“Thank you, Abrams Roofing & Sheet Metal. Great people to work with! Thanks for your vision and for helping us step by step with all the details. Thanks to the crews for going above and beyond. A really fine company — so pleased!”
– Jeremy Jones, Louisville, KY
Your roof is the only thing that protects your commercial property and everything underneath. Taking care of your roof means taking care of everything under it, be it your office, your product, your inventory, your customers, or even your reputation.
No building owner wants to deal with a leaky roof, but still many postpone commercial roof repair and replacement because of the cost and disruption involved.
Procrastinating, waiting, and ignoring small problems in commercial roofing not only creates bigger disruptions and higher costs later but might also cause serious safety issues to those inside the building.
9 Warning Signs That Your Commercial Roof Needs Repair
Most commercial roof failures start with a small sign of repair that is often missed or ignored.
A thorough roof inspection is the best place to start. If you or your roofing contractor notice any of these signs, you’ll want to schedule a commercial roof repair solution as soon as possible.
1. Flimsy Flashing
Flashing is the sealing between the areas that join your roof with other structures like a chimney. Failing, deteriorating, or flimsy flashing indicates a need for commercial roof repair solutions.
2. Bubbles on the Roof
Bubbles or blisters are usually a sign of bad installation. Typically, they form when moisture gets trapped under the roofing materials, forming a blister.
3. Sagging Areas on the Roof
A roof is built to bear its weight, so if you notice that some parts of your roof are sagging, something is wrong. Any areas of sagging should be looked at by a commercial roofing contractor and get repaired as soon as possible.
4. Rising Energy Bills
A good roof should act as insulation to keep the building warm in the winter and cool in the summer. If your energy bills are increasing, it could be because there’s a problem with your roofing systems that is causing your HVAC to work overtime. Solve both issues by calling for a commercial roof repair.
5. Clogged Drains
If your downspouts are overflowing or dripping, it could be a sign of a clogged drain. This blocked drain allows water to seep through your roof and can put your roofing systems at risk.
6. Open Seams
Seams in your roof are held together by either chemicals or mechanical fasteners. Any open seams will allow water to find its way in.
7. Increased Moisture and Leaks
When your roof is compromised, you might notice water stains on the roof or walls, water leakage in the building, or mold. These are all serious issues that indicate it’s time to invest in commercial roof repair solutions.
8. You Don’t Maintain Your Roof
You know better than anyone when the last time you had your roof properly cared for. If your roof has been neglected for years (or decades), it’s time to call for a little TLC before it’s too late.
9. Improper Roof Installation
Poor installation can provide a lifetime of problems. Improper roof work is either due to an inexperienced contractor, or subpar quality material. If you suspect either one, it’s time to call for a second opinion by a qualified roofing contractor.
Signs It’s Time to Replace Rather than Repair
If your roof needs significant or consistent commercial roof repair solutions, it may be worth it to compare the cost of a full installation rather than making costly repairs to a roof that will likely need to be replaced soon anyway.
Looking back at commercial property maintenance records for your building can help to determine if it needs repairs or needs to be replaced.
Consider these factors when weighing your options for commercial roofing repair or roof replacement:
- When Your Roof is Old – The lifespan of a commercial roof is generally about 25 years. Knowing when you’re due for a replacement may require researching the original installation. If your roof is older than 20 years, it’s probably time to consider replacing it.
- Broken Shingles and More – If you have a shingle roof, any sign of splitting, cracked, broken, or buckling shingles are clear indications that a roof replacement is needed.
- Deterioration of Roof Support – Any sign of dips, low spots, or areas where water pools after rain may indicate a deterioration of roof support. Any joists or rafters that are compromised should be replaced so the rest of the roof can do its job.
- Visible Water Infiltration – If there is visible water damage or water stains on the walls or in your attic, you have a leaky roof.
- Damaged Roof Membrane – Strong winds or storm damage will eventually cause severe uplifting on your commercial roof membrane. If 25% or more of your roof is lifting during strong winds, then you need it replaced. Left unattended, rainwater will eventually do considerable damage to the commercial roofing and the attic itself.
Types of Commercial Roofing We Work With
Not everyone is an expert roofing contractor. Oftentimes we are asked: What are the most popular commercial roofing systems? Which is better? Which is the most reasonably priced?
At Abrams Roofing, we have been helping customers choose the right roof for their commercial property and their budget for decades.
These are the top materials we use and recommend to all our customers.
TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin)
TPO is a lightweight, reflective material that is now one of the fastest-growing commercial roofing materials.
It is great for weather resistance in Louisville, KY, and is known for both its performance and installation advantages.
TPO is popular for restaurants and other industrial buildings that may emit oils and fats because it is resistant to UV chemicals, bacteria growth, punctures, tears, and UV light. It also has a high-temperature tolerance and can withstand both fire and high winds.
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer – Synthetic Rubber)
Constructed from a single-ply rubber material, EPDM is known for its performance and longevity. It is a popular option because of its design versatility, strong resistance to ultraviolet light and ozone, and simple installation.
The material is tough, durable, waterproof, and maintenance-free when compared to other types of commercial roofing systems.
It’s flexible for buildings in colder temperatures and has reflective properties to help lower cooling costs in the summer months.
Slate Tile
This is a natural material quarried from mines and then fired. With natural slate tile roofing, the individual tiles are hung in rows with the shingles overlapping each other in a very specific design often specified by architects.
Slate tile roofs are unique to each building.
Synthetic Slate (Symphony, Davinci, Inspire)
These shingles are designed to mimic the beautiful look of slate at a much lower price point.
These tiles are typically made from rubber and plastic and are easier to install and maintain when compared to authentic slate tiles.
Standing Seam Metal Roof
Standing seam is a style of metal roofing where all the panels snap together, and the screws are hidden by seams or ribs.
Standing seam is a very popular type of metal roofing simply because of its sleek and more finished appearance.
Snap-Lock and Double-Lock Metal Roofing
A type of standing seam metal roof panel that has a male and female leg that snap together and clips used to attach the panel directly to the roof deck. The clips fasten underneath the panel and out of view to provide a beautiful clean standing seam roof.
Batten and Flat Seam Metal Roofing
This is a type of metal roofing that is often used for sloped or pointed designs.
A batten and flat seam roof have an underlying framework where the metal panels are mounted between a raised batten strip and a cap is used to cover the seam.
5 Benefits of a New Commercial Roof
While it’s easy to focus on the financial burden of a commercial roof repair or replacement, a new roof is a great investment.
1. Improve Building Safety
If workers or contractors sustain injuries due to an unsafe roof, you could face costly lawsuits, settlements, and fines. Instead, a new roof can keep you and others safe with building up-to-date technology, new materials, and innovative construction techniques.
2. Increase Storm Resistance
There is no way to completely avoid deterioration and aging over time. However, there are new construction materials and installation techniques today that make commercial buildings more storm-resistant than ever.
3. Benefit from New Depreciation Rules
Under the new tax code, depreciation for roofs may now be immediately expensed on tax forms up to $1,000,000. Some roof repairs are also included in the new rules, but only if they are made necessary by other qualifying capital improvements such as a new HVAC, security, or fire-protection services.
4. Increase Energy Efficiency and Sustainability –
New roofs offer increased energy efficiency. This means you’ll see an immediate drop in your utility bills for heating and cooling after replacing your commercial building’s roofing materials.
5. Reduce Repair Headaches
A new commercial roof means you no longer lose sleep at night wondering how much the next roof repair will cost you. New roofs come with warranties that provide peace of mind for many years to come.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Commercial Roof?
Unfortunately, there is not a one-fee-fits-all for a commercial roof repair project, and you can’t expect to get a reliable estimate from an online commercial roofing repair calculator.
There are simply too many factors involved.
However, knowing how your estimate is created can help you have an educated guess on whether you’re looking at a simple fix or a major commercial roof repair solution.
- Leak Location – Roof Leaks typically don’t fall in a straight line. Using infrared cameras and moisture meters can pinpoint the source of a leak. This is the first step in most commercial roof repairs.
- Type of Roof – Commercial flat roofs are typically less expensive to install, but more expensive to repair. Sloped roofs are vice-versa. This also can vary based on the type of material used. Roof coating also makes a difference in cost.
- Height, Pitch, and Access – The higher the roof, the higher the bill. This is due to the inherent risk involved in commercial roof repair. If the source of the problem is more difficult to access, your commercial roof repair will cost more.
- Type of Damage – Typically, a leak caused by gutters or flashing is less expensive than major problems like deterioration or damaged trusses.
- Extent of Damage – If you have damaged shingles in one main area, that’s less expensive than a roof full of damaged or missing shingles.
- Geographic Location – The labor and material costs can vary quite a bit from coast to coast. If you’re located in an area with high winds, you may have additional costs.
- Warranty Status – If your commercial roof is still under warranty, it will cost you less for any necessary commercial roof repair. However, most warranties are a reimbursement program, where you’d need to pay for the roof repair and then file with the warranty program for reimbursement.
FAQs About Commercial Roof Renovation
Why Choose Abrams Roofing
- Family Owned and Operated – We are a local commercial roofing company working and living in the same Louisville, KY area communities you do. We are here for you when you need us. We don’t have a national hotline, an automated answering service, or a shady record of here-today-gone-tomorrow workers.
- Licensed, Bonded, and Insured – You can rest assured knowing that our commercial roofing contractors have the necessary requirements to cover their work and your home in a professional manner.
- Unparalleled Customer Service – Our experienced craftsmen provide professional, quality service in a timely manner for all homeowners. We take the time to answer your questions, provide a fair quote, and even have special financing options available. We work on building relationships that last a lifetime and providing products you can rely on.
- Your Timeline is Our Timeline – Our experienced craftsmen provide professional, quality service in a timely manner because we know that you can’t always stop your business for a roof repair.
- Financing Available – If necessary, we have special financing options available to customers and can help you through the claims process with your insurance company.
Get Advice from the Experts
If you’re a building owner and noticing issues with your commercial roof systems, big or small, let us help. Whether it’s been a while since your last roof inspection, or you have major leaking – we can help. Never ignore the signs of commercial roof repair and replacement, you never know how badly your roof is damaged.
We’ll guide and educate you about our working and repair process and the best roofing material to use for your building so that it benefits both you and your business.
We provide free roof inspections and follow-up with honest, reliable estimates. Our only goal is to protect your home and your business. Give us a call today for more additional information and we can be on your roof tomorrow!
