The end of the year is often one of the busiest times for commercial businesses. Whether it’s the rush to get products out the door in time for holiday shopping or preparing inventory for those extra days off at the end of the year, there’s no doubt that as the temperatures go down, the intensity heats up. But despite all your end-of-year to-do’s, one thing you cannot ignore is winter roof maintenance for your commercial roof.
Proper roof maintenance, including preparing your roof for the cold weather, is essential to keeping your roofing system in good condition. You and your employees should do some tasks to make it through the harsh winter weather, but there are also some items you need to contact a commercial roofing company to do. Heidler Roofing can perform a roof inspection in the fall to ensure you’re ready for winter’s worst.
If you’re wondering how to maintain a roof in the winter, we have five roof maintenance tips in today’s blog to get you started. Then, get in touch with us to schedule a roof inspection and get peace of mind that you’re ready for the cold, snow, ice, and wind that comes with winter.
1. Get Your Roof Inspected by a Commercial Roofing Company
You can do some winter roof maintenance tasks yourself, but you should leave others to the professionals. One of those tasks is having your roof inspected by a qualified roofing company. When you call a professional roofing contractor like us, we will come to your location and physically climb onto your roof. We will check for areas where issues may form on your roof and recommend the necessary repairs.
Hiring a professional commercial roofing company means you can rest assured that your roof is in the best condition possible for winter. Winter can certainly wreak havoc on your roof. It’s best to get a roof inspection at the beginning of winter and spring to check for issues and resolve them before they become major and often costly problems.
2. Complete Repairs Before Winter Starts
Winter weather is often unpredictable. We may only receive a few snowfalls of a couple of inches or experience heavy snowfalls and blizzards every few weeks. An important part of winter roof maintenance is to complete any roof repairs before the season starts. Once the snow is on the roof, it can be harder to address problem areas before they cause real damage over winter.
The easiest way to prevent damage to your roof during winter is to ensure the repairs recommended from your roof inspection are completed in the fall. Most roofing material manufacturers require a roof maintenance plan by a certified roofing contractor to maintain the warranty. Timely repairs will actually save you money and extend the life of your roof.
3. Evaluate Roof’s Surroundings
Are there trees near your building? Do the branches overhang your roof? If so, it’s a good idea to trim those branches so that when snow and ice do fall, you don’t also have the added weight of a tree branch on your roof. It’s especially damaging after it’s bogged down with heavy snow or snaps off the tree completely and crashes onto your roof.
You should also clean up all the leaves that had fallen before winter. These leaves can not only create a safety hazard when you’re on the roof by creating slick spots but can add to the weight piling on your roof when snow falls. In addition, they can clog drains and gutters, which doesn’t allow water to drain off your roof. Plus, it will be much more difficult to remove snow when it’s lying on top of dead leaves and pine needles.
4. Prepare for Snow and Ice
Since we are prone to the occasional large snowstorm in our Mid-Atlantic service area, you can prepare your roof for the snow by completing regular maintenance. You should ensure your roof and flashings are properly sealed to allow your roof to sustain the inevitable snow and freeze/thaw cycles this region typically experiences.
Also, remember to remove the fall leaves and debris from your gutters, downspouts, roof drains, and scuppers, so they are clear for when the snow melts. This clear passage lets the melting snow drain from your roof properly and ensures you’re ready for the winter weather.
5. Have Your HVAC Inspected
One of the worst circumstances in the winter is when there’s a big winter storm, and your heating goes out. It’s best to have your HVAC units inspected on the roof before winter weather arrives to ensure it’s working properly and avoid having to complicate things if something happens in harsh conditions.
You should also inspect the roof and flashing around the HVAC unit. Flashing is the waterproof component around vents, openings, and corners to prevent water from getting into the building. Your commercial roofing company can check its integrity during your routine roof inspection.
Start Your Winter Roof Maintenance Now
Before your end-of-the-year season gets extremely busy, prepare your roof for the winter. A little work beforehand can limit the damage to your roof, which often leads to expensive repairs and leaks. The above five tips on maintaining a roof during the winter are a great way to start protecting your commercial building.
All winter roof maintenance begins with a roof inspection by a qualified commercial roofing company. For commercial and industrial building owners in the Mid-Atlantic, that company is Heidler Roofing!
We’ll send experienced roofing professionals to your building for a thorough inspection and detailed report of your roof’s condition. Then, we’ll recommend which repairs need to be done before snow hits our area. Get started protecting your building today by scheduling your roof inspection.