How to Prepare Your Commercial Roof For the Winter

Winter is a harsh season that can cause issues for you and especially your commercial building. Your roof is your first line of defense against natural hazards and inclement weather. Hot and cold weather causes your roof to contract and expand, which can weaken it. This is why it’s important to get a professional to inspect your commercial roofing in the fall or before the snow arrives. This way you can put together a snow removal plan and are able to fix any repairs that your roof needs at this time.

Fixing things as they break will actually cost you more than routine inspections and maintenance. If you are proactive with maintaining your roof, it will have a longer lifespan than that of a roof that is not maintained or only inspected a few times a year.

Autumn is the perfect time to start winterizing your commercial roof. If you have a flat roof, you might have issues like membrane damage, clogged drains, ponding water or debris, which can all cause major winter leaks. These leaks can then have a domino effect on the rest of the building and risk its integrity, and it will be much harder and much more expensive to fix. These leaks can be completely avoided should you understand the risks and undergo a thorough roof inspection beforehand.

So how can you prepare your commercial roof for the winter?

Keep Up With Your Roof’s History

Knowing how old your roof is and its maintenance history is very useful when it comes time to winterize it. It’s important to know this information so your roof contractor can make an accurate assessment. Although you can detect some signs of potential roof issues like ceiling stains, it’s best to get the help of a professional contractor. A roofing contractor will know what to look for in the structure of the roof.

Schedule An Inspection

Fall is a great time of year to schedule an inspection for your commercial roof. Regular inspections will catch smaller problems before they become bigger and more expensive problems down the line. Routine maintenance is also a requirement to maintain your roof’s warranty in most cases.

Perform Recommended Repairs

After the inspection, it is important to go through with making the recommended repairs to your commercial roof.

Roof Cleaning

During your inspection, your roof contractor needs to make sure that your roof and gutters are free from any debris. Debris such as garbage, leaves or branches should be removed. Your roofing contractor will make sure to remove anything that doesn’t belong up there.

Look At Your Roof’s Surroundings

Look at surrounding trees and limbs which might hang over your roof and be hazardous. Snow adds weight to branches, and these can fall and damage your building.

Being prepared is the best preventative measure for keeping your roof and building safe during the winter. Having a plan is always the best course of action for any emergencies or snow removal. Contact Oakwood Roofing today to get started on winterizing your roof.