The Importance Of Commercial Roof Cleaning
As the owner or manager of a commercial building, you’re probably aware of the importance of maintaining a clear parking lot, sparkling sidewalks and clean windows when operating a business. Whether this is to maintain positive first impressions, prevent possible injury or to keep within city and company guidelines and regulations – these features are visibly important. But that’s just it, all these property features are readily visible to you and everyone existing in the same space – this is not the case for your building’s roof. When was the last time you made the heart-rattling ascent, via one of those cold steel ladders that seem to go on forever and make your pulse thump (or maybe that’s just my fear of heights talking) to the top of your building?
Hopefully, as an experienced manager or owner of a commercial building, you’ve made it a habit to examine your roof closely after major weather events, during seasonal changes and at least once every quarter (regardless of the conditions outside). However, examining your roof frequently is only half the battle. By having your commercial building’s roof cleaned professionally on a routine schedule, you can begin to reap the benefits that come with properly maintaining a clean commercial roof. To find out more about what exactly those benefits are, continue reading.
Roof Maintenance And Longevity
Besides rock-solid groundwork, the most important aspect of your commercial building is the roof. However, unlike finding a crack in the foundation that can be overlooked for some time (though certainly not recommended), once you notice damage to your building’s roof, action must be taken immediately. In order to prevent unexpected openings in the ceiling from suddenly appearing during a particularly rainy day, routine maintenance and cleanings should be implemented. Typically, commercial buildings have flat roofs (or if we’re being technical, low sloped roofs) in order to save on materials, have more usable space and for easier installation. However, along with these perks come a few drawbacks to keep in mind as well.
Having a flat roof on your building makes for the perfect catchall during storms for flying debris and pools of stagnant water. Once weather conditions improve, the roof will need to be cleared of any random foliage and collections of water that didn’t drain correctly, or you’re signing yourself up for a world of hurt. By allowing your commercial roof to remain covered in leaves, pine needles, and branches, you increase the likelihood of your roof’s drainage system becoming clogged – making it the perfect conditions for organic matter to thrive. You’re also encouraging pests like rodents to make a home out of all that dead vegetation scattering your building’s rooftop. Allowing moisture and debris to collect up above will lead to erosion as well as unpredicted wear and tear that could significantly reduce the lifespan and structural integrity of your roof.
By scheduling routine roof cleanings for your commercial roof, you will irradicate the conditions preferred by such nuisances like rats, rust and black algae – nuisances that will no longer have the chance to become serious problems. Not to mention, having a team of professionals regularly cleaning your roof, means multiple pairs of expert eyes looking out for any potential issues that may need to be worked on. So, between preventing new damage from occurring, discovering potential issues before they can wreak havoc on your company and life, and dramatically increasing the shelf life of your commercial building’s roof, it’s probably a good idea to spend the money on thorough roof cleanings.
Health And Safety
If having a roof that is stronger, pest free and will last longer still doesn’t convince you of the importance of commercial roof cleanings, then it’s time to consider the health and safety of your employees, customers and on-site contracted workers. As mentioned earlier, when moisture is allowed to thrive on your rooftop (and I realize that in the Pacific Northwest, trying to keep your roof dry, might seem like a losing battle), it makes for an ideal petri dish for growing organic matter such as mold, mildew and black algae. You might think “I’m not sending any employees or customers up on the roof, why should it matter?” but this would be a mistake. Flat roofs tend to house the buildings intake vents and HVAC systems, meaning that bacteria from a black algae as well as mold spores are able to enter the vents and consequently, people’s lungs. According to the CDC, inhaling matter, such as spores, can result in a whole slew of health issues, from stuffy noses to itchy skin to even difficulty breathing and high fever. Meaning those working hard to keep your company running smoothly could be out sick more frequently or even be subject to legal compensation due to unsafe work environment.
Beyond having unhealthy air that’s making your building’s inhabitants sick, a dirty roof can also result in disaster and injury. The first sign that your roof’s, and potentially the entire building’s, structural integrity is faltering is the presence of leaks. If there is water making it’s way through the ceiling and to the warehouse floor, it means that the roof’s interior structure has also encountered such moisture. Leaks in the roof will eventually lead to holes in the roof, or worse, a complete collapse. If such a catastrophe were to occur, there’s a high chance that your employees and customers could be injured or even killed. If you (and everyone else) are lucky enough to emerge from the wreckage physically unscathed, the financial burden of installing a new roof or building from the ground up could be the end of your company all together. However, regular roof cleanings can help prevent such a tragedy from ever playing out.
Bring In The Pros
At Snugs Services, our highly-trained technicians have been cleaning all sorts of commercial buildings for over a decade. From warehouse exteriors to metal factory roofs to stadium domes – we’ve seen it all! Whether your commercial roof involves steep angles, large skylights, hard-to-reach spots, or lots of square footage – regardless of the challenge, Snugs Services can handle the job. Don’t waste your employees’ time or risk their safety by having them scale narrow ladders and operate equipment they are unfamiliar with from 35 feet in the air. Instead, rest assured that our experts will handle the job quickly, efficiently, and to immaculate standards – leaving you with a commercial roof that looks almost better than the day it was installed. By scheduling routine cleaning services with Snugs for the year, you will be able to properly budget your company’s funds, be fully aware of the condition of your building’s roof so no surprise catastrophes occur, and be able to focus on the task at hand: making sure your business is running as intended. So, in order to protect the safety of your building’s occupants and to save on costly repairs down the road – request your free project quote online or give Snugs Services a call today!
Snugs Pro Wash, Inc, dba SNUGS Services, has been providing high quality Pressure Washing Services in Portland, OR since 1995. Started as a residential pressure washing and roof cleaning service, SNUGS is now one of the leading exterior cleaning companies in the Northwest. From our humble beginnings as a man with a truck and a trailer we have grown to become a multi-million dollar company serving corporate customers, name brands, and mom and pop companies alike.
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