roof inspection Archives | AMW Contracting

Commercial Roofing: Why DIY Inspection and Repairs Aren’t a Good Idea

commercial roof replacement being installed by team of professionals

As the owner or manager of a commercial property, you’re used to always watching your bottom line. In some cases, you may try to go the DIY route to take care of certain tasks or repairs. However, anything to do with commercial roofing shouldn’t fall into this category.

There are a number of reasons why repairing or even simply inspecting your roof on your own can be a bad idea. Take a look at the insights below to learn more about the risks that come along with DIY roof work and why partnering with a professional commercial roofing contractor is almost always the best option.

Reason 1: Safety Hazards

The risk of falling or slipping isn’t the only problem to consider when it comes to getting up and around on your roof. Skylights, water damage, and compromised decking could also pose a risk to your safety.

That’s why commercial roofing contractors take care to use specialized safety equipment and are thoroughly trained on techniques to keep them safe. Rather than risk your health–and even your life–opt to have a professional take a look at your roof.

Reason 2: Time and Energy Consuming

Without expert knowledge about your roof, you’ll probably spend a lot of time in advance doing research about what you should be looking for. This can take up significant chunks of time, yet won’t give you the full education you need to actually resolve issues.

Instead of going through the effort to attempt a fix on your own, only to later call in a professional to get it done right, reach out to a commercial roofing contractor first and save your time and energy for other pursuits.

Reason 3: Commercial Roofing Services are Less Expensive

Most people who want to work on their roofs without professional help think hiring a contractor is expensive. However, what’s actually expensive is finding the right materials and tools to fix your roof.

Professional teams already have access to everything they need to execute high-quality work including knowledge and experience. They may even be able to order materials at a discounted rate. In the end, having professionals work on your roof is likely the most economical choice.

Reason 4: Small Problems can Snowball

Roofing contractors have trained their eyes to catch the most minor issues. This is because noticing small problems is crucial to preventing major damage that could eventually necessitate a complete roof replacement. Even if you are able to conduct an inspection safely on your own, you’re missing the point if you overlook what may seem to be insignificant details.

Reason 5: Voiding Commercial Roofing Warranty

By working on your roof yourself, you could inadvertently void your warranty. Most roof warranties contain detailed terms and conditions specifying who can conduct repairs and which materials can be used.

Since you or your in-house team probably won’t meet these criteria, ask a commercial roofing contractor that is certified in your roofing system to handle the job and keep your precious warranty intact throughout the lifespan of your roof.

Fortunately, working with a commercial roofing service doesn’t have to be a hassle. Choose the right professional contractor, and you can benefit from the expertise, professionalism, and efficiency of an experienced team.

Get started with a trusted commercial roofing service today! Just get in touch with AMW Contracting at 904-725-4197 for a free service estimate.

What to Expect from a Duro-Last Roof Inspection

Is it time to organize a roof inspection for your facility’s Duro-Last^® roof? With a Duro-Last roofing system, your building benefits from outstanding defense against wind, rain, and fire.

The durability and leak resistance of Duro-Last roofs go above and beyond that of other commercial roofing systems. However, it is still important to have this membrane inspected at least twice per year. A comprehensive examination of the integrity of your roof is crucial to preventing small issues from becoming costly problems further down the road.

When to Schedule Your Duro-Last Roof Inspection

Roof inspections are generally most effective when they are conducted in the spring and fall. As part of a spring inspection, the inspector will evaluate any maintenance tasks that need to be scheduled for completion during the summer months. In the fall, the inspector will go through a comprehensive checklist to ensure the roof is ready to handle the wet and windy weather of the winter season.

However, it should be noted that two inspections per year is the minimum. It’s also important to have your roof inspected for damage following severe storms, hail, heavy rains, and unusually high winds.

Just because you haven’t noticed water coming through to the interior of your building doesn’t mean the roof hasn’t been impaired. With a proper roof inspection, you can have complete peace of mind knowing there’s not unseen water damage occurring in places you can’t easily view.

The Step-By-Step Process of a Duro-Last Roof Inspection

When you hire a certified Duro-Last roofing contractor, like AMW Contracting, to conduct an inspection of your roofing system, you can expect the contractor to perform a thorough evaluation of your roof. Here are the steps the contractor will take to correctly perform the inspection:

Roof walk. First, the contractor will walk the roof looking for environmental contamination, signs of damage, and any forms of debris that should be removed.
Inspection of seams. Next, the contractor will inspect all seams of the roof. As seams are where most leaks tend to occur on any type of roofing system, this is an important step for preventing water damage.
Examination of penetrations. During the inspection, penetrations are to be checked for watertight seals to determine whether re-caulking is necessary.
Marking of deficiencies. Any deficiencies found by the contractor will be marked for repair.
Cleaning of marked areas. Once the deficiencies have been located and marked, they will be cleaned by the contractor and prepared for the repair process.
Repair of deficiencies. The contractor will then conduct needed repairs. All roofing repairs should only be performed by an authorized Duro-Last contractor using Duro-Last materials to preserve your warranty.
Issuing of warranty. Once your inspection is completed by a certified Duro-Last roofing contractor, you’ll be issued one of the best warranties in the industry.

Tips for Maintaining Your Roof Between Inspections

Between inspections by an authorized contractor, be sure to keep your roof free of debris and ensure proper drainage by cleaning gutters, downspouts, scuppers, and the surrounding areas. It is also recommended to incorporate roof washing into your routine maintenance plan to remove biological growth and improve solar reflectivity. Always use a non-sudsing, non-abrasive powdered cleanser, never solvent-based chemicals, to avoid causing unintentional harm to the Duro-Last membrane.

Schedule your roof inspection with a certified Duro-Last contractor today! Give AMW Contracting a call at 904-725-4197 for details about the inspection process and a free estimate.

Roof Inspections in Jacksonville: The Key to Making Your Commercial Roof Last

Facility managers have a lot on their plates. When key components of the facility are built to last and properly maintained, the job becomes a whole lot easier. This is especially true for roofs of commercial buildings. In addition to frequent maintenance, roof inspections in Jacksonville are crucial to ensuring the longevity of any commercial property.

Frequent roof inspections are a cost-effective method for increasing a roof’s lifespan as they indicate the specific forms of maintenance required to prevent major problems in the future. At AMW Contracting in Jacksonville, we’re ready to provide roof inspection services that ensure your commercial roof lasts. You can count on our team to maximize the longevity of your commercial roof while offering a number of other benefits.

How You’ll Benefit From Our Roof Inspections in Jacksonville

Finding a professional roofing company with the ability to perform lasting repairs and provide first-rate services should be a top priority. However, it’s also important to choose a contractor who will help you get the most out of your roof inspection in Jacksonville.

Our team takes pride in delivering exceptional services for a wide range of commercial roofing types. We also make communication with our clients a key part of our inspection process.

Here’s what you can expect when you partner with a roofing company that puts your needs first.

The Ability to Make Evidence-Based Decisions

Our roofing inspections result in reports with detailed evidence related to the current condition of your roof. Whenever possible, the inspectors will include high-quality images to provide specific proof of the types of repairs needed. This imagery could be in the form of photos, drone footage, or even infrared moisture images.

Our inspectors will walk you through the details of the report and explain why certain problems require specific solutions. We understand that not everyone is familiar with roofing terminology and the different components of commercial roofing systems. We also know that even if you aren’t a roofing expert, you still need to make important, educated decisions about maintenance, repairs and potentially roof replacement. For this reason, it’s vital to choose a roofing contractor who will answer your questions and help you understand why this investment is needed and provide evidence to back up their claims.

The Ability to Plan Ahead

Many roofing companies offer forecast assessments of a roof’s condition, giving their clients information crucial to the planning ahead for repairs and replacement. These assessments typically amount to a professional prediction of the types of maintenance and repairs that may be required in the months and years ahead.

With this document at your fingertips, you’ll have the chance to budget for roofing expenses in advance instead of having to deal with the high cost of emergency repairs. Of course, this assessment must include a detailed maintenance schedule and accurate cost estimates if it is to be of any value.

The Ability to Take Advantage of Warranties

From Duro-Last to PVC, almost all of the top commercial roofing systems come with warranties. As any type of product, using warranties to their full potential can be a challenge. Manufacturers rarely, if ever, offer refunds without extensive proof and meticulous reporting.

Professional roofing inspections can help you make the most of your warranty thanks to the detailed reports they generate. Unfortunately, not all roofing companies keep their employees up-to-date on warranty changes or realize their reports may be used for purposes beyond client communication. That’s why it’s so important to choose a professional company that’s prepared to perform a thorough roof inspection in Jacksonville and detail this work through high-quality reporting.

Learn more about the advantages of regular roof inspections in Jacksonville conducted by a professional team. Call AMW Contracting today at 904-725-4197 for a free estimate.