How Often Should My Roof be Inspected?
According to AMA Insurance, the second and third most common business insurance claims are water damage, followed closely by wind and hail damage.
These are both claim types related to the environment outside the building. You can help avoid costly claims by ensuring a well-maintained roof. A regular roof inspection can reduce the chance of climate-related issues before they cause severe damage to your building.
In this article, we cover the following three areas:
- What is involved in a roof inspection?
- How often should I have my commercial roof inspected?
- When should I have my roof inspected?
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What to Expect with a Roof Inspection?
Typically, an inspector will start inside the commercial building to identify any clear signs of water leakage. It’s often easier to locate where a leak is coming from inside a building. An example of this could be if water is leaking down directly below a vent stack, then that vent stack is probably the source of the leak.
After inspecting from inside the building, the inspector will get onto the roof itself and examine the parapet walls for cracks, uplifted seams, or other deficiencies, starting with the perimeter. This area is known for issues since the roof’s edges can experience increased wind uplift pressure.
Your inspector may also take several other steps to inspect your roof to detect problems the human eye can’t spot. They may employ infrared technology or moisture scanners to detect these other problems. Inspectors will also take a core sample of your roof to understand your roof’s construction better.
At the end of the inspection, they will provide you with a full report of their findings. Ideally, the report will give you the “thumbs up,” and you won’t need to take any actions. In a worst-case scenario, the roofing contractor may recommend that you repair sections of your roof or even replace the roof entirely.
How Often Should I Get My Roof Inspected?
The question of how often to inspect your roof seems simple but can be complex. Roof inspections can help you detect problems such as water damage in their early stages. If left undetected, these issues can become much more costly the longer they are left.
Having your roof inspected once or twice a year would be ideal. The newer your roof is, the less likely you will encounter any issues, so you’ll need to have it checked less often.
We suggest that new roofs get a routine inspection annually, while roofs that are 15 years or older should get inspections twice a year.
When Are the Best Times to Have My Roof Inspected?
The two ideal times to have your roof inspected are Spring and Fall. For obvious reasons, winter can play havoc on a roof, and in Edmonton, it is common for winter to be less than pleasant. By performing an inspection in the fall, you can ensure that your roof is ready for the harsh winter conditions, and an assessment in the spring can help identify any winter damage.
Businesses with roofs routinely inspected only once a year should consider doing so in the fall. It is always better to prepare your roof for the harsh winter conditions rather than deal with the issues and possible repairs that may come after a brutal winter.
We suggest you have your roof inspected after any significant storm, which means you’re likely to have more than one annual inspection. The Edmonton region often receives gusting wind and occasional summer storms, so it is best to avoid caution and ensure the roof is in good condition.
If you are looking to get your roof inspected, or maybe need to repair or replace your commercial flat roof, give the experts at MD Roofing & Sheet Metal a call today at (780) 439-7663.
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