Most Miami businesses schedule their commercial roof inspections months in advance, and treat the visits as routine. If, as a property manager or building owner, you are new to a Miami commercial roof inspection, nobody is going to hand you a cheat sheet. Here is what you need to know.
About Commercial Roof Inspections
The kind of commercial roof inspection Miami roofers perform is not casual. Every aspect of a roof is examined, usually in multiple ways:
- Visually
- Tactilely, by getting down on knees to touch, test and stress seams
- By infrared camera to detect cool spots, water or humidity, or escaping heat
- Photographically, to mark and record areas of concern and provide a baseline for future inspections
This means you can expect your local roofer’s crew to be on your roof (you are welcome to accompany the crew, with proper safety precautions) for a while, scanning and walking every inch. Depending on the size of your operation, the inspection could take hours.
What Is Included?
During a commercial roof inspection Miami contractors will pay attention to water issues, because Miami gets a lot of water. The roofer will look for:
- Ponding (standing water)
- Water staining
- Vegetation or evidence plants have taken root from available moisture
- Roof drains and scuppers free of debris and in good shape
- Cracks in parapets or caps that could allow water penetration
- Loose or missing flashing that, again, could admit water
In addition, your roofer will assess the surface, noting gouges, tears, missing ballast and seam issues.
What Will the Roofer Say?
Most roofers will say very little during the inspection. Look for a printed follow-up report, with photographic evidence, schedules of repairs, cost estimates and more. Your roofer may offer some free advice, such as:
- Keep the roof clear of debris and storage items
- Minimize foot traffic, and log all visitors
- Inspect the roof, especially the drainage system, after every major storm
How do Commercial Roof Inspections Differ from Residential Inspections?
A residential roof is usually a steep-slope structure; most commercial roofs are low-slope, meaning our inspectors can work directly on the roof with a minimum of safety tethers. Residential roofs can be inspected, in most cases, in a matter of minutes. An industrial building or commercial roof may need hours.
If you are in need of a commercial roof inspection for your Miami industrial or commercial building, contact us at PSI Roofing.
