11 Questions to Ask During a Commercial Roof Inspection

Whether it’s for your commercial or residential roofing system, roof inspections are a maintenance step that homeowners such as yourself should always keep up with. After all, by having your roof inspected on a regular basis, you can ensure it remains in good condition and prolong its lifespan at the same time. This is especially true for commercial roofing systems, which can be more difficult to care for due to their size and lack of slope. When you’re having your commercial roof inspected, however, experts recommend that you ask your roofer a few questions to learn more about the roof.

11 Questions to Ask During a Commercial Roof Inspection

In this article, the roofing pros of Alpine Roofing Construction list eleven questions you should always ask when you’re having your commercial roof inspected.

1. Is the Roof’s Drainage System Adequate for the Anticipated Conditions? – Before you have your commercial roof inspected, it’s highly recommended that you check how the weather of your area is. If you live in an area that’s prone to a lot of rain, knowing the average rainfall of your area can help you with your commercial roof inspection. This is because by knowing your area’s average rainfall, you can ask your commercial roof inspector to check if the roof’s drainage system is adequate for the conditions of the area. If the inspector finds that your commercial roof’s drainage system isn’t enough, be sure to have them rectify this problem immediately so it’ll drain water properly and prevent your roof from sustaining water damage.

2. What is the Condition of the Roof’s Flashing? – While it might be made of thin pieces of impervious materials, your flashing is an important part of your commercial roof that is installed at its joints to prevent water from infiltrating your building via the roof’s surface. With that in mind, as you’re having your commercial roof inspected, ask your roofer about its condition so you can know if you should have it repaired or replaced.

3. What is the Condition of the Roof’s Architectural Sheet Metal? – Commercial roofing systems often come with roof-grade sheet metal, a durable and cost-effective material that covers the top of a building and creates its gutter and coping at the same time. However, while these metal panels are incredibly durable, time can eventually wear on them and the spaces around the screws that keep it in place can suffer from expansion and contraction due to fluctuating temperatures. By asking about the architectural sheet metal’s condition, you can have your contractor inspect it and determine if it has to be repaired or replaced.

4. What Parts of the Roof Will You Be Focusing On? – When you’re having your commercial roof inspected, be sure to ask your roofing inspector what parts of the roof they’ll be focusing on so you can get details about your roof’s vulnerable areas. By doing so, you can gain a better understanding of your roofing system’s weaknesses and verify that your inspector is familiar with your commercial roof at the same time.

5. Has the Roof Been Repaired Before? – During your commercial roof inspection, another thing that you need to know is if your commercial roof has been repaired before. While there’s nothing wrong with a roof that was previously repaired, commercial and residential roofing experts say that if the same type of repairs were repeatedly performed on your roof, you should take this as a sign that the roofing system was improperly installed. Apart from that, this could also be a sign that your building has structural problems and as such, it might have to be replaced sooner or later.

6. How Will You Document and Process the Service History? – Before the commercial roof inspection starts, be sure to ask your contractor how they intend to document the inspection process. Often, most commercial roof inspectors will give homeowners CAD drawings, aerial shots, or schematics that detail your roof’s condition. If your commercial roofer doesn’t offer these kinds of documentation plans, you might want to reconsider using their services as these documents are great tools that can help you evaluate the condition of your commercial roof and plan future roofing decisions.

7. Will Photo Documentation of the Problem Areas Be Provided? – After your roof has been inspected, consider asking your commercial roof inspectors to provide you with documentation of the problem areas, such as before and after photos. That way, you can know that certain problems really are behind you and you can avoid having to double-check the work they’ve done yourself at the same time.

8. What is Your Protocol for Emergency Service Calls? – While your commercial roof inspector is examining your roof, experts strongly recommend that you also ask them what their protocol regarding emergency service calls are. That way, you can enlist their services to repair your roof immediately if a severe storm causes extensive damage to your commercial roof and prevent your business from being compromised and out of commission for too long. To get a roofer that can repair or replace your roof immediately in times of emergency, make your search easier and turn to the roofing pros of Alpine Roofing Construction for assistance.

9. Which Commercial Roofing Materials are You Experienced With? – Before you sign the dotted line and enlist your commercial roofer’s services, ask them what kind of commercial roofing materials they’re familiar with. This is because while materials such as EPDM, built-up, TPO, PVC and metal are all popular materials used in commercial roofing, they all vary in compositional makeup and provide buildings with different sets of benefits. Therefore, before you hire a roofer, be sure to ask them what kind of materials they’re experienced with so you can determine if they’re the right person to inspect your commercial roof.

10. How Will You Identify Roof Moisture? – Once again, before you sign a contract with a commercial roof inspector, ask them how they intend to identify roof moisture. Nowadays, most commercial roofers will use infrared technology to identify roof moisture that can’t be seen by the naked eye and diagnose the current condition of your commercial roofing system. If your potential inspector doesn’t intend to perform an infrared scan, you should take this as a red flag and a sign that you should part ways with their company as leaving roof moisture unattended can easily cause damage to your commercial roof.

11. What is the Condition of the Plane That Forms the Surface of the Roof? – Finally, when you’re having your commercial roof inspected, ask your inspector about the plane that forms your roof’s surface. This is because its trajectory impacts how well the water drains from the surface of your roof and poorly maintained flat roofs may experience changes in the plane that can leave it vulnerable to standing water that can eventually lead to leaks. As such, you’ll want to ensure that your commercial roof’s plane remains in top form. Ask your inspector to determine its condition to see if your roof needs to be repaired or replaced.

Want to have your roofing system inspected soon? Look no further than Alpine Roofing Construction. When it comes to commercial and residential roofing services, we are the leading professionals to approach and we won’t let you down! Give us a call at (214) 528-9897 or fill out our contact form to get a free quote. We serve homeowners in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, TX, and other nearby areas in the state of Texas.

Contact Us

To top