In the early 2000s, the EPA released a study that showed 85% of commercial buildings had sustained water damage at some point, 45% of which had existing leaks.
While there hasn’t been a similarly deep study of commercial water damage, you can bet that the situation hasn’t changed much. Minor roof leaking is often seen as low priority—an annoyance that can be dealt with at a later time.
However, you can’t just wait until leaks become apparent on the interior. Anything from improperly-secured RTUs to roof penetration, extreme weather, excessive foot traffic, materials/membrane/sealant failure, improper inspection and beyond can cause leak-inducing damage.
Leaving cuts and tears resulting from these causes unchecked will only exacerbate financial consequences. That’s why it’s so important to proactively prevent leaks to your commercial roof.
Proactive leak prevention doesn’t mean you have to relentlessly pursue a completely dry roof. It’s an unattainable goal and you’ll waste plenty of time and money trying to make it work. But you can’t go to the other extreme and let leaks fester.
There are two broad ways to think about the costs of rooftop leak maintenance. One, you could proactively address potential damage to avoid leaks. Or two, you can react to damage and address the concern when convenient. More often than not, the reactionary approach wins out.
In extreme cases, you could have to replace an entire roof when a simple repair would have been enough if caught sooner. However, the costs of poor leak maintenance multiply in more nuanced ways than all-or-nothing replacements.
Consider these consequential interior damages and what they might cost you to repair:
All of the unnecessary financial costs and lost productivity associated with these consequential damages can be avoided. And best of all, preventing the multiplying costs of leak damage is easier than you might expect.
Regular roof inspections are your first line of defense for proactive leak prevention. You’ll want a professional inspection every 6 months, but you can also take matters into your own hands with this simple checklist:
When you make these steps part of a regular rooftop maintenance plan, you can catch potential issues before they become leaks that cause consequential damage. Combine these inspections with proper roof support systems, professional equipment installation, foot traffic control, and proper material selection, you’ll have a moisture plan that keeps your costs to a minimum.
Want to dive deeper into proactive rooftop maintenance? We’d love to help. Get in touch with us today to talk about your roofing needs.
Want to learn more? Contact us today. To learn more about PHP or to schedule a free rooftop support evaluation. Visit PHP online and submit a free evaluation request form or call PHP at 1-800-797-6585.