Common Mistakes To Avoid When Undertaking A Commercial Roofing Project

The roof is an important part of any building and you need to take all projects concerned with this part seriously. However, commercial roofing poses more challenges than residential roofing since there is very little room for repairs and upgrades. Furthermore, most commercial projects have strict expectations and you might be required to deliver the best quality as opposed to residential roofing where one can play around with their options. That said, it is vital to understand some of the common mistakes people bypass when taking their roofing projects so that you do not fluff your lines when dealing with your next commercial roofing project. Here are some mistakes to avoid in a commercial roofing project;

Hiring An Incompetent Expert

The success of any commercial roofing project begins with the expert you hire to undertake the project. Keep in mind that you need to take your time when hiring an expert since all the companies you will contact will tell you how they are the best people for the job and you should not fall for that. Get it right from the beginning and assess your options well when looking for a roofing contractor to undertake your commercial roofing project. Most of the problems that affect the roof originate from poor workmanship by the contractor undertaking the project and you need to be very careful. Get a qualified expert from the word go and it will save a lot of headaches going forward with the project.

Improper Drainage

Unlike your residential roofing, most commercial roofs are flat. These roofs do not have an inclination angle that can help with the drainage and most people tend to ignore this fact. Water stagnating on a roof for a long time is undesirable since it can start damaging the roofing material after some time. When planning for a commercial roofing project, take this fact into consideration and plan for an alternative drainage technique. Mention this issue to your contractor and have them give you a list of the possible options you could use for your commercial roof’s drainage system.  After the installation, ensure that you conduct the necessary inspection after the installation to ascertain that the drainage system works well.

Too Many Roof Layers

It has been mentioned that most commercial buildings are always in use and it is hard to find a perfect window where a roofing repair or upgrade can be done. Due to this matter, most people might be tempted to add a new roofing layer to an old one when upgrading the roof, something that can save you time and money. However, some roofing materials are too heavy, and it may be undesirable to have more than two layers stacked up over one another. If you put more than two layers of roofing material at a time, the weight might become too much for the building and the roof might collapse eventually. In a nutshell, keep the weight of your commercial roof as low as possible to avoid any nasty surprises later on.

Poor Quality Roofing Material

Using old and low-quality roofing material is a mistake that you should never do. Commercial roofing projects leave little room for error and it is advisable to purchase the best material you can. While most of the material you will get will force you to compromise between the aesthetics and functionality, it is best to select material that will last long as opposed to one that looks good but has a limited lifespan. Insulation is another important thing to look into as old insulation can affect your warranty and make the commercial building an uncomfortable place to be. Be keen when your roofing material is being delivered and you might be required to take an inventory of these things to avoid poor quality roofing material from being installed on your system.

Reusing Flashing

Flashing is the metal that covers all the points where roofing materials are joined, and they extend all the way to the chimneys and vents. These items are usually made using steel or aluminum and you should not make a mistake of reusing them. This is because the flashing is held in place by nails and when they are removed, they usually have some nail holes that can affect your entire roofing system if they are reused. Flashing should always be replaced and be wary of contractors who might suggest that you can reuse your flashing.

Ignoring Repairs

Even if they are installed perfectly, it is hard to escape roofing repairs. Commercial roofing systems should always be in good condition and it is advisable to schedule regular repairs and maintenance. A good way of going about it is discussing with your roofing contractor and scheduling a regular maintenance and inspection visit, say over the weekend when your commercial premises are not all that busy. Try and detect any small leakage or any other problem as these might signify the beginning of a huge problem with your commercial roofing. It is better to spend less on the small and regular repairs than wait and pay more for the bigger problems in future.

Paying Before The Job Is Done

The payment terms presented to you by a commercial roofing company can give you an idea of the kind of experts you are dealing with. A reliable firm will ask you to pay after the job is done and you need to do that since it is vital to make sure that the job is done in a timely fashion before signing the checks. The only reason a roofing contractor can use to justify payment before the job is done is if they need some special materials or a down payment.

Some of the common mistakes that people make when overseeing commercial roofing projects have been mentioned above. These projects are very crucial since the expectations are very high when compared to residential roofing projects. Always be wary of the mentioned mistakes since they might affect your project and cost you a lot of money in the end.