A Property Manager’s Guide To Roof Repair
4 Great Roof Maintenance Tips For Property
Managers In Bergen County, NJ
Keep Your Property Safe From
Leaks And Moisture Damage
Commercial real estate brokers and property managers who have experienced the need for roof maintenance in Bergen County, NJ are likely well aware of how essential it is. Roof damage can arise due to the area’s propensity for storms, hail, and other inclement weather events.
For instance, high winds are known to blow shingles off, while hail can cause a lot of damage by battering shingles, flashings, and roof membranes. Ice can weasel its way between shingles and the roof decking. Even sunlight, with its concentration of UV radiation, can damage exposed roofs.
The older and more deteriorated a roof is, the more likely it is to leak. And leaks are dangerous because they lead to various other expensive issues. For example, moisture penetrating the roof can be absorbed by the roof joists and decking. This weakens the support structure considerably.
Below are some roof maintenance tips for commercial real estate brokers and property managers in Bergen County, NJ.
Trim Back Trees From Bergen County, NJ Roofs
Trees can damage a roof, especially in windy areas. The wind blows trees so limbs and branches buffet the roof, scratch at shingles, and damage flat roof membranes. To avoid this hazard, trim trees that overhang your building’s roof.
Branches should be cut back at least six feet from the roof to prevent buffeting under high winds. This practice not only protects your roof but also the siding of your commercial building, church, or multi-family dwelling.
Another reason to trim back branches is that they deposit a lot of leaves, buds, blossoms, pollen, and other organic matter onto the roof. We explain in the following section why debris is harmful to a roof.
Remove Debris From Bergen County, NJ Roofs
As a commercial real estate broker or property manager, you may be responsible for keeping your property’s roof in good shape. One important step is to keep it free of debris. Debris, like leaves, blossoms, and twigs, can collect moisture and hold it against the surface of the roof until it freezes and damages the shingles or roof membrane.
When a roof suffers minor damage—such as the loss of shingles or a pierced roof membrane—a good roofer can often repair it affordably. However, it is important that you act promptly. You don’t want the situation to worsen. That could result in more expensive repairs or property damage.
The instant you suspect your commercial or residential property has suffered roof damage, contact a roofer you trust. Signs of trouble include the following:
- missing, damaged, or discolored shingles
- shingles on the ground around your building
- cracking or brittle roof membrane
- water puddling on a flat roof
Commercial real estate brokers and property managers may oversee a lot of buildings and thus may encounter many roof problems. It is therefore important to develop a relationship with a good roofing company in your area.
Have North Jersey Roofs Inspected
Roof replacement is required when roof damage is not confined to one spot. Sometimes, wide swaths of shingles or much of the roof membrane may have deteriorated, so roof repair is impractical. This usually occurs when the roof has reached or exceeded its expected lifespan. At this point, the roof should be replaced.
Roofers will strip off the existing roof and replace it with new materials. They will make sure the roof deck, joists, and supports are in good condition and install an entirely new roof. The result is a roof that is as sturdy and secure as when the building was first constructed.
However, roof replacement is both very expensive and very invasive. It may take weeks, and you’ll have workers climbing the roof or tramping through the building daily. That’s why many commercial real estate brokers and property managers in North Jersey prefer roof restoration instead.
Roof restoration, also called roof rejuvenation, is the process of returning the existing roof to almost-new condition through the application of roof coatings. The process is feasible for many types of roof materials, including modified bitumen, hot tar, EPDM, TPO, PVC, standing seam and corrugated metal roofs, copper roofs, and more.
Even aging and deteriorating roofs can be restored. The roof coatings seal and maintain the roof and keep it leak-free for between 5 and 20 years. It takes less time than roof replacement. It is far less invasive. And it can save you 60% to 70% of the cost you’d incur for roof replacement.
Keep Gutters, Drains, And Downspouts Clean
The gutters, drains, and downspouts on your property let water drain off the roof. When they are clogged, the moisture that remains in them can freeze. If this happens, ice can infiltrate beneath the shingles or roof membrane and cause considerable damage. This is one of the primary causes of ice dams.
Ice dams on your property are risky to roofing materials and potentially dangerous to your occupants, guests, employees, and passersby. A falling icicle can be large enough to injure or kill someone, which would put you at risk of a lawsuit. Thus, It is essential to prevent ice dams by keeping gutters clean.
