It’s one of your biggest assets, but your commercial property could be a ticking timebomb set to cost you a lot of money.
With the best intentions, many property owners overlook one important aspect of owning a commercial property - maintenance. Or, more specifically, roof maintenance. And unfortunately, it’s not until something goes wrong and they get hit with a hefty repair bill that they realise the oversight.
Roof inspections are a must for any building owner, saving a large amount of both time and money. In fact, an annual inspection is one of the best ways to safeguard not only your roof but your entire building and its contents.
At FHS Roofing, we offer both regular roofing maintenance and specific leak investigation inspections - so whether you suspect a leak or want to avoid one, we can help.
In this article, we’ll share the benefits of regular roof inspections and how they can keep your costs down and savings up, all without you having to lift a finger.
The Hidden Costs of Neglecting Your Roof
When you ignore your roof, you’re unwittingly allowing potential issues to occur, often with high associated costs. A small leak gone unnoticed can lead to serious water damage inside your building. Suddenly, you’re not dealing with “just” a leak, but mould, damaged interiors and angry tenants. What was once a small, manageable problem has now become a significant strain on your resources and a time-sensitive one at that.
Regular roof inspections can catch these issues early, preventing a snowball effect and giving you the opportunity to stop small problems from becoming large headaches.
The Benefits of a Regular Roof Inspection
It goes without saying that having a strong, solid roof protecting your asset will pay dividends in the long run. But other than preventing disaster, how does the condition of your roof benefit you as a property owner?
It Prevents Small Problems from Escalating
We’ve already briefly discussed this topic, but it bears repeating - neglecting your roof allows small, fixable issues to become large, expensive problems. Water infiltration can destroy the interior of your building and even lead to structural damage over time. So, while lifted flashing or a small leak may seem a minor inconvenience, detecting and addressing them is the best way forward.
Regular inspections by a roofing company like FHS ensure you have a professional set of eyes looking for potential problems before they escalate.
It Prolongs Your Roof’s Lifespan
The average long-run steel roof should last 40-60 years. Why the 20-year difference? Well, a lot of that comes down to maintenance. A well-maintained roof is better able to stand up against the elements and protect your building. Meanwhile, a poorly maintained roof can succumb to rust spots and, if left to deteriorate, will age much faster.
Extend the life of your roof with a regular roof inspection and avoid having to think about replacing your roof for another few decades.
It Improves Energy Efficiency
You probably haven’t given much thought to how a roof impacts a building’s efficiency, but it does play a role in energy consumption and, by association, its carbon footprint. A roof that is in good condition helps to maintain the interior temperature of the building. However, cracks, leaks or poor insulation can let air escape, making your heating and cooling systems work harder to maintain a steady temperature. Not only does this put a strain on your HVAC unit, but it also drives up the power bill.
Energy efficiency is an increasingly important topic for modern businesses. By prioritising yours, you can be part of the solution.
What To Expect During A Roofing Inspection
When you schedule an inspection with FHS Roofing, one of our Christchurch roofers will come to your premises and access your roof using our own safety equipment. We’ll start by examining your roof for obvious signs of wear, such as missing, damaged or ageing materials. We’ll pay particular attention to any signs of water damage, leaks, or other signs that moisture could be damaging your roof.
During the inspection, we can also look at gutters, spouting and flashing to make sure water is being properly channelled away from the building. We’ll then feedback on our findings to you, highlighting any work that needs to be done in the short or long-term, allowing you to make an informed decision about the next steps.
Choosing The Right Company For Your Inspection
Booking a roofing inspection is a wise investment that will save you time and money, extend the lifetime of your roof and keep your asset protected against the elements. But the inspection is only as good as the inspector, so choosing the right roofing company is key to getting it right the first time.
Having kept Canterbury companies dry for over 95 years, FHS Roofing is a trusted name in the commercial roofing industry. Our wealth of experience ensures that we notice things less tenured roofers don’t, and our professionalism means every inspection is done to a high standard, every time.
If you’d like to book one of our Christchurch roofers to visit your property for a leak investigation or general maintenance visit, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
