Commercial Roofing: Top Tips When Purchasing a New Property
- Check for Leaks: Look for signs of water damage inside, such as damp patches and fungal growth, which indicate underlying issues with the roof’s structure.
- Inspect Insulation: Ensure the roof’s insulation is adequate and the membrane is properly sealed to avoid energy inefficiency and high utility costs.
- Assess Ventilation: Verify that the roof’s ventilation system is effective to prevent mold growth and ensure proper air circulation.
- Examine Roofing Materials and Structure: Check for substandard materials or minor damages that could lead to major issues later. Ensure a thorough inspection of all roof components, including flashings, gutters, and chimneys.
When purchasing a commercial property, you need to do a thorough inspection of the roof to ensure it is in good condition.
Failing to do so could end up with you spending much more money on fixing or replacing the roof than the property is worth.
Here at Abbey Roofing, we carry out roofing inspections and maintenance regularly and know the most commonly occurring faults with commercial roofing that are missed during roof inspections.
We’ve listed them here to help you avoid a money pit.
Roof Leaks
Any sign of leakage on the inside of the roof is a serious problem as it hints at an underlying problem with the roof’s structure.
Signs of water damage include damp patches, standing pools of water, fungus growing on flashings, cracked tiles or slates and rotting wooden shakes.
These are all very clear indications that there has been previous water damage that has weakened the roof.
Roof Insulation
Insulation is important to help keep your premises a comfortable temperature, and an inadequately insulated roof can be a huge drain on resources.
When having the roof of your premises inspected, make sure that your contractor checks the underlay as well as the roof surface to ensure that the roof membrane is sufficiently sealed.
Roof Ventilation
Insulation and ventilation go hand in hand, with ventilation being important for effective air circulation within your property – this air flow allows cold air to be replaced with warm air and vice versa, so both your ventilation and insulation need to be adequate for your premises’ conditions to be controlled. Insufficient ventilation can cause mould, so look for the warning signs in your property, and more specifically, in the attic.
Sub par roofing material and minor structural damage
Whether it’s from damage or using cheap materials, if the roofing material for your property isn’t up to standard, it could lead to much larger problems somewhere down the line.
Any imperfections noted that may not be an issue now but could develop into problems are down to the buyer to fix, the seller is under no obligation to do so, so ensure that your contractor is rigorously checking all aspects of the roof, including flashings, sheet metal, drains, fascias, chimneys, drip edges and gutters.
Following our top tips and hiring a professional and reliable contracting company should ensure that you find a viable commercial property that meets your requirements.
Abbey Roofing are expert in the installation of commercial roofing and can assist you in making the best choice for your property.
Here at Abbey Roofing, we have a dedicated and skilled team of roofers with more than 20 years’ experience working in both the domestic and commercial roofing sectors.
We work hard all year round, carrying out emergency repairs and re-roofing, and take great pride in the reliable and quality service we deliver.
We offer a range of roofing services including; lead roofing, slate roofing, flat roofing, felt roofing, sheet metal roofing, emergency roof repairs, commercial roofing, new roof installations, gutter cleaning.
To customers in Hemel Hempstead, Watford, St Albans, Bedford, Slough, Milton Keynes, Watford, Barnet, Harpenden and beyond.
Why not contact Abbey Roofing for a free quote today, quality skilled tradesmen at great prices!