by Conach Marketing GroupThe True Cost of Roof Leaks
Commercial building owners and managers know the impact roof leaks can have on their staff morale and operations. Commercial roofs are large, complex and under constant exposure to the elements. Leaks can go undetected for weeks or even months and cause long-term damage that comes with a hefty price tag. Even worse, roof leaks can be reported and unresolved without a good process to track and manage.
While the costs associated with a leak vary greatly depending on the commercial building, the materials used for the roofing system, the location of the leak, and the length of time the roof has been leaking, these leaks can turn expensive quickly if not identified and rectified in an efficient manner. Repairing the leak itself includes paying for damaged materials, sealing, or patching as needed, or potentially replacing entire portions of the roof. If the leak has worsened over time, there may be interior damage as well with associated costs related to mold remediation, damaged ceilings or walls, and damp insulation.
Larger costs can accumulate over time if a leak goes without detection, including having to pay increased heating or cooling expenses if insulation is damaged, overarching structural repairs, or legal repercussions involving insurance claims. All of these problems can easily become exacerbated the longer you wait to fix a leak.
The key to minimizing leak-related costs is to pinpoint leaks as soon as they occur and provide maintenance as efficiently as possible. The best way to do this is developing a comprehensive roof management program that provides proactive, rather than reactive, roof care. Routine inspections can also aid in this process, while a qualified roof consultant can help plan for repairs and replacements well in advance to allow proper time to budget accordingly.
Advancing technologies help detect and alleviate costs related to pesky leaks in your roofing system. Infrared Drone inspections are a great option for quick and cost effective access. A new tool, RoofLeak was introduced recently by BTA. RoofLeak helps building owners and managers by plotting and tracking leaks at any roof, even a roof thousands of miles away. Using an overhead view visualization of the roof and floor plan, users plot the precise location of a leak and an assigned contractor resolves the issue. This type of system works well with modern business environments as it allows building owners and managers to address the leak, but also monitor and measure the problem as a key metric.
This type of immediate maintenance addresses concerns before they worsen or damage the structural integrity of the building. Furthermore, having all leaks recorded in one comprehensive program, as well as all repaired leaks, helps to create a detailed history of your roofing system that can be useful for future inspections or roof replacements.
The true cost of roof leaks come from reactive maintenance rather than proactive planning. Developing roof management strategies and utilizing technologies and tools, like RoofLeak and Infrared Drones allows you a more thorough understanding of the state of your roof, and provides direct solutions to any leaks you may encounter throughout your roof’s service life.