5 Areas to Cover During Your Commercial Roofing Inspection

The idea of maintaining a commercial roofing system involves taking a proactive approach when it comes to problems that may compromise the roof’s structural integrity and performance. As a business owner or facilities manager, you must know which areas or aspects of the roof you want to examine.

There are five groups of commercial roofing features to consider when planning your routine inspection. These are the following:

1. Gutters and Drains

These features often accumulate leaves, dirt and other debris that may cause clogs that prevent water run-off from flowing freely away from your property. Clean them before standing water problems could seriously damage your other roofing components. Also, check the seals so that water flows through the drain and not around it.

2. Rooftop Penetrations

Anything that protrudes from the roof surface like vents, hatches, skylights and HVAC equipment must be considered as well. See to it that condensation coming from HVAC units is moving toward drains. Examine seams in roof units if they are tightly sealed. Check the areas around these penetrations to make sure there’s no damage to the roof surface.

3. Roof’s Surface Area

Walking on the roof of your commercial property during the inspection allows you to identify physical damage from excessive foot traffic, heavy objects and tools. Inspect for blisters or separation between the roof layers as well. These would require immediate roof repair. 

4. Flashings, Edges and Terminations

These roof features are some of the most vulnerable to damage and must be inspected thoroughly. Check for any cracks, splits or anything that could prevent them from functioning as intended. Also, masonry walls must be examined for deterioration resulting from moisture problems.

5. General Defects

These include checking for small holes on the roof surface, signs of wear and tear on the roofing material, and cracks that allow moisture to penetrate the inner roofing layers. Advanced tools like infrared scanners are often utilized to identify defects not visible to the naked eye.

To make sure all of these areas are covered, consider hiring the pros at Freedom Roofing & Construction, Inc. We can set up regular inspections and proactive maintenance plans so you won’t encounter roof-related surprises. With this, you can be sure your business runs smoothly, protecting your staff, inventory and investment.

Turn to us for your residential and commercial roof replacement and repair needs. Call us at (217) 393-6000, or fill out our contact form to request a quote. We serve Urbana, IL, and the surrounding areas.