Commercial Roof Moisture

What You Should Know About The Types of Industrial and Commercial Roof Moisture

As a commercial building owner, you’re supposed to be aware of the things that can affect your building, as well as your roof so that you can prevent it. If you have a flat roof on your commercial building, you should be particularly concerned about moisture and how it affects the integrity of your roof.

Take winter, for instance, when it’s a clear night, the temperature on your roof’s surface can drop and become below ambient temperature. If you own a roof that’s made of tin, asbestos, aluminum, or other single-skin materials, the roof’s internal temperature will be the same as its external temperature because of the absence of thermal resistance between both sides. So, whatever moisture is in the internal atmosphere will get condensed and lead to the formation of droplets.

Seeing as your roof is the protector of your company, business, and properties, you need to be aware of all the kinds and levels of moisture to look out for.

Construction Moisture

During construction, some moisture can get trapped in your building, especially those that form during the process of painting and dry welling as the concrete undergoes curing. The moisture in the atmosphere gets released, and if the construction company isn’t careful, it can be an oversight on their part. However, with the experience we have, such a mistake will not occur.

Workforce Moisture

Do you know that when you have people in your building simply carrying out their work, moisture can be created? As the people working go about their jobs, you will experience several levels of moisture in the atmosphere, and you have to be mindful of that.

Limited Moisture Levels

When warm air moves upwards, it goes along with moisture, and this moisture can get trapped in the membrane and insulation of the roof. An ideal building setting is one where there are two insulation layers and staggered joints. However, if there is only one insulation installed in your building, you will most likely need cover boards for added protection.

Higher Moisture Levels 

When condensation builds up on your roof, it can cause severe harm to your roof, especially in buildings that are prone to low-slope roof moisture such as those housing swimming pools and gyms. Buildings that create steamy environments, such as massage parlors and saunas could also be affected by higher levels of moisture.

Ideally, ventilation and air conditioning ought to be installed during construction or modification to prevent harmful moisture.

With this information in mind, preventing all potential roof moisture will save you and your business from a world of problems, as well as financial costs.

How To Hire A Commercial Roofing Contractor

How You Choose The Right Commercial Roofing Contractor 

When looking for a roofing contractor, the thought of all the things you need to check, consider, and confirm can dissuade you from even beginning the process. You need to look for experience, certification, reliability, skills, and even cost-effectiveness, all in one company.

Sometimes you might even be tempted to choose a company that sends you an affordable quotation over an expensive one simply because you want to save cash. However, even at that moment, you need to remember that a cheap job might come with cheap materials, which will be detrimental to your commercial building over time.

It is certain that you have to put a lot of thought into your choice-making process, but do you know where to begin and how to go about it?

Let us give you a guide that will help you as recommended by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors:

Invite three contractors to inspect your roof and ask them to send you a quote for the job after inspection.

Study the quote based on the important areas, as well as the reputation of the contractor. Contact your local NFRC Regional Manager to ask questions if you have any confusion.

Ask the contractor for a guarantee on their work or the promise of refurbishment work. After getting a guarantee from the contractor, you can also look into the NFRC guarantee that serves as a backup to the contractor’s guarantee. If you are looking for a reliable and trusted commercial roofing contractor in the Southwest of the US we recommend to check out SW Commercial Roofing service area.

Just like the quote and estimate, make sure the guarantee is explicitly spelled out in writing.

Be aware that the estimates presented for refurbishment are subject to change once the contractor removes the covering and sees the sub-structure underneath.

Always ensure to finalize and agree on the terms and processes of payment before beginning the work. Be mindful of how much you make as an upfront payment to avoid a situation where things go wrong and you can’t get your money back.

Don’t seek free advice from contractors if you don’t plan to hand them the contract.

If planning permission is needed for your property, it is your responsibility to get it.

If your refurbishment work will cover 50% or more of your roof’s area, you’ll need to employ a competent roofer or ask your Local Authority Building Control to come around and observe things before you start working. This process is carried out to get confirmation whether the roof should be upgraded in line with the thermal requirements in the Building Regulations.

Commercial Roof Maintenance

How To Maintain Your Commercial Property Roof 

The benefits of a commercial roof go beyond just protecting your building from the elements. When you set up a good commercial roof, you are able to enhance the beauty of your building while saving energy and other costs, and these benefits will be continually enjoyed when you maintain it as well.

To avoid spending loads of money on roof replacement prematurely, you need to ensure that you’re carrying out regular maintenance as a preventive measure to keep your roof healthy for the longest time.

Regular commercial roof maintenance offers you a ton of benefits now and in the long haul. It’ll help ensure that you aren’t plagued with small issues like blocked drains or large issues like leakage and destruction.

How Often Should You Maintain Your Commercial Roof?

It is advised that you have a professional roofer check out your roof every six months, This inspection and maintenance will ensure that issues like leaks and sagging are fixed immediately after they are noticed. Weak areas will be strengthened and simple problems will be solved quickly to prevent worse damage.

What Does Commercial Roofing Maintenance Entail?

The first thing that roofing maintenance entails is keeping your roof clean. It might not seem like much, but cleaning your roof is a way to take pressure off your roofing material, especially if you have a flat roof. Flat roofs are home to debris, piles of leaves, and the like. Before you know it, they create an abode for the storage of water, and the next thing you know, mold and rot develop because of the moisture, thereby breaking down the materials and causing holes in the roof.

Another thing you need to do when maintaining your roof is to check for leaks and repair them. The period after winter is specifically timely and important because harsh weather conditions in winter can cause considerable wear and tear to your roof. If leaks result from the tearing, water will make its way into your property and its effects could be anywhere from inventory damage to a massively expensive problem that needs repair.

When you want to carry out your maintenance, it is important to hire an experienced commercial roofer or engage the services of a roofing company that can repair and maintain your commercial roof.

However, you must ensure that the roofer is certified and experienced and has a safety plan.

Types of Commercial Roofs 

3 Most Common Commercial Roofing Types

Commercial roofing and residential roofing is different in several ways, including the materials, processes, costs, and a couple of other features.

When working on a commercial roof, three main considerations should be front of mind, which are stability, durability, and cost-effectiveness. With these in mind, you can now decide on the type of roof that is suitable for that commercial building.

It is also important to bear in mind that different commercial roofing systems have their advantages and disadvantages. It is important to consider these advantages and disadvantages before choosing a commercial roofing material for your building. Here are some materials to consider.

Pitched Roofs

Pitched roofs are loved and coveted for their aesthetic value, but they cost a lot, which is why some commercial building owners eventually move away from them.

They also have an edge over other commercial roofing materials because they can handle drainage because they are steep. One thing you should know is that a steep roof makes it easy for debris and liquid to roll off, thereby reducing the chances of roof damage or leakage.

So, when you purchase a pitched roof, you can rest assured that you will have fewer risks of water build-up, and by extension, fewer chances of leaks and mold damage.

It also helps to reduce the incidence of roof repairs and maintenance due to its steep nature compared to other flat roofs.

Pitched roofs also have the longest lifespan compared to other types of roofing materials for commercial buildings, thereby satisfying its cost.

Flat Roofs

Flat roofs are probably the most common commercial roofs you will come across, probably because of their cost-effectiveness when compared to steep and pitched roofs. They also need less material when working with them.

Some other advantages of flat roofs include the fact that they are easy to install, they don’t cost much in the way of installation fees, and they have lower maintenance and repair costs compared to other commercial roofing materials.

When carrying out maintenance on flat roofs, the workers are more comfortable and safe because they have stable ground to stand on while carrying out draining or repair.

Commercial building owners also love flat roofs because of their versatility, as well as the fact that the flatness of the roof makes it perfect to install solar panels outside.

Low Sloped Roofs

This roof is commonly used for very large buildings like industries, factories, and warehouses, and it is similar to flat roofs in many ways.

The low-sloped roof has a pitch that allows water to run off the roof after it rains or snows. Due to the design of the roof, the water automatically has a direction it should take as it runs off the roof, which is the drains, saddles, and valleys.

Low-sloped roofs also have less roofing area, which means that you require fewer sizes of roofing materials, thereby saving you costs. Roofers also consider low-sloped roofs safer for them to work on, compared to steep-slope or high-pitched roofs, so they will charge a lower fee for commercial roof installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement because it is easier for them to handle.

Seeing as the slight pitch present on the low-sloped roof allows water to flow freely and prevents puddling, you won’t need to deal with water problems often.

Commercial Roofing Estimate Guide

What to Expect From A Commercial Roofing Estimate?

Are you looking to repair or replace your commercial roof in Phoenix AZ? You might be wondering what you should know, prepare, and the like. You might also be wondering whether the estimate you’ll get from a commercial roofing company is genuine and fair, or if it is inflated.

Maybe you have no idea what a commercial roofing estimate should contain in the first place.

The first thing to know about commercial roofing estimates is that a company will carry out an inspection and assessment before giving you an estimate. That way, they know the problems that exist with the roof and what they need to do to correct it. All experts are thorough with this process. In fact, some people even use drones to study all angles of the roof.

We are one of the roofing companies that use drones to inspect some aspects of your commercial building. We use the latest drone technology to survey your roof in a process that’s safer, faster, and cost-effective.

With our drone technology, our pilots can gather information faster, especially in areas of your roof that are often difficult for people to reach. You’ll see clear footage of these areas in 4k videos or high-resolution pictures.

While some contractors could give you a quote on the spot, most contractors would rather take their time to prepare the quote and ensure that the quote is thorough and accurate, to avoid issues down the line.

What does a commercial roofing estimate cover? 

The average roofing estimate should cover the cost of materials, labor, warranty, delays, etc.

Materials

A commercial roofing estimate will contain a listing and costing of the materials needed for the roof, as well as the manufacturers and quality of the material. Some contractors will even include details of two or more materials from different manufacturers.

Labour

While some contractors choose to include labor costs in the estimate for materials, others will keep labor costs separately.

Warranty

A roofing estimate should always contain details about the warranty written out in plain and understandable terms, including the warranty for materials and maintenance. A long-term warranty that comes along with maintenance is what you need.

Timeline

A roofing estimate should always stipulate the timeframe the contractor plans to spend on the roofing job. This timeline often depends on how much work needs to be done, the possibilities of interruptions, the availability of materials, and weather conditions.

Protection

Some roofing constructors add the cost of protecting your property from damage during the roofing process in the estimate. It is necessary for you to ask the contractors how they plan to protect your business and building when the roofing is ongoing.

Payment Dates

Most roofing contractors will draw out a payment timeline and method, such that you can make payments from the start until the completion. It is important to agree on the chosen date and be sure you can keep up with it. Also, take note of what the penalty might be if you miss payment dates.