The roof of a commercial building’s is its first line of defense from wind, rain, fire, hail, ice, snow, and extreme heat. Every day, your roof is exposed to elements that may contribute to its decay and deterioration, increasing the damage to the roof and to the contents and people it protects below it.
The safety standards for commercial buildings are set by The International Building Code (IBC) and require that roofs “serve to protect the building.” So in order to have a roof that “protects the building” it starts with the design, materials selected, and installation. This should also include a plan of regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs if needed in order to maximize the life of your roof and to ensure its doing its job in protecting your business from weather damage.
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF A ROOF PROBLEM
If it’s been a while since you’ve had your roof inspected, your first priority should be to inspect it and identify and fix any major problems.
Serious problems may have already become apparent even from inside the building, such as water stains on a ceiling, cracked ceiling or a hole in the roof. The smallest leaks can even become a sign of big trouble. Also if the building has unexplained mold or odors inside, this is an indication that a roof leak has resulted in water penetration. As interior water damage or mold may signal trouble, you must visually inspect the roof itself to look for the leaks because they will worsen over time if not addressed in a timely fashion.
Depending on the slope of the roof, inspections sometimes can be done by the building owner; however it always makes more sense to have a commercial roofing contractor to make sure the job is done safely and correctly.
