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Commercial roofs, whether they need repairing or replacing, can be costly. As one of the most important parts of your building’s structure, it plays a vital role within your business. Not only do these elements protect your stock, equipment and employees against adverse weather conditions, but they also support the building itself and help you save money in the long run. Every business decision should be made with regards to ROI (return on investment). And, therefore, finding appropriate ways to reduce costs simply makes financial sense. In this guide, we’ll give you all the information you need to do just this.
While commercial roof systems may be similar across the board, the costs associated with them aren’t. There are several factors to consider when trying to estimate the overall cost of a roof.
It stands to reason that larger commercial roofs will cost more – after all, they will need more materials and considerably more labour too. There is also the chance of needing additional equipment or more complex arrangements to ensure the work can be carried out safely when working with large-scale buildings.
The age of your building and the existing roof will also have an impact on cost. With roof repairs, your chosen contractor will need to take into account the existing materials and their structural soundness. Older roofs will have more wear-and-tear, will potentially be built from weaker materials than those used in modern practices and may have been made with methods that are no longer safe. What seemed like a small repair initially may end up costing much more than budgeted for, if you don’t work with a professional from the get-go.
The roof system currently in place or the one you’re looking to have installed will impact the cost. Factors such as what raw materials are needed, how readily available they are and what equipment is needed to lay them will all dictate how much a repair or replacement costs.
If you’re looking to have the entire roof system removed and replaced with an alternative one, it’s going to cost you. For some roofing techniques, you can simply apply a new layer on top of the existing one which will save you money. Equally, small-scale repairs will take less labour, time and materials, reducing the price. You need to take into account how complex the repair or replacement is, the extent of the operation and whether specialist skills are needed to perform it.
So now, let’s look at a number of ways to reduce these costs and stay within your budget, no matter the scale of your project.
The first in our list is a preventative recommendation – regular maintenance. Having annual roof surveys performed by a trustworthy roof contractor will mean that minor issues are identified as quickly as possible. Having these rectified as soon as they’re noticed will minimise the risk of them escalating and spreading. A minor leak can be patched up on a much smaller budget than an entire cave in from pooling water can. Keep on top of your roof. Even if you want to take this on your own back, make sure to check for cracks, rips or dents in the roof’s surface. Check for stationary water and make sure your drains are cleaned out to keep drainage working.
‘Cowboy builders’ or unqualified contractors can cost your business thousands. Your roof is such an important part of your building, having it repaired or replaced without the proper experience can mean that key issues aren’t rectified. Tried-and-tested methods aren’t followed properly, skills have not been developed to the right level for the job and materials aren’t used to their full advantage.
To prevent this and the inevitable additional costs of repairing these mistakes, we always recommend working with professional and accredited roof contractors. Here at Industrial Roofing Services (NE) Ltd, we are a CHAS Accredited Contractor and part of the Confederation of Roofing Contractors. And, our contractors engage in regular training to ensure they are up-to-date with the newest methods and techniques.
It can be tempting to save money during the busiest times of the years by overlooking small roof repairs. After all, if you’re not seeing significant issues or problems arising instantly, it may seem that there is no urgency in calling in the professionals. However, small repairs can escalate quickly – especially during Winter or adverse weather conditions. No matter how small, having minor issues repaired as soon as they’re noticed will always work out more financially viable.
We mentioned roof surveys above but they had to have a separate place in this guide. Having a professional roofing contractor take a detailed look at your roof will ensure the smallest issues are found quickly. It may be harder to identify the source of a problem without proper experience. However, a roof survey encompasses all the areas and factors of your roof where issues can arise. It will take into account the roof covering, guttering, timber structures, brackets and inspections of the soffits, fascias and bargeboards.
The materials you choose for your roof repair or replacement will dictate how long it lasts. Going cheap in this area isn’t always advisable – your roof is exposed to extreme conditions and needs the strength to offer proper protection. Invest in high-quality materials and equipment. When paired with a professional roofing contractor, this will ensure you can work to a strict budget while achieving a result that will last. You won’t need to invest additionally on other repairs in the future if you’ve chosen good quality and strong materials in the first place.
While a roof repair or replacement is a significant investment for a business, it is often vital and necessary. So, knowing how to save money where you can is an important business move. Here at Industrial Roofing Services (NE) Ltd, we have a team of accredited and professional roofing contractors to help with any project – no matter how big or small. Get in contact today for more information.
