If you’ve got some experience in the residential roofing industry – normally because you’ve had your own home’s roof replaced or repaired at some point, you might think that you’ve got enough knowledge to know exactly what’s right for a commercial roof maintenance or installation.
The reality is – that isn’t always the case. While commercial and residential roofs do share a number of similarities (they’re both roofs, after all) – there are also a few key differences. Especially when it comes to maintenance and general roof care.
Some roofing contractors will look after all types of roofs, whether they’re residential, industrial, commercial or other. However, many firms actually just specialize in one type of roof.
So if you’ve got a good home roofing firm on-call, that might not be enough for any commercial roof needs you come across.
In this article, we’re going to have a look at a few key things you need to think about when getting your commercial roof serviced.
Commercial roof maintenance – What material is the roof made from?
Commercial and residential roofs are often made from different materials and will therefore require different solutions and experience to maintain.
Many commercial buildings are covered in low-pitched metal roofs instead of traditional slate, because of things like cost and durability.
However, some of these materials have started to become more popular in residential homes too.
Firstly, architects started adding metal roofs to residential homes as some kind of design statement, but more and more developers have started to notice the benefits they bring.
Metal roofs are now becoming popular in residential constructions as they have been in commercial ones for a few good reasons. They’re cheap, easy and quick to install.
They also provide good cover, insulation and are lightweight. Not only that, but they also don’t require much maintenance or upkeep.
What does that mean for you? Well, as more residential homes start using similar materials to commercial ones, you might be able to find some crossover with service providers.
That means you’re more likely to find residential roofers who can also look after your commercial roof maintenance, although that isn’t always the case.
How often should your commercial roof be checked or serviced?
One reason metal roofs and other similar roof finishes are popular for larger commercial buildings is because they’re cheaper, more durable and longer-lasting.
That means you shouldn’t need to get your roof checked or serviced as often as someone with a traditional residential roof. Generally, some metal roofs will last decades without even needing looking at. Here are 2 simple maintenance tips:
1. Make sure you check when your roof was installed about how long it can go before it needs routine maintenance. If you spot issues with your roof before that time, you’ll still want to call out some experts to have a look.
2. Any leakage, major bending or issues with the integrity of your roof will need checking immediately, even if you haven’t had it in place for that long.
However, most commercial roofs look after themselves and if you don’t notice any issues with them – should stay viable for much longer than traditional residential roofs.
If you’re unsure, phone up a local roofing company and ask their professional opinion.
How to find the best commercial roof maintenance contractor
As we’ve already looked at, commercial roofs have a number of differences compared to residential roofs, but also some similarities in some cases.
While you might be able to find a major contractor that looks after both commercial and residential roofs (especially in an area where metal residential roofing is more popular), you might want to take a bit more time to find an experienced commercial roofing company.
Here are a few tips if you’re trying to do that:
1. Do you know any other businesses who can recommend a good roof company?
When you’re trying to fix or maintain a residential roof, you should probably already know plenty of potential people to ask about their roofs.
That’s because your home will normally be in a neighbourhood that has other residents you might be friends with. It’s easy to simply ask them who did their roof and if they’d recommend them.
With specialist commercial roofs, it might not be that straightforward. Businesses don’t chat with rival businesses like neighbours do, especially if they’re the competition.
You might also be located in a commercial area that isn’t surrounded by other businesses the same way a residential street has loads of other homes.
That makes finding the right roof service firm just that little bit more difficult. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Try attending business networking events and keep as talkative to other business owners as you can.
Even though there might be some competitive rivalry between yours and another business – you never know when you might be able to help each other, whether you’re trying to find a roofing firm or have another business related problem.
2. Try some online recommendation sites
As with almost anything else these days, you can find yourself a good roofing company with a quick online search.
There are plenty of different online review sites that should be able to point you in the right direction. Just make sure you ask around in the local area and don’t only rely on review ratings, as these can be easily faked.
3. Ask to see completed work
Once you’ve got a contractor in mind, have a chat with them and ask to see some roofs they’ve already worked on – either in their portfolio or by actually visiting the site. If they can’t show you any, you might want to look elsewhere.
4. Ask for a competitive quote
Make sure you ask for quotes before you sign-up. Don’t just go on price, either – make sure you like what the firm has to say and agree with the time-frame they offer. We recently wrote about the most important questions to ask a roofer and you should definitely check it out
Getting your commercial roof serviced and maintained needn’t be complicated, but hopefully some of these tips have set you in the right direction.
