Our hot and humid summers, sudden thunderstorms, and unexpected winter freezes all combine to create a harsh environment. When you wait until you see a leak inside, it usually means the problem has already become serious. That's why prompt inspections matter.
Insurance businesses and warranty providers also care about regular maintenance. They usually need proof that you have been on top of your roof care. When you skip inspections, it might even void your coverage. Some policies even insist on professional check-ups twice a year just to keep your coverage valid. When you stay on top of these inspections, you keep your building and your insurance coverage in good shape.
The Interior And Exterior Checks
Your building will tell you when something is off with the roof. You just need to know how to find these signs inside and out!
Inside, water stains on your ceiling can give you a pretty clear hint that something isn't right. You might even smell a musty and damp odor on the top floor of your offices. It might feel like just an old building issue. But it likely points to a roof leak. You might also see mold creeping in where the walls meet the ceiling - this should set off alarm bells for you.
Up in your attic, you can catch roof problems early by taking a look around with a flashlight during the day. You need to check if any sunlight sneaks through the roof boards - that can show there's an opening where water might get in. You might also find that the insulation is damp or even compressed, which can mean water is where it shouldn't be. If you see high humidity up there, you can bet that your roof ventilation isn't working quite like it should.
Outside, the warning signs can be obvious sometimes, and other times, they need a look. You'll see missing shingles after a storm, which could be in plain view from the ground. When you find standing water on any flat section of the roof, this tells you that a leak is almost inevitable.
If you see those little granules from your shingles washing into the gutters, it might feel like nothing serious. But it shows that your roof is older.
Around the vents and the chimneys, keep an eye out for the very first clues of an issue. You might find that the metal flashing begins to pull away - it'll give water the perfect path to sneak in. Then moisture might follow your roofing material and cause damage over time.
After a hailstorm, you'll find that hail damage can be tough because it doesn't always cause leaks. You might see some small and shallow dents in the shingles that seem harmless. But they actually cut into your roof's expected lifespan. You want to get started on your roof after storms like these to catch any problems before they grow worse.
Critical Roof Zones To Check
Regular roof maintenance works to help protect your building and help you stay away from any growing problems. It helps you to see those vulnerable areas early so that even small problems don't turn into expensive disasters over time.
Your roof's perimeter is the first line of defense against strong winds and heavy rain. It helps to make sure that any gaps in your base flashing won't let water get in and damage your walls or foundation.
Gutters can also create problems if you don't clear them out. When leaves and debris pile up, your gutters stop doing their regular job. Water starts to back up and create pools on your roof. That standing water then weakens your roofing materials over time.
You might run into a situation where a tear around a roof vent seems small. After a few heavy storms, that small tear lets in enough water to harm your inventory and your equipment.
It can even harm the structure of the whole building. Take some extra steps when inspecting roof penetrations.
Every pipe, every vent, and every HVAC unit can be a weak point on your roof. These locations become problem areas faster because they break up the continuous surface of your roofing materials.
Even the smallest gap here can cause water damage to your building. Atlanta's extreme weather puts extra stress on these weak points.
Summer heat causes materials to expand and contract. Heavy rains test each seal or connection over and over. Winter freezes can turn small cracks into more serious problems. These are usually the first locations where wear or damage shows up.
You also need to check areas where two different roofing materials meet. Just to give you an example, look where your roof meets a wall or where two slopes come together. When you flash these areas, your roof can stay watertight. If you miss or damage flashing here, leaks or water damage can start to develop much faster.
Essential Maintenance Tasks
Commercial roofs in the Atlanta area take a real beating from the weather. You need to make sure that you take care of your roof. The intense heat and storms wear it down faster than you might expect! You see, the sizzling summer days and those sudden Georgia thunderstorms push your roof to its limits. It makes scheduling maintenance a big part of staying away from serious problems later on.
Debris is one of your roof's worst enemies. You should clear it away as soon as possible because it builds up faster - especially during the fall months. Leaves, twigs, and other debris can clog your gutters or pool around your drain areas, which gives water the perfect chance to cause damage.
Think about a business owner we worked with who let his gutters fill with wet and rotten leaves all year long. You would be surprised to know how those leaves ended up rotting his fascia boards completely.
Water should always have a clear path off your roof. You have to keep your drainage system clear, or any clog forces water to find an unwanted path to go. When water seeps under your roofing materials, it creates leaks that might not show up until they have already weakened your building's structure. This danger is why it matters to check your drainage, too.
Regular inspections let you catch problems while they're still small. It helps to walk on your roof every few months. You might find loose fasteners, damaged membranes, or small cracks in the structure of your building. Even if a loose screw around a vent looks small, it can become the perfect opening for water to sneak in. It'll give you even more damage later.
Binoculars can be a tool for you during inspections, and they're used to check those hard-to-reach areas without the need to climb up on the roof. You might find problems like missing shingles or damaged flashing from the ground. That's especially true for bigger commercial buildings where climbing onto the roof isn't always easy or even possible.
Atlanta's scorching summer heat tests your roofing materials. You should make sure that you keep an eye on your roof's seals. The non-stop expansion and contraction from the heat causes these seals to break down over time.
Those gaps might start off small. But over time, you can expect them to grow bigger with every season unless you take the time to check and repair them during the warmer months!
Why Documentation And Warranties Matter
When you keep regular maintenance logs, it might feel like boring and tedious paperwork. But they help you out when you need to file an insurance claim. Business owners have learned this the hard way when claims get rejected because the records weren't in order. The records show the insurers that you have been taking care of your property.
Your warranty may depend on following the rules set by the manufacturers and contractors. You can end up losing thousands of dollars if you hire someone who isn't licensed. One business owner did when a faulty repair ended up voiding their warranty. That small mistake cost them quite a bit.
Small errors can have big consequences. Even the small repairs deserve to be documented. That quick patch job you did last summer might feel insignificant. But it could matter later.
Insurers and manufacturers want to know that you have been maintaining your roof over time. Without the right paperwork, it might feel like you have been neglecting your responsibilities. When you put together your roof maintenance records, it's not tough once you set up an easy filing system. Online copies of all your inspection reports and repair invoices (plus any warranty papers) should all be organized together.
You should also take photos before and after any work is done. If there's ever a dispute over damage or repairs, your records can stand as proof of what was done.
Some business owners skip steps like registering their warranties or meeting maintenance deadlines. They might use materials that are unauthorized or lose track of the original paperwork. These things can come back to hurt you when you need to file a claim.
Your maintenance records tell the story of how well you have cared for your roof. When storms cause damage, these documents matter for your insurance claim. When you have your paperwork ready, it may mean receiving a quick payout and reaching a fair resolution!
Protect The Roof Over Your Head
When you take care of your commercial property, it means that you're making better decisions about maintenance - especially for the roof! You should try to stay away from the dangers that come with handling everything all on your own. Stories about DIY fixes that end poorly are just too common. Think back to a time when even a small leak was patched, only for it to cause a bigger issue during heavy rain.
That situation reminds you that, even though some tasks could be easy, others will need the help of experts. You also need to remember the need for reliable security.
The extra cost of a repair that goes wrong or the danger of voiding your warranty isn't something you should ignore. These facts mean that calling in the pros is usually the better choice to take care of the roof.
Colony Roofers is here to help you. We have commercial and residential roofing services. Our team works out of Georgia, Florida, and Texas to protect your property wherever it could be located.
Trust our experts to manage the repairs for your roof with the expertise and care that your investment needs! Reach out to us for a free inspection, and let's make sure we get the work right the first time. Get in touch to keep your property safe and protected.
