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As we move further into the colder months, it’s worth considering how your business is going to prepare its commercial roof for winter. Harsh winds, snowfall and heavy rain can all put a strain on the strength and structure of your roof and building. Taking precautions early on is the best way to avoid costly repairs and dangerous situations in the future. Here are our top 5 tips on how to prepare a commercial roof for winter.
1. Know your roof
Whether your business has been in its current location for years or is just moving in, you need to have a clear understanding of your roof’s history. What repair works have taken place? How old is the roof or when was it last replaced? Has it had regular inspections? This type of information allows you to identify weak spots or areas where harsh winter weather could cause problems. It will also make it easier to link up subtle signs of damage (such as staining on an interior wall) with a problem that could have potentially escalated. We recommend keeping as detailed a record of all works on your commercial roof as you can. Not only will this aid you but it is also a vital piece of information for the next company.
2. Roof survey
A professional roof survey/inspection will identify any minor repairs early on and highlight issues you may face in the future. They are an important part of your roof maintenance and should be scheduled in annually, at the very least. A professional roofing contractor, such as our team here at Industrial Roofing Services (NE) Ltd, will attend your building and perform a visual check of the roof. They may also ask about the roof’s history (see tip 1) and whether you have any concerns you would like to flag.
During an inspection, they will look for:
3. Action smaller repairs
The golden rule when it comes to roof repairs is to fix issues when they are minor. Catching complications at the early stages minimise both cost and the impact to your building’s structure. For example, a minor leak can be repaired in no time at all. If left, this small leak could cause structural damage and deterioration to the roof materials. And, this could result in the entire roof falling through.
Not only does it make sense safety-wise to perform small repairs, but it’s also important financially. The cost of replacing an entire roof far exceeds that of patching up a leak. Remember that your roof is a very important part of your building and should be protected as a priority.
4. Clean gutters and roof
Having your roof cleaned of all debris and vegetation will extend the lifespan of your roof. Doing this before winter sets in means that all the dried leaves and foliage that will drop during this season won’t add extra weight – especially if you have snow forecast too. This should be done periodically as too much debris can be detrimental to the strength of your roof.
5. Cut down surrounding trees
In line with cleaning your gutters, take note of the trees that surround your building. If any of them overhang your roof, it’s advisable to cut these down. This will minimise the risk of debris, leaves and vegetation mounting up during Winter. Don’t forget that heavy winds or extreme snowfall can cause tree branches to snap off. The impact of this paired with the additional weight is enough to cause serious damage to older roofs.
Taking the steps above will help you to minimise the impact of Winter weather on your roof. If you have any questions or would like to speak to an experienced, professional roofing contractor, feel free to get in contact with Industrial Roofing Services (NE) Ltd here today.
