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You no doubt have seen the sign in businesses like copy centers and freight shipping offices: “Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.”

It is a favorite among folks who serve an often-anxious public, but it applies equally well to commercial roofers dealing with those frantic calls from commercial building owners.

Plan to Fail?

Another aphorism (perhaps from Ben Franklin, no less) says if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. This is especially true of your low-slope or “flat” roof, which literally shelters the rest of your entire business. Consider what goes on under that roof:

• Building supplies that must stay dry to be usable
• Residential buildings with finicky tenants inside
• Hospitals and nursing homes with frail residents
• Businesses catering to customer foot traffic

Without roof preservation, you are risking a roof leak that could shutter your business while repairs are made. No customers. Moving patients, or paying tenants to stay at expensive hotels and motels. Ruined inventory; the list is nearly endless.

Roof Preservation

The logical alternative to disrupting your commercial building’s occupants with emergency roof repair is roof preservation. Plan a regular schedule with your local roofer. Set up inspections, routine repair work, and systematic cleaning.

With roof preservation, you lessen the chances that an unexpected leak will appear to ruin inventory or tenants’ possessions. Roof preservation lengthens the life of your roof, too, with protective coatings.

When you partner with a local, reliable roofer, you get a crew that becomes familiar with your company’s individual low-slope roof. Careful documentation can help crews focus on problem areas like flashing, degraded internal drains, or loose mechanical fasteners.

Tampa Weather

Roof preservation is also your protection against Tampa’s harshest weather. From hurricanes to blistering heat, Tampa’s climate taxes even the best commercial roof. With roof preservation services from Aderhold Roofing, you can be prepared for the next Category 5 or the next heat wave. Roof preservation also makes storm repair work easier, faster to fix, and less expensive.

Aderhold Roofing is ready to help with emergency roof repair, but we also can be your partner for long-term roofing maintenance and roof preservation. Contact us today to see how our extensive program of roof preservation can help you properly plan to avoid roofing emergencies. Our trained crews can monitor and protect your roof year-round and respond to storm damage when needed.

Any of Tampa’s amazing physical therapists will tell you that your body is a finely tuned, balanced system. When one little part — your lower back, an ankle, or a hamstring — goes out, your whole body gets out of whack. The same is true of your commercial flat roof. It is an integrated system of many interconnected parts, and each part has a role to play in keeping your Tampa business dry, climate-controlled, and safe.

S is for Scuppers

The parapet scuppers (those openings that allow water to drain off your not-quite-flat roof) must be kept clear and free-flowing, so Tampa’s strong storms do not overwhelm your roof.

Scuppers and internal drains allow wastewater to flow quickly off the roof and away from your building’s foundations. This has several positive effects:

• Foundations stay dry, tight and strong
• Roof surfaces dry quickly
• Water has no time to pond

Clean scuppers are key to keeping your commercial building dry and at the ideal humidity.

S is Also for Seams

If your roofing material has seams, you have only two options for keeping them sealed:

1. Heat — Heat-sealed seams are strong, waterproof, and long-lasting if done correctly; deferred maintenance or poor installation workmanship can spell trouble
2. Chemicals — Adhesives will hold the seams together only if the correct adhesive, specific for the roofing material, is used

Increased interior humidity and higher energy bills are typical problems rooted in open seams.

B is for Built-Up Roofing

One of the longest-lasting and economical roofing solutions for many Tampa commercial properties is built-up roofing (BUR). Unlike a PVC membrane, BUR is itself an integrated system of layers. Therefore, BUR requires some special care.

Experts at Facilities Net identify several common problems a strong commercial roofer will spot (and solve) quickly:

• Alligatoring — When the asphalt used in the various layers begins to shrink, alligatoring (crazing) can occur; as these worsen, splits in membrane can cause water leaks
• Blisters — Trapped moisture beneath the top surface causes blisters; remove the moisture and the blisters can be patched
• Ridges — Damaged insulation below the BUR layers can separate from those layers, which expand and contract with Tampa’s volatile temperatures

Your local, trusted commercial roofers at Aderhold Roofing are ready to help you. Contact us today to learn more about the elements of your building’s flat roof, and how our highly trained roofing technicians can solve just about any problem you are having.

Just as the kids are getting out of school with dreams of carefree days ahead, a conscientious Tampa roofing contractor can use the early days of summer to educate local commercial building owners about the brutal realities of Tampa’s summer rainy season.

Summer Prep

A typical Tampa roofing contractor will inspect your roof with an eye toward the impending heavy weather:

• Massive thunderstorms
• Scorching heat
• High humidity
• Wind uplift
• Hurricanes

The earlier in the season you can partner with your trusted Tampa roofing contractor, the better your roof will be able to withstand summer’s unpredictable (but usually harsh) weather.

Some trouble signs to watch for:

• Excessive drying that leads to cracks and crazing in roofing surfaces
• Corrosion in flashing
• Depressed insulation that leads to ponding and water infiltration
• Perennially clogged or troublesome internal drains and parapet scuppers

Some of these issues may be within your facilities crew’s skill set, but many times, a well-intentioned rooftop maintenance visit can lead to bigger problems and the safety of your crew is a number one priority. Contacting a contractor to inspect your roof is a much safer choice.

What Not To Do

Most Tampa roofs are low-slope, which reduces (but does not eliminate) slip and fall hazards. Neither you nor any in-house crew members should attempt summer prep work on it. Instead turn to a reliable, local Tampa roofing contractor to get the steep-slope roof in good condition for the wet season ahead.

What To Do

Instead of risking your facilities crew, turn to a Tampa roofing contractor with all the right equipment, training, and key personnel. A professional contractor will prepare your commercial roof for the rainy season to come, ensuring questionable seams are adequately closed (either chemically or with heat), that all drains are working properly, and that flashing is firmly in place.

Aderhold Roofing is thoroughly familiar with Tampa’s rainy summer season. When you contact us, we can help you with inspections, summer preparatory work, and quick repairs. We can also advise on dealing with Tampa’s summer thunderstorms, the ensuing hurricane season, and more. Your roof will never be better protected than when you trust Aderhold Roofing, your dependable Tampa roofing contractor.

What Jadev Payeng has done, he did not do in a day. Payeng has single-handedly planted a forest larger than New York City’s Central Park on an island in a river in India. He has been at this task every day since 1979. You visit the island and you see a forest; you do not see the daily work Payeng put into his labor of love. This is equally true with a commercial roof maintenance plan. You may not notice how your company’s “miracle roof” got that way if you never noticed (or knew about) the roof maintenance plan involved.

Miracle, or Roof Maintenance Plan?

Some Tampa commercial roofs look blessed as if neither wind nor rain has ever affected them. Your own commercial building may be the beneficiary of an unknown roof maintenance plan before your company moved in.

You see a smooth, flawless PVC membrane, or a well-ballasted BUR roof, but you may not realize all the crew hours and contractor labor that went into getting it into pristine shape.

Such a roof maintenance plan is the heart of any rooftop “miracle” you may see in surrounding commercial properties.

Keep At It

Just as Payeng kept at his task of transforming an eroding island into a thriving forest, you have to keep at roof maintenance. If your organization is lucky enough to have inherited a well-maintained Tampa roof, keep at it. Capitalize on the work. Try this roof maintenance plan:

1. Work safely — We understand that preventing problems on your flat roof may entice you or your maintenance crew to climb on the roof or walk around. We do not advise walking on your commercial roof as foot traffic can puncture the protective membrane and commercial roofs are inherently dangerous.
2. Inspect the deck — Have your commercial roofer help you inspect the roof deck itself, which is often accessible from within the building; structural damage or defects can telegraph to the roof surface, causing water leaks or a degraded roof
3. Inspect regularly — Experts at Facilities Net remind us that regular inspection is key to proper maintenance, as discoveries from inspection guide the repair and maintenance work

With a call to Aderhold Roofing, or by contacting us, you can establish a clear partner for a roof maintenance plan that can make your company’s roof look like a miracle. Only you and Aderhold will know all the hard work and planning that went into your Tampa roof.

A basic principle of physics is thermal expansion. When materials heat up, they gain energy and expand. This is as true of steel as it is of single-ply roofing membranes like PVC. Materials also shrink in cold weather. This constant expansion and contraction can wreak havoc with roofing materials. Although Tampa-area roofs seldom suffer freezing temperatures, Tampa’s four seasons can lead to roof leaks without regular roof maintenance.

Eroding Efficiency

A typical Tampa roof benefits from reflectivity; the near-tropical sun’s direct rays are reflected back from bright, shiny roofing materials. With aging and gradual wear, that reflectivity diminishes, bringing increased cooling costs and more frequent start-up of cooling equipment. Add a roof leak to that and you are now fighting increased humidity inside your building.

Tampa’s four seasons, even with an admittedly mild winter, cause your building’s roof to degrade over time. Conscientious roof maintenance can forestall the time when roof replacement is your only option. With annual inspections and regular maintenance, weak spots, incipient leaks and vulnerable seams can all be monitored. This keeps leaks at bay through the rainy season and through wet winters.

Regular Roof Maintenance

Every commercial roof is different, but for most low-slope roofs, an integrated system from your roof deck up keeps your entire building dry, temperature-controlled, and safe. Insulation, decking, drains, flashing and parapet walls all work together with the roofing material to keep water out and keep climate-controlled air in.

Regular roof maintenance addresses every one of these areas:

1. Drainage — From internal drains to scuppers, gutters and downspouts
2. Decking — Inspection from inside your building can identify weaknesses in structural members, corrosion in metal, or cracks in wooden supports
3. Insulation — Deformations in the surface signal insulation issues beneath
4. Roof membrane or other roofing material — Whether single-ply, TPO, modified bitumen or another material, your roofing material is your first line of defense against leaks
5. Flashing — Intersections between unlike materials are safely sealed

Spotting Leaks

Periodic roof maintenance and annual inspection can find leaks faster than waiting for tell-tale signs inside your structure. By inventorying rooftop issues, your commercial roofer can help you decide where best to spend roof repair money to keep leaks out through all four season.

Partner with the professionals of Aderhold Roofing to combat high humidity and damaging roof leaks. Our regular roof maintenance plans can keep your Tampa-area business high and dry from spring through winter. Contact Aderhold Roofing today.

Which costs more, ten years of conscientious roof maintenance or five years of deferred maintenance and a new roof? That should be a no-brainer for most Tampa-area business owners and facilities managers. No commercial roofing material lasts forever, but with the right annual maintenance and roof preservation program, your Tampa-area commercial roof can outlast your competitors’ roofs, giving you a key advantage: expansion capital, rather than overhead costs.

Pricey Process

GLE Associates, a Tampa engineering consultancy, pegs the typical cost of a commercial roof, based on roofing material, as follows:

• Single-ply — $3 to $5/sq. ft.
• Built-up Roofing (BUR) — $3.50 to $6.50/sq. ft.
• Metal roof — $7 to $12/sq. ft.

For a typical Tampa business with a 50-foot by 100-foot facility, the 5,000 square feet of roof translate to these typical costs for a new roof:

• Single-ply — $15,000 to $25,000
• Built-up Roofing (BUR) — $17,500 to $32,500
• Metal roof — $35,000 to $60,000

This is a serious investment for any business. Preserving your commercial roof pays off handsomely, as each additional year of service saves you many thousands of dollars.

What a Roof Maintenance Plan Does

For a very small fraction of roof replacement costs, you can invest in your roof’s longevity through an annual inspection and preservation program. Partner with your trusted commercial roofer to determine your best options:

• Annual inspection and minor repair
• Substantial repair followed by quarterly inspection
• Reroof and roof preservation

Aderhold Roofing, for example, can offer combinations of services best suited to your roof. Every plan must start with an on-site inspection so your roofer can determine the best program to get your roof in its best shape, and then keep it lasting for many years.

Every dollar you invest in preserving your roof helps you buy more time before a huge capital outlay. It also allows you to plan for roof replacement on your schedule, not as an emergency.

Preserve and Protect

Roof preservation generally goes beyond roof maintenance to include waterproof coatings and thorough, down-to-insulation repair. An annual inspection generally is less intensive. Spot roof repair is only responsive as a need arises. Generally, preservation provides your best return on investment (ROI).

With a call to Aderhold Roofing, you can begin the steps needed to lock in value in your commercial roof. Our roof maintenance programs can extend the life of your existing roof while helping you plan for eventual roof replacement. Contact us today to learn more.

Here on Florida’s Gulf Coast, it’s virtually impossible for a commercial property to escape wear and damage from stormy weather. Being prepared in advance gives you the best chance to limit the extent of damage to your building’s roof from both minor and major weather events. Here’s what you can do to help preserve your roof and the building it protects from the bad weather that Mother Nature delivers in 2018:

Have Your Roof Evaluated Regularly

Partnering with a well-established Tampa commercial roofing contractor now can help ensure that your roof is in the best possible shape to withstand storms. Your roofer should perform a thorough inspection of the roof at least twice a year, and give you a detailed report on its condition and what’s needed to keep it watertight.

Get Expert Advice About Routine Maintenance

Another valuable service an experienced roofer can provide is guidance on roof maintenance that your staff should handle on a routine basis. Such tasks may include keeping the roof free of potentially-damaging debris, cleaning out the scuppers, drains and downspouts regularly, clearing away standing water on the roof field after a rain to avert damage from ponding, as well as performing a basic rooftop damage assessment and checking the building’s interior for signs of water infiltration after a storm.

Tackle Necessary Repairs Promptly

The inspection reports your roofer provides should list any existing and emerging issues with your roof system that need attention, along with recommendations for preservation measures that can help extend its service life. After every inspection, be sure to follow your roofer’s advice and suggested timeline for completing repairs and taking other actions. Staying current with needed repairs reduces the likelihood of leaks during storms that can result in all sorts of costly damage.

Maintain Trees on Your Property

Trees add to your property’s curb appeal, but if they succumb to high winds during a storm, they can cause considerable damage to your building’s roof. To avoid roof punctures and membrane damage from falling trees, limbs and branches, have an arborist assess the condition of any tall trees sited near the building. Then, get any unhealthy trees removed, and have limbs and branches that overhang the roof pruned back a safe distance. For targeted advice and assistance with preparing your commercial property to better withstand 2018’s upcoming storms, contact us today at Aderhold Roofing, your reliable Tampa commercial roofing pros.

When a destructive storm hits the gulf coast of Florida, the news typically attracts many out-of-state roofers to our area. Some come here with the best of intentions, while others are hoping to make some easy money, then promptly leave. Regardless of an out-of-town roofer’s ethics, they simply don’t have the local knowledge able required to make effective repairs to commercial roofs in the Tampa area.

Reputable local roofers are extremely busy after a storm, so when you’re approached by an out-of-state roofing outfit, it can be difficult to turn down a tempting promise of quick repairs. You’ll find it easier to resist if you consider the following three reasons why it’s wiser to hire a Tampa commercial roofing professional instead:

Experience With State and Local Building Codes

Both Florida and the local municipalities have put stringent building codes in place due to the severity and frequency of storms in the state. Roofing contractors based in Tampa work with these codes on a daily basis, so they understand how to meet all the requirements from proper permitting and making compliant repairs to passing the necessary inspections. One such code requirement that an out-of-state roofer may not be aware of the need for installing tapered insulation to improve the slope and drainage on a flat commercial roof and reduce the likelihood of ponding water.

Wind Mitigation Knowledge for Insurance Purposes

Depending on the design of your commercial roof system, you might decide that the need for making storm-related repairs is an opportune time to implement wind mitigation improvements to lessen the risk of damage from future storms. A local roofing contractor understands the wind mitigation inspection process and requirements, and how to complete repairs and improvements that can pass a follow-up inspection so you can lower your property insurance premiums.

Florida Licensing and Insurance

When you hire a locally-based commercial roofer to make storm repairs on your building, you have immediate peace of mind that they’ve met Florida’s strict licensing requirements. Here in Tampa, commercial roofers must pass a state certification exam, meet requirements for education and experience, submit a credit report to verify financial stability, and undergo a background check that includes fingerprinting. They also have to provide proof of insurance for public liability, property damage and workers’ compensation coverage.

If you need the services of a dependable, knowledgeable Tampa commercial roofing professional for storm repairs, contact us at Aderhold Roofing.

Most companies do not ask their employees to wear disposable uniforms. If you are a Tampa Bay company intent on turning a profit, remaining in business for many years, and attracting customers, you use a uniform cleaning service. Worn clothes go out for a thorough wash and new uniforms are delivered for your employees to wear. You cannot send your company’s roof out for cleaning, but your commercial roofer can provide similar service for many of the same reasons you want clean uniforms for your employees.

Appearance

Just as you want your employees to present a pleasing appearance to your customers, you want your roof to look good, too. Why? Any commercial roofer will tell you, no roof is truly flat, so any dirt and debris that builds up on the roof will, eventually, wash down across your building facade, or through downspouts, or onto your landscaping. A clean roof signals quality, too.

Steep-slope commercial roofs need cleaning even more than low-slope, because they are more visible. Surrounding buildings provide clear views of either type of roof, so appearance is one way to advertise the strength of your company.

Other Benefits

Besides attracting and keeping customers, a clean roof has other benefits for your business:

1. Economy — a clean roof simply lasts longer, since keeping it clean means regular inspection and repair
2. Protection — Your roof literally shields the rest of your business, so protect it with cleaning, maintenance, and routine repair
3. Warranty — Many commercial roofing warranties require conscientious upkeep for the warranties to remain in force

The Cleaning Process

Aderhold Roofing’s expertly trained crews know how to clean and maintain any commercial roof, from low-slope to steep slope. We can prevent algae and moss from taking over a storefront mansard roof, or keep internal drains and parapet scuppers free of clogging debris. We know when to pressure-wash and when old-fashioned elbow grease is better for your roof.

As a superior commercial roofer, Aderhold Roofing will assess your business’s roof, determine what level and type of cleaning are needed, and document the process. We will rid your roof of debris, vegetation and wind-borne trash, evaluate the condition of the roofing material, and choose an appropriate cleaning method to restore the surface. 

Roof cleaning can tie into annual roof inspection, but you may opt for more frequent cleaning. Contact Aderhold Roofing today to hear more benefits roof cleaning provides your Tampa Bay business.

When a major storm hits the Tampa area and causes widespread damage, property owners who don’t have an established relationship with a trusted local roofer can give in to desperation and take whatever “help” is available. If you can’t vet a roofer properly, you can end up paying for sub-par service and shoddy workmanship that leaves you dealing with additional headaches and repair costs down the road. Choosing a knowledgeable local roofer now not only assures you of a fast response when you need help in an emergency, but it also offers these additional benefits when you’re at the mercy of Mother Nature:

Familiarity With Local Code Requirements

A roofer who’s based in the area is well-versed in our local code, permitting and inspection requirements. This familiarity not only ensures that any repairs meet current Florida standards, it can prove invaluable when you’re filing an insurance claim. When insurance companies are overwhelmed after a devastating storm, they often bring in out-of-state or inadequately-trained adjusters. A local roofer who knows the applicable codes can educate such an adjuster so you avoid potential shortfalls and delays in your claim.

Knowledge of Our Climate and Weather Extremes

Local Tampa commercial roofers understand how the high humidity and harsh UV exposure of our Gulf Coast climate impact different roofing materials commonly used on commercial buildings. They’re also familiar with the effects of hurricane-force winds and torrential rains and the damage they cause to area roofs. If you’re wise and have partnered with an experienced roofer for routine inspections and ongoing maintenance, you’ll rest easy knowing that your property’s roof is in the best possible condition to withstand storm damage, and that any storm-related repairs are sound and long-lasting.

Peace of Mind About Licensing and Insurance Coverage

Established commercial roofers in Tampa are licensed through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). When you hire a licensed local roofing company, you have the assurance that they’ve met the state’s strict requirements that include passing a trade-specific exam, having relevant education and experience, and demonstrating financial stability with no liens or judgments. You also won’t have to worry whether a contractor has insurance, because to obtain a license, a Florida roofer also has to have public liability, property damage and workers’ compensation coverage in place.

If you’d like to form a partnership with trustworthy, local Tampa commercial roofers, please contact us at Aderhold Roofing.