PHP Roofing Blog

Even if you live in a relatively dry climate, the summer might be one of the worst seasons for your commercial roof. The sun can damage nearly any exposed roofing material, and strong summer storms can take advantage of this damage if it’s left unmitigated. Now that spring is upon us, it’s the perfect time to begin inspecting your commercial roof and hardening it against the following four factors over the months ahead.

As all commercial building managers know, providing safe and reliable rooftop access is imperative to ensure that any equipment stored in this area is properly maintained. Accessing this equipment is often easier said than done, however. Without proper planning, you may encounter multiple safety and logistical issues. The best way to ensure easy rooftop access for workers and all personnel is to invest in a complete rooftop access system—including stairs, platforms, and crossovers—all of which work together to create an ideal rooftop solution that protects your equipment and roof as well as workers.

With the heat of the summer on the horizon, it’s natural to start thinking about commercial roof maintenance and how to combat the destructive effect of full-strength sunlight. The truth is that every season has its own set of weather-related concerns that can wreak havoc on your roof and rooftop structures. The key to preventing damage is developing and perfecting a robust maintenance plan that will protect your roof, no matter the season. From pounding rain and harsh winds to hot sun and chilling ice, we discuss how the elements can affect your roof and what you can do to combat the effects of these events.

No matter where you’re located, your commercial rooftop will generally be subjected to some form of extreme weather, whether this means storms, heavy winds, snow, tornadoes, and even earthquakes or hurricanes. Buildings that are constructed in areas known to experience extreme weather or seismic events need more than traditional roof support equipment. Here’s what you should be aware of based on the dangers you’re going to face.

Regular maintenance is essential in preserving the condition of your commercial roof and ensuring its longevity — as well as helps building managers save money in the long run by avoiding needless and unexpected repairs. By utilizing rooftop support equipment, building managers are taking proactive steps to protect commercial roofing and making it easier for maintenance personnel to perform routine commercial roof maintenance.

Building managers must contend with various obstacles and elements that can wreak havoc on commercial rooftops and any equipment stored on them. Each aspect of the roof—from the membrane to the roof edge—requires regular maintenance and inspection. Without the right rooftop equipment, however, your workers will be unable to do their job without endangering themselves or the commercial roof that they’re trying to protect.

As we move into the future, the need to become more energy efficient becomes imperative for all companies. Whether renovating an existing building or designing a new one, building owners and managers must consider sustainability when designing rooftops and choosing rooftop equipment.

Having equipment on the rooftop comes with a certain amount of risk that demands safety be considered. There are many factors to assess, such as equipment placement and layout, accessibility for maintenance and repair crews, how rooftop traffic will flow, and how this foot traffic may affect the integrity of the roof. We go over common risks with rooftop equipment and how building managers can mitigate this risk and create safer rooftop environments with proper rooftop support equipment.

While storing equipment on the rooftop is a simple way to save interior space, many facility managers fail to effectively plan the layout and functionality, leading to issues down the road. Your responsibility is to make informed design choices about the layout of roof equipment. Planning at the outset helps you create a layout that is more functional, aesthetically pleasing, and cost-efficient. Utilizing rooftop access systems will help you create a design that makes sense.

When the concept of value engineering first appeared in the 1940s, the aim was to promote value through careful analyzation of products and components. This is accomplished by improving performance either with a cost increase or by reducing cost without sacrificing performance. Over time, it was determined that value can only be created if functionality and durability are a top priority.