Getting a new roof is an expensive investment on a commercial building, which is why it is essential for you to know how to keep your roofing warranty valid. New roofs and even renovations can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, but a reputable and professional roofing company should be able to offer building owners some sort of warranty to help protect the life of a roof, and ultimately extend it as much as possible. If the roofing company you choose is willing to install a new roof or do a renovation but does not offer a warranty for that work, consider it a red flag.
3 Steps to Take Before Getting a New Roof or Renovation That Can Help with a Roof Warranty
With a new roof being one of the biggest expenses for commercial building owners, knowing how to keep your roofing warranty valid is crucial. The single most important thing a building owner can do once a new roof or renovation is in place is to schedule regular roof maintenance. This should include documentation that validates regular maintenance has been performed. There are additional steps building owners can take prior to the roof replacement or renovation, such as:
- Find a quality roofer. If you see a company offering a deal that seems too good to be true and at a rate drastically under what the competition offers, find out why. More often than not, companies who offer rock bottom prices do so because they are missing important elements of a good roofer, such as high levels of craftsmanship, guaranteed work, and quality assurance. Choose a roofer that offers decades of expertise as well as a high degree of credibility within the industry.
- Ask what types of warranties the roofing company offers. A good professional roofing company will offer a variety of options for installations and renovations. Be sure to verify which types of systems come with which warranty options. If you are unsure where to start, ask what warranties they offer for TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin), Single Ply, Metal, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), Fluid Applied, EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), Built Up Gravel, Modified Bitumen, and APP (Atactic Polypropylene) roofing systems.
- Confirm which products the company is certified to install. Reputable roofing companies should be certified to install products from at least half a dozen manufacturers.
When shopping for a quality roofing company it is also recommended to verify that they offer additional types of warranties such as those for leaks. In addition, it is wise to select a provider that offers a wide scope of related services such as skylight installation and repair, roof ladder installation, wall repairs, pressure washing, concrete and pavement renovations, and below grade/foundation waterproofing.
How to Keep Your Roofing Warranty Valid
By taking the above steps before having a new roof installed or a roof renovation done, building owners can better protect themselves and their new system. When wondering how to keep your roofing warranty valid after installation and renovation, there are several key areas that are nonnegotiable for building owners:
A lapse in any one of these areas may be enough to either invalidate a warranty, or at the very least shorten the life of a roofing system, even if it outlasts the warranty. The ultimate goal should be to protect the warranty via regularly scheduled inspections, repairs, and maintenance so that the roof has the potential to outlive the warranty.
Roof Inspections Can Help Keep Your Roofing Warranty Valid
The most common question we get from commercial building owners that have a new roof system or renovation in place is, “If I have a new roof, why do I need to have it inspected?” The answer is simple—to keep your roofing warranty valid.
For example, if a severe weather system with heavy winds rolls through the area and sends a foreign object or tree limb flying into the roof, it could create a weak spot or hole that could in turn become the source of a leak when rain arrives. This is typically not the failing of a new roof or renovation so much as being the effect of natural environmental influences. Without an inspection, the damage would likely not be found for quite some time, leading to a more complex and expensive fix in the future.
A solid roof inspection process should include:
- Core sample assessments. This involves roofing experts collecting core samples of the roof to learn more about the system’s moisture content, tensile strength, and physical properties.
- Infrared scans. Infrared thermography can be a useful tool in identifying the amount of moisture content in a system. Catching trapped moisture in a roofing system early is critical.
- Tramex. Although some leaks may be more obvious, others can be harder to find in flat or low slope systems. Tramex Moisture Scanners help the professionals find the source of a leak more quickly.
While a new roofing system or renovation can be an asset for commercial building owners that can come with a warranty, it does not mean it will last forever. However, regularly scheduled inspections and maintenance can go a long way toward extending the life of a roof and keeping a roofing warranty valid.
Getting Repairs Done in a Timely Manner Helps Keep a Roofing Warranty Valid
Whether a repair is needed because of the results of a regular inspection or a more obvious reason such as a projectile penetrating the roof, it is vital to have it fixed as soon as possible to prevent the problem from growing in scope and impacting the warranty.
Look for a professional roofing company whose leak repair work comes with a one-year Workmanship Guarantee as well as one who offers clients a Rapid Response Team in the event of an emergency.
A leak that is not addressed has the potential to trap moisture in the roof which could negatively affect the roofing system itself, as well as the interior of the commercial building.
The Role of Roof Maintenance in Keeping Your Roof Warranty Valid
Once a new roof or renovation is in place, commercial building owners should not let that lull them into a false sense of security. Instead, keep abreast of any problems with the roof through regular inspections and maintenance. This is the single most important step in avoiding expensive damage caused by an unaddressed problem and circumvent interior building damage.
The primary elements of roof maintenance should include:
- Inspection of pipe boots for wear and tear
- Removal of debris from drains and gutters
- Identification of animal droppings or related damage
- Examination of caulking and flashing
By adhering to the above suggestions, you now know how to keep your roofing warranty valid. If your commercial roof is showing signs of wear and tear, be sure to reach out sooner rather than later to protect your investment.
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