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Roof leaks can wreak havoc on the interior of your commercial building. Not only do water intrusions deteriorate the structure itself, they can damage contents like equipment, inventory, merchandise, or tenants’ property. You’ll know that you need commercial roof repair if a sudden, catastrophic water leak occurs during a severe storm or hurricane, but you may not even realize there’s a problem with the roof if leaks are developing slowly due to deferred maintenance or aging.

Indicators of Roof Leaks and Potential Need for Roof Repair

If you’re experiencing any of the following problems related to roof leaks, it’s time to schedule a professional inspection and get advice on what repairs are needed to prevent more extensive damage.

• Water drips or puddles. Water dripping down from above is an unmistakable sign of a leaking roof, but you may find it impossible to trace the source of the leak, since water can travel a good distance along structural components before it falls. Even a puddle on the floor can originate from a roof leak if the water has run down the wall framing.
• Stained or sagging ceilings. Leaks that allow moisture to accumulate in the area between the roof and a dropped ceiling can cause sagging or discoloration of the tiles. That trapped moisture and humidity can also damage or corrode ducting or mechanical/electrical equipment that’s housed in the space.
• Mold growth and musty odors. In our humid climate, it doesn’t take much absorbed moisture in a building’s framing or drywall to give mold a chance to gain a foothold. If you get complaints about musty odors or see patches of mold growth in the building’s interior and it’s related to water infiltration through the roof, locating and repairing the leaks is the only way to get the problem under control and avoid a recurrence.
• An increase in cooling costs. If the energy consumption for the building is rising, you might not suspect that water intrusions through the roof are the culprit. As water seeps in through leaks in the roof and the insulation gets wet, its R-value declines and it’s less effective at reducing heat transfer into the building’s interior. As a result, the HVAC equipment has to work harder to keep the building cool and your energy costs rise.

If your property in the Tampa area is in need of expert commercial roof repair, contact us at Aderhold Roofing.

No Tampa roofing contractor can work in this area without encountering the effects of our local storm season. From June through November, our region is exposed to the Atlantic Ocean’s harshest hurricanes, but in between the heavy weather we also face thunderstorms, sudden showers, and rainy days. The Tampa Bay Times predicts a strong 2018 hurricane season just one year after “one of the most devastating seasons on record.” All that precipitation combines with high winds to wreak havoc on a commercial roof.

Local Experience

The first question to ask any Tampa roofing contractor before allowing them onto your commercial property’s roof is about their local experience. Have they been around long enough to experience a Tampa hurricane season? Do they know, first-hand, the awesome power of hurricane winds and the deluge of water that accompanies storms like Irma or Maria?

Without earned knowledge about a hurricane’s damage to a roof, that Tampa roofing contractor may underestimate the need for spot repairs, overlook flashing damage, or discount depressions that invite ponding.

Inspect and Protect

During the inspection, be sure to ask your Tampa roofing contractor for specific information about weak spots on your roof:

• Depressed insulation — This leads to ponding, which worsens over time
• Seams
• Flashing
• Mechanical fasteners
• Plant growth — Where algae or rooted plants grow, water sits; where water sits, leaks occur

Ask the roofer for specific strategies to protect these soft spots. How will the contractor address open seams, oblong holes around mechanical fasteners, or punctured flashing?

What About Wind?

Water infiltration is always bad, so expect a roofing contractor to talk a lot about preventing that. Yet in storm season, Tampa commercial roofs suffer from wind damage, too. Experts at Facilities Net remind us that wind moves everyday objects at such speeds, they become missiles. This wind-tossed debris scours and tears away at a roof, whether it is a membrane or ballasted BUR. Questions to ask your Tampa roofing contractor during the inspection:

1. How will you protect against wind damage?
2. How can we minimize potential wind damage?
3. What cleaning regimen prevent loose material from building up on the roof?

Long before the worst storms hit our area, please contact us at Aderhold Roofing. We have been your local, trustworthy Tampa roofing contractor for many years. We know how to handle storm damage. For storm readiness to annual roof inspection to quality re-roofing, rely on Aderhold Roofing.

Tampa enjoys plenty of sunshine, making the area one of the nation’s best travel and living destinations. It also, though, has plenty of rain, especially during our rainy season where August can give us almost daily rainfall, as reported by Trip Savvy. Your commercial roof has to be ready for the rainy season, so that means roof repair, inspection and maintenance well before the deluge comes.

Keep on Schedule

Roof work is much harder in rain. Scheduling your commercial roof’s annual inspection for late spring or early summer gives you and your commercial roofing partner enough time to catalog and address the worst damage. So keep on schedule by keeping to a strict regimen of annual (or even semiannual) inspection, followed by other basic steps:

• Thorough cleaning
• Periodic maintenance
• Intensive roof repair

Waterproof

One of the biggest favors you can do for your commercial roofing material is to have waterproof coatings applied, even for relatively new membranes or built-up roofing (BUR). Waterproof coatings applied by spray or brush can add years of useful life to an existing roof while also keeping August rains out of your decking, insulation and building interior.

Clean and Clear

Your facilities crew may be able to perform regular roof cleaning; sweeping away debris, collecting and safely disposing of twigs, branches and other wind-borne debris. But for real cleaning, consider engaging your commercial roofer. A cleaned roof can help maintain your roofing material’s warranty, but it goes beyond that:

1. Clean internal drains and exterior scuppers allow the rainy season’s downpours to run off your roof
2. A clean roof makes roof repair issues stand out, saving you money in the long run
3. A clean roof is an advertising beacon; it shows pride of place and attention to detail

Roof Repair

Perhaps most critical before the rainy season, essential roof repair should be high on your priorities. If, after inspection, your roofer identifies repair problems, get to them right away. Effective roof repair is almost impossible on a wet or drying roof. The rainy season is not time to find out about a leak. A little investment in springtime can prevent a much larger repair or replace bill in the fall.

For effective, careful roof repair and maintenance, contact the trained professionals of Aderhold Roofing. We have the equipment and experience to provide you with every defense against Tampa’s rainy season, and we are ready to help year-round.

After any winter, even the relatively mild winters we experience here in Tampa, every home needs a good spring cleaning. But what about your roof? Is that something you have ever thought of cleaning? Maintaining your Tampa-area home’s roof is vital (it covers the rest of nearly everything you own, after all), but your safety is vital, too. Avoid spring cleaning your roof; enlist the help of a local residential roofer instead.

Spring Roof Maintenance

Not just a roof cleaning, but real roof maintenance, is needed after a harsh winter. Even if Tampa never experienced a below-freezing night, your roof still took a beating from winds, driven rain, and fluctuating temperatures.

Fiberglass-asphalt shingles can suffer from wind uplift, curling and cracking in response to changes in wind direction. Water can get driven up under shingles, to seep into sheathing through the slightest tear or hole in your underlayment.

Spanish or flat tiles can also allow leaks after a rough winter. Blunt objects — a wind-borne tree branch, a wayward, wind-lifted lawn decoration — can hit the tiles, cracking them or dislodging them.

Even tough, durable metal roofing can get hail damage or wind forces that twist and dent the metal. All roofs should have a good spring inspection and basic maintenance.

Do It Yourself?

Not even a one-story house is a good candidate for owner-performed roof maintenance. No responsible roofing contractor will ever recommend that amateurs climb onto potentially slick, algae-covered roofs. An extension ladder will only allow you a few feet of access to the leading edge of a roof, minimizing the usefulness of doing the roof maintenance yourself.

A better option is to engage the services of a professional roofing contractor. A brief visit around your schedule is generally all that is needed to inspect, maintain and perform small repairs on your roof.

What’s It Worth?

Your Tampa home holds possessions and family treasures near and dear to your heart. It gives shelter and comforts. Risking it by ignoring roof maintenance is not a wise strategy. The minimal cost of roof maintenance by a professional roofer is money well spent.

A quick call to Aderhold Roofing can connect you with acknowledged residential roofing experts able to provide expert roof maintenance. Our trained representatives can inspect your Tampa-area home’s roof, provide a realistic assessment of its current condition, and outline a plan to repair and maintain it. Contact Aderhold Roofing today!

Florida was hit hard during the past hurricane season, and 2018 is expected to be another year of above-normal Atlantic activity. This makes it critical to plan ahead in case your property’s roof gets damaged by a severe weather event. Make sure you develop strategies like the following for ongoing roof care, what to do immediately after a storm, and how you can best facilitate the repair and restoration process.

Keep Up With Roof Care and Maintenance

Your building’s roof takes the brunt of high winds and heavy rain during a storm. While you can’t prevent severe weather, you can minimize its damaging effects if you’re working with a reputable Tampa commercial roofing pro on an ongoing basis and having regular roof inspections done. It’s equally important that you follow up after each inspection by making needed repairs promptly to correct deficiencies and keep your roof watertight. You should also take any preservation measures that your contractor recommends, such as having the roof cleaned or applying a waterproof coating.

Know How to React After a Storm

For safety, never send your maintenance staff up onto your building’s roof during a storm. Once it has abated, they should do a careful, cursory check of the roof. If they alert you to any signs of damage, contact your roofer immediately so they can dispatch a crew to assess the extent of the damage. A well-trained emergency crew will also bring the necessary supplies and equipment so they can make temporary repairs to limit leaks and prevent further harm to your building’s structure and interior.

Plan to Work With Your Roofer to Address Storm Damage

A skilled and experienced commercial roofer can be a valuable ally when you’re facing the stress of getting your property’s storm-damaged roof repaired. They can perform an expert evaluation and document the condition of the roof, and be on hand during your insurance adjuster’s visit to make sure their report includes an accurate assessment of the damage. You can help by having up-to-date roofing records available, and having a good understanding of your property insurance coverage and claim requirements. Once repairs are underway, your roofer’s knowledge of our state and local building codes, permitting and inspection requirements can help you get your roof expertly repaired as quickly as possible.

If you need help with a storm-damaged roof, contact us today at Aderhold Roofing, your trusted Tampa commercial roofing professionals.

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.