PHP Roofing Blog

Buildings rely on HVAC systems to ensure comfort year round. However, all too often, the regular upkeep of HVAC systems isn’t a priority…until something goes wrong or they don’t work as they should. Routine HVAC preventative maintenance is essential for comfort, healthier indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and peace of mind—and it’s something that should begin well before an issue occurs. In fact, the best move you can make for ensuring HVAC equipment longevity is to set up your system for long-term success with equipment supports as part of a complete rooftop support system.

Until recently, the best way to inspect a commercial roof was to physically climb on top of it and look around. While getting a close-up view of the rooftop is certainly the best way to check for defects, it’s also potentially quite dangerous, as there’s an increased risk of a slip-and-fall accident. In addition, an untrained inspector can cause unintentional damage by crushing roof panels and piercing the roof membrane.

Half a century ago, your commercial roof coating options were limited to two options: asphalt or gravel. Today, advances in materials science have left those coatings far behind. Roof coatings are now both more durable and more sustainable—able to improve not just the roof itself but the building below it.

Commercial roofs are the most vulnerable and also the most important part of any commercial building. Although the commercial roof plays a vital role in insulating the building and situating building infrastructure, it’s also surprisingly delicate. It can be damaged by high winds, debris, or even something as small as an errant footstep. What’s more, damage tends to become ramified. A pinhole in the membrane turns into a leak, which turns into rot, and suddenly your have to replace a roof beam.

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.

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.

Flat commercial roofs don’t have the ability to naturally drain rain, snow, and precipitation the way that sloped roofs do. Therefore, having a durable roof membrane is essential in protecting the building from leaks and other damage that can occur. Protecting this roof membrane should be a priority to ensure the continued longevity of your building’s comfort as well as its materials. How can facility managers protect the most important part of their roofs?

Commercial buildings are getting larger. Of the 55 percent of buildings built between 1960 and 1999, the average size is 16,300 square feet. Meanwhile, the buildings built since 1999 have an average size of 19,000 square feet – an increase of almost 3,000 square feet. What does this have to do with sustainable roofing?

Most roofs don’t last beyond their designed lifetime – but they absolutely can and should. Each year that you keep your rooftop operational is another year that you’ve amortized the cost of its original construction. In other words, there’s a financial incentive for you to stall your next roof replacement for as long as possible.

Between extreme weather, installation errors, and ordinary wear and tear, roofs can go through a lot.