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Storms are a fact of life here on Florida’s scenic west coast, and they can cause significant damage to your commercial roof. While it’s impossible to prevent storm damage entirely, you can help limit its severity by considering these “worst case” scenarios and how to prepare for them:

Torrential Rain Leaves You With a Rooftop Swimming Pool

If your roof looks like a swimming pool after a heavy rainstorm, the added weight can compress the insulation and stress the structure to the point of collapse. A single inch of standing water covering a 10 ft x 10 ft roof area represents 1,000 lbs of added weight, and two inches a full ton. If rainwater ponds and doesn’t drain away, contact a dependable Tampa commercial roofer for advice on how to safely remove it, then have the roof’s drainage system and slope evaluated to identify the cause and resolve it without delay.

High Winds Peel Back and Shred the Membrane

When wind hits your roof, it exerts negative pressure (suction) and positive pressure (pushing) in different areas depending on the wind direction, and the roof’s shape and location. Typically, the perimeter endures higher pressures, and if the material is loose anywhere around the roof edge/corners, the suction effect can lift it so wind gets underneath and pulls it. This not only allows water into the roof system, it can peel back and tear the membrane. To minimize the risk of this type of damage, the perimeter flashing and nearby mechanical fasteners should be checked regularly to make sure they’re securely in place.

Multiple Interior Leaks But No Obvious Roof Damage

It’s a cause for concern if you have water dripping down from your building’s ceilings, fresh stains on ceiling tiles or drywall and puddles of water on the floor after a storm, but your maintenance staff can’t see any obvious damage or areas of ponding water on the rooftop. Leaks into the structure can cause ruined insulation, costly interior and mechanical system damage, and/or mold growth inside the ceilings and walls. You can prevent many of these problems after a storm by scheduling a thorough roof inspection and addressing identified issues like deteriorated caulking or pitch pan fillers, damaged flashing, faulty expansion joints, seam separations and membrane punctures.

For personalized advice on how to prepare your property for stormy weather, contact us at Aderhold Roofing, your expert Tampa commercial roofers.

Storms come and go through Florida, and unfortunately, so do unscrupulous storm chasing roofers. A storm chaser is a roofer with no local address, no permanent crew and no credentials showing professional connections to your community. Storm chasers swoop in after hurricanes, hoping to cash in on distressed Tampa-area business owners who are in a hurry to have their companies’ roofs fixed. The storm chaser takes your insurance company’s money, does a substandard job and disappears. Avoid storm chasers by following these tips.

Demand Local References

Ask any prospective roofer to provide you with a local physical address, local telephone number and professional associations or connections:

1. Local Better Business Bureau
2. Florida Business License
3. Gallery of local projects
4. Memberships in Florida or Tampa-area business and professional groups

Aderhold Roofing, for example, is a member of the Florida Metal Roofing & Sheetmetal Contractors Association, Inc. We are also proud members of Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc., and the West Coast Roofing Contractors’ Association.

Just as important as local alliances are state credentials. You can check any roofer’s paperwork with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Using Aderhold Roofing as an example, you can search by business name and up pops the license: #CCC1329750.

Storm chasers try to cash in on the commercial roofing Tampa Florida businesses need after a major hurricane. They offer to perform the roof repair for the amount your insurance company offers, and then perform a fast, poorly done job.

Ask for Proof of Insurance

A local, reliable commercial roofer able to offer the commercial roofing Tampa Florida businesses require will also have insurance:

• Liability insurance to protect your company
• Workers Compensation insurance to indemnify your business if a roofing worker is injured at your job site

Ask About Equipment and Training

The reliable companies in commercial roofing Tampa Florida businesses should turn to, such as Aderhold Roofing, will have their own equipment, permanent crews and programs for crew education in the latest techniques. Ask any prospective roofer about:

1. The age of their roofing equipment
2. The rate of employee turnover among their roofing crews
3. Programs in place for employee training

When you contact us at Aderhold Roofing, you can be sure you are reaching a real address, with actual local roofers. We have been in business for many years right here in Tampa at 4648 Eagle Falls Place, and plan to be here for many more years.

The Girl Scout Law says a Girl Scout will be “honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do.” These are exactly the sort of qualities most businesses would wish from their commercial roofer. Which three, though, should be most important to you?

Honest

Most businesses stay in business in the Tampa area because they treat all customers honestly. You may think having professional affinities (belonging to associations and clubs) is key; yet you are unlikely to trust a roofer with your business’s roof if you worry the company will be dishonest with you, affiliations or not.

Honesty in Tampa commercial roofing actually entails more than accurate billing; an honest roofer will have the courage and strength to tell you if your desired patchwork repair will not do the job, or if your budget is too small for proper reroofing.

Responsible

A really good Tampa commercial roofing company will take responsibility for maintenance and repair on your roof, offering a complete program of inspection, upkeep, and response. Being responsible means offering multiple solutions:

• Roof preservation
• Roof cleaning to extend roof life
• Roof repair
• Roof replacement when needed

Trusting a reliable Tampa commercial roofing company with the great responsibility for keeping your roof intact also means that company will be responsible for what it does and says — a promise made is a promise kept.

Caring

What if your roof starts leaking Friday at 4:45 p.m.? Should you politely sit and wait until Monday morning? Will your Tampa commercial roofing contractor care enough about you as a client to send an emergency response crew? Select a roofer who cares enough to work around your schedule and work until the job is done.

Part of caring about our customers, for Aderhold Roofing, means being considerate of your time, budget, employees and your own company’s customers. We can schedule work to cause minimal disruption. We also clean up after ourselves, being considerate of your property (not every Tampa commercial roofing company can make that claim).

Most of the clients of Aderhold Roofing will tell you, they have found in our company more than three things they wanted in a commercial roofer. We strive to be Tampa’s best; please contact us today so we can help you find answers to what you want in a roofing partner.

Your business’s roof is not to be taken lightly since you must trust it to hold your business together. This means developing a level of trust in your commercial roofer to preserve and protect that roof. That relationship cannot be taken lightly either, so look for these hallmarks of a dependable commercial roofer.

The Basics

A dependable roofer should have some basic qualities that quickly allow you to separate shady operators from high-quality companies:

• A local physical address and telephone number — Aderhold Roofing has offices at 4648 Eagle Falls Place in Tampa
• A portfolio of work for you to review
• Recent clients, you can contact
• A state license — Aderhold Roofing holds Florida License #CCC1329750
• Proof of insurance — Workers compensation insurance and liability coverage

Additional Evidence

A trusted commercial roofer will have an extensive network of relationships with industry leaders. Look for certifications and credentials from these top names in roofing:

• Owens Corning
• GAF
• Johns Manville
• GacoFlex
• Firestone

In addition to these industry connections (which can help your business preserve its roof through strong warranties and expert advice), you also want a commercial roofer with strong community affiliations, such as these:

1. Member, Florida Roofers and Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Inc.
2. West Coast Roofing Contractors Association
3. Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.

Why? These industry relationships strengthen a company’s skills, offering reliable layers of advice and support should your roofer encounter a unique problem. Relationships with professional organizations and manufacturers also mean the company is unafraid to compare its work, training, and techniques with the best in the business. Indeed, the roofer you select, such as Aderhold Roofing, could be the best in the business.

Warranties

A dependable, trustworthy roofer is trusted by manufacturers to install their products correctly, and in return, that roofer earns the highest levels of warranties offered. The manufacturer knows it will not be paying out on claims of faulty installation, so it entrusts its strongest warranties — often 20 years or more — to a dependable commercial roofer.

Versatility

A dependable roofer trusts its abilities even as it seeks to expand its skill set. A qualified company shows versatility in materials, scheduling, repair and installation techniques, and more. Aderhold Roofing is one such company.

Aderhold Roofing has been your trusted, dependable partner in commercial roofing for Tampa businesses for many years. We are local, reliable, and experienced. Contact Aderhold Roofing today to connect to a local, caring, quality commercial roofer.

Commercial roofing products are constantly improving, and by those incremental improvements, lasting longer. Your commercial roofer may have installed a built-up roof a decade ago and just replaced it with with a single-ply membrane; that membrane could last 20 or more years. Helping your commercial roofing to last, no matter the material, is a goal not only of your facilities crew but of your commercial roofer.

For Every Roof

Every low-slope commercial roof can benefit from these life-extending ideas:

1. Minimize foot traffic
2. Maintain a rigorous schedule of frequent inspections and repairs, working with your commercial roofer to arrange annual or semi-annual maintenance
3. Removing debris and water promptly after Tampa’s (infamous) thunderstorms and hurricanes

Single Ply

Single ply membrane is tough stuff. In Tampa’s heat, humidity, and strong sun, it holds up well despite all that Mother Nature throws at it. Still, a facilities manager can extend the life of any single-ply product with a few judicious steps:

• Keep your roof clean
• Keep drains and scuppers clear to avoid water ponding — Ponded water acts as a prism, increasing UV light’s damaging effects
• Ensure open seams are re-sealed the same way your commercial roofer originally installed them — This can mean either chemical adhesive or heat, but the work should match for integrity

BUR

With built-up roofing (BUR), roofing felts start to lose their volatile chemicals from Day One. The goal of your commercial roofer with BUR is to minimize the sun’s effects, says National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) researcher R. L. Bonafont. The roof needs to be considered as an integrated whole, despite the movement inherent in the layers. Bonafont recommends:

• Increasing the overall thickness of the membrane by adding layers National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) researcher R. L. Bonafont. The roof needs to be considered as an integrated whole, despite the movement inherent in the layers. Bonafont recommends:
• Reducing shear movement by ensuring high penetration of the bitumen
• Increasing the use of polyester reinforcing layers to increase traction

Roof Replacement

Should repair and life-extension be insufficient, consider roof replacement. We strongly recommend thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membranes as economical, long-lasting replacements for Tampa roofs. TPO can be mechanically fastened, fully adhered or ballasted. It enjoys much stronger seam strength than EPDM and it has none of the plasticizers used in PVC membrane, making it a green choice. A good TPO roof, well installed by an expert commercial roofer, can last 15 to 20 years at a lower cost than typical PVC membrane.

For expert advice on extending your commercial roof’s life, please contact the professionals of Aderhold Roofing today.

Concrete dates back to the Romans. It is hard, durable and ideal for sidewalks. Single-ply commercial roofing membrane is only a few decades old. It is thin, durable and not intended for foot traffic. Treating your commercial roof like it is a sidewalk is only one of four things you should never do to the commercial roofing products protecting your business.

Invite Foot Traffic

Discourage foot traffic on your building’s roof not just to avoid slips and falls, but to preserve the commercial roofing material itself. Single-ply membrane and other roofing substances are tough but are not meant to hold up under daily pedestrian use. Consider the damage a pair of pointed heels could do to TPO, EPDM or modified bitumen.

Expect rooftop visitors to stick to the installed walkways, and keep a visitor’s log so you know who has been on the roof and for what purpose. Discourage casual visits by keeping access doors and hatches locked.

Defer Maintenance

One of the most damaging things you can do to your roof is postpone required maintenance and repairs. You may save a few dollars in this year’s budget, but you will pay far more in future years for today’s neglect.

Annual inspection and routine minor repairs extend your commercial roofing product’s life. Though it may cost a few percent of what a new roof will cost, it is money wisely spent.

Never Clean It

Keeping your commercial roof clean accomplishes several goals:

• Improved public relations — A clean roof has customer appeal and suggests an organized business
• Reduces damage — Wind-borne debris can scour and scuff the roof surface as it is dragged across it
• Prevents leaks — Keeping internal drains and parapet scuppers clear of debris allows water to flow instead of ponding
• Adds life — A clean commercial roofing surface lasts longer
• Lessens cooling load — A dark, moss-covered or algae-covered roof absorbs heat and drives up your cooling bill

Do It Yourself

Avoid assigning your facilities crew to roof repair work. First, it is dangerous — edges are closer than they appear. Second, your crew members are not experts trained in proper roof repair. Third, their actions could void any warranty that could cover the expense of bringing in trained roofers, like the pros at Aderhold Roofing.

Please consider teaming with Aderhold Roofing to prevent doing more harm than good on your commercial roof. Contact us today. We know our business, and want to protect yours.

A liability for a property owner generally connotes insurance. Yet liabilities are simply are simply obligations you have, as in being responsible for the integrity of your commercial roof. What liabilities does your roof create for you and your commercial roofer?

Mold

If mold begins to appear inside your commercial property due to leaks in the roof, you are responsible for mold remediation. This can become prohibitively expensive. The easiest way to deal with mold is to never let it in, by careful annual inspection and maintenance from your commercial roofer. An open seam or slight puncture can allow water to infiltrate.

Mold spores are commonly in the air at all times; only when they have a moisture-rich environment will they set up homes and start reproducing. Keep the water out of your building interior, and your HVAC system will keep the natural humidity low enough to prevent mold.

Slip Hazard

To prevent slip hazards on your roof, minimize foot traffic. Keep a log of rooftop visitors (satellite dish repair person; HVAC technician; window washers), and limit access to dry days, if possible. Ensure all third parties carry their own … wait for it … liability insurance, to protect your building from legal responsibility if a technician does slip and fall.

Another method to reduce slip hazards on the roof is to insist workers follow prescribed paths, preferably along foot boards. This also reduces the likelihood of a worker’s boot causing a tear in the membrane, which could lead to our next liability, leaks.

Leaks

Leaks do more than establish mold colonies. Leaks can ruin wall surfaces, ceiling tiles, and equipment. A sustained water leak can damage inventory or cause an electrical fire. Your commercial roofer can provide annual inspection and minor roof repair so a small leak is caught before major damage is done.

Asset

Your roof is your financial obligation, but it is also an important asset. It shelters your business from the elements, so treat it as an income-protecting asset. Ignoring simple inspection and maintenance programs as offered by your commercial roofer can mean a business-shuttering disaster. Invest in the inexpensive upkeep of your roof to increase your return on the original installation investment.

To learn what Aderhold Roofing can do to protect your business’s roof, contact us today. You can partner with us and transfer some of the worry about your commercial roof liabilities from your shoulders to ours.

Every year, commercial property owners dread hurricane season here in Tampa — specifically during peak hurricane season, which lasts from late August through the end of September.

Hurricanes can cause massive commercial roof damage, which can not only be expensive to repair or replace but can force businesses to temporarily shut down. Once a hurricane has come through your area, you’ll want to do a visual inspection of your property to determine if your commercial roof has experienced any damage.

Inspecting a Commercial Roof After a Hurricane

Safety should be your number one priority. This means that if your property experienced flooding, do not go inside unless the electricity has been turned off. Additionally, do not go up on your roof to look for damage. Even if it looks like it’s in good condition, it may be structurally unsound — and even if it’s fine, you could end up hurting yourself or damaging your roof due to a lack of training.

Instead, circle around your property and do a visual inspection. If it looks like anything’s been damaged, then you should have a professional roofer come and perform a thorough inspection.

Common Hurricane-Related Roof Damage

The following are some of the common types of commercial roof damage that occurs during a hurricane:

• Roof leaks – If you can see holes or other forms of visible damage on your roof or to the roof’s flashing, there’s a good chance there’s a leak. If large puddles have gathered on your commercial roof, there may be some risk for leaks as well. The best way to ensure that there are no leaks is to have a roof inspection performed.
• Gutter problems – High powered winds have been known to rip gutters from their roofing. Inspect your gutter system if you have one. Look to make sure that it’s still attached to the roof. You should also consider having your gutters cleaned in case debris has collected during the hurricane. This will prevent clogs from occurring.
• Roof debris – If you can see debris on your roof, such as branches, dirt, rocks, or other items, you should have them professionally removed. They are adding stress to a roof system that might be vulnerable to other roof damage.

Whether you can spot any damage or not, it’s a good idea to have an inspection performed following a hurricane. Schedule a commercial roof inspection by contacting us at Aderhold Roofing today.

Updated: Oct 15, 2018

Taking measures to protect your commercial property in Tampa is important if you want to make sure that it gets through hurricane season.

Hurricane season starts on June 1st and lasts until November 30th. It’s at its peak from late August through September. During these times of the year, it will be your commercial roof that will be most vulnerable to the high winds and heavy rainfall that hurricanes bring. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to help reduce the risk of commercial roof damage.

Preparing Your Commercial Roof for Hurricane Season

There are several things that you should do to prepare your commercial roof for hurricane season. These include the following:

• Schedule a gutter cleaning – It’s going to rain a lot, especially during peak hurricane season. Make sure that your gutters have been professionally cleaned so that they don’t get clogged up. If they get clogged, rainwater may build up in your gutters, which can cause damage to the gutter systems, leaks in your roof, and potentially water damage to your foundation.
• Schedule a roof inspection – You’ll want to make sure your roof is in good condition. If it needs repairs, you should make them before hurricane season hits. A roof that’s in poor condition will be vulnerable to damage. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that all leaks are fixed, no matter how small they are. A minor leak can result in major water damage should a hurricane come through.
• Secure outdoor items – If you have any loose items on your property, such as trash cans or lawn equipment, you need to bring it in if a hurricane is nearing your area. Strong hurricane winds can easily pick these items up and blow them into your roof, causing major damage.
• Trim your tree branches – If there are trees near your building, make sure that the branches aren’t too close to your roof. A strong enough hurricane could break off branches and send them tumbling into your roof. You may need to have a professional trim back the branches of nearby trees.

The best way to prepare your commercial roof in Tampa for hurricane season is to make sure it’s in good condition by performing any repairs that might be necessary. To schedule a professional roof inspection in Tampa before hurricane season hits its peak, be sure to contact us at Aderhold Roofing today.

Tampa’s strong storms bring out the best in people. They also, unfortunately, bring out the worst sorts of people: storm chasers, who prey on businesses big and small to turn a fast buck. Learn to recognize and avoid Tampa commercial roofing companies whose only goal is not to perform proper storm repair but to rip you off.

Check the Address

The fastest way to spot a storm chaser specializing in commercial roofing is to ask for a local address. Most roofing companies trying to cut corners and capitalize on insurance payouts travel with the storms. They have no local address, no ties to the community, and no local crews. Instead, they come in, promise complete storm repair, take what they can get from your insurance company, and depart. Left behind is a substandard roofing repair that will not last as long as the quality job a local, reputable roofer can provide.

Check the Trucks

Out of state license plates on the contractor’s equipment are warning signs you may be dealing with a storm chaser. In Tampa commercial roofing, most local contractors know each other and compete fairly and honestly; we recognize out-of-towners right away. What our customers do not recognize in these storm-chasing Tampa commercial roofing hucksters is the quick, unprofessional repair work they do. Only after the out-of-state trucks and their hodge-podge crews roll out of town will you start to notice open seams, unsecured flashing, or other problems from their fast roofing repair work.

Check the License

Storm chasers spin a story too good to be true: they offer to perform the Tampa commercial roofing repair you need with no out-of-pocket expenses to your company. You file the insurance claim, they collect the payout, and you (seemingly) pay nothing. This is just wrong because the best local Tampa roofers will work with your insurer but that still leaves you with a deductible to pay. Avoid this hassle with storm chasers by asking to see their Florida contractors license. Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation maintains a searchable database that makes finding reputable roofers, like Aderhold Roofing, easy to look up and confirm. Avoid storm chasers. Engage the services of a reliable, local roofer with years of experience in Tampa commercial roofing. Contact us at Aderhold Roofing today and let us help you protect your business, its roof, and your company’s future.