For the most part the terms ‘commercial roof inspections’ and ‘commercial roof survey’ are often used interchangeably, there are some important differences between these two types of assessments for commercial roofing.
Armadillo Roofing & Exteriors get many calls from commercial locations that would like their roofing inspected, it is our job to help them decide if roofing inspections are what they actually need or if ‘roofing surveys’ would suit their expectations better. 4 out of 5 calls we get for roofing inspections, our clients actually needed roofing surveys.
This is why our expert roofing contractors got together to create the following compendium of information on the important differences between inspections and surveys. This guide will help you understand what a ‘roof inspection’ entails and what to expect from a ‘roof survey’
Basically, a roofing survey is the task performed by a roofing professional before they begin a project like a replacement or repair. A commercial roofing inspection is a project performed for a property inspection for reasons of ra real estate transaction or insurance evaluation.
Commercial Roof Inspections You Can Count On
What is a Commercial Roof Inspection?
Professional property inspectors will typically perform a commercial roof inspector. These inspections are performed to ascertain the conditions of the facility and make sure that everything is up to standards outlined by proper building codes. This task will typically take place before a real estate transaction, a lease is made or the building is being insured. There are also some legal issues that will require a roof inspection.
These inspections are typically done by vision alone and are completed very quickly. Some of the information collected in a roof inspection includes:
- Fire Safety Standards
- Wood-Destroying Organism Inspections
- Lead-Based Paint
- Asbestos
- Roof condition and remaining useful life
- Radon
- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
- Phase I Environmental Assessments
- Building envelope
What is a Commercial Roof Survey?
A commercial roofing survey is a task that requires the expertise of a roofing contractor or some other experienced roofing professional. These assessments are made to determine the condition and the quality of the roofing structure including its membrane, materials and general conditions.
This is a slightly more in-depth assessment and includes more than just a visual inspection. To gain a full understanding of the conditions of your roof, the roof survey will include the application of special measurements and sample collection. Some of the elements examined in a roof survey include:
- • Deck, Insulation, Membrane
- • Base Flashing
- • Metal Edge
- • Wall Coping
- • Drains, Gutter
- • Wall Surfaces
- • Roof Slope
- • Drainage Method and Standing Water
- • Need for Additional Drains/Gutters
A Commercial Roofing Company With the Experience You Need
Once the survey has been completed, the roof contractor will complete a full report that includes the observable conditions, technical specifications and any conclusions he would make from his personal professional inspection. This survey should be completely polished and official and signed and provided after the inspections. If you see a roof inspector that is handwriting a report on the hood of their car, this is a bad sign.
A proper report should include the photos of the roof, the condition of the roof fin the opinion of the roofing contractor as well as a CAD drawing or blueprint of the roof with technical comments and specifications for your roofing accessories, like vents, HVAC, etc.
Infrared Moisture Survey
During the commercial roof survey, your roofing contractor is probably going to use an infrared device to measure the amount of moisture in the roof. The Infrared Moisture Device provides a clear visual illustration of the extent of moisture in your roof.
As the temperatures drops in the evening, pictures will be taken of the roof using a special camera this will tell where the insulation is wet and this is indicative of moisture making its way through the roof’s protection.
When to Schedule a Roof Survey
More often than not, a roof survey will be performed before a specific project will be performed, like a replacement or repairs. It is often a good idea to call in a couple different roofing companies to give an estimate for their work and an inspection of your property.
When you have chosen to have this work done, call in three to four different roof contractors to perform a roofing inspection on different days. It is best to choose the early spring for this work as you will have the warmest summer months to address any needs your roof has. You will also be higher on your contractor’s project list for that year.
What to Do After a Roof Survey
After the inspections have been performed, you will want to ask for the proposals and estimates from each of the roof contractors. Once you have collected these you will have a good idea of the price range you are looking at. Be sure to ask about anything you don’t fully understand so you can get a better idea of what you are getting in your deal.
Then you should create your own plan and scope of work. Using what you see in the reports and proposals for the work, outline what you really want from a project. This should include all the various points for the repairs, restorations and replacements, the type and price range of materials how many square feet the project will cover and as many other specifications you can apply. You may need to do a bit of research, but it will save you in cash, energy and effort in the long run.
You can then submit that to your roof contractors and see what type of response you get. You can then choose which of the contractors meets your vision with their expertise and quality work.
Armadillo Roofing & Exteriors (512) 333-7663 provides commercial roof inspections and commercial roofing services to Austin, Texas and the surrounding Austin area communities. If you need an inspection on your commercial metal roof, please visit our sister site – TaurusEliteRoofing.com.
