A Property Manager's Guide to Apartment Roof Repairs

Between 2006 and 2016, the number of renters increased by 23 million while the number of homeowners only increased by no more than 700,000. Property owners may have seen an increase in the number of renters at their apartment complexes as people cannot afford to buy homes. This leads to more people signing rental agreements and moving in. To avoid breaking that agreement as a landlord, you must provide safe conditions. Often, an apartment roof is overlooked and can cause trouble within the agreement.

Read our guide on when to know that an apartment roof needs repairs or replacement.

Knowing When to Repair an Apartment Roof

As a property owner, it is your responsibility to make an apartment complex safe. This includes paying attention to the roof and knowing when it needs repairs. To avoid overlooking parts of your commercial roof, here are signs you may want to look out for:

Roof Bubbles

If the state of your apartment roofing is not good, you’ll notice bubbles or blistering. If a roof gets installed improperly, this is a common side effect.

Bubbles occur when there is moisture trapped under the roofing materials. When the water evaporates, it forms a bubble or blister. Having bubbles on the roof can cause water to seep through and damage the building.

Saggy Roof

A roof must bear weight and should not be uneven. If you notice parts of the roof are beginning to sag, you should get a roof inspection right away.

There are different reasons a roof could start sagging, one being from accumulating moisture. It could also be caused by extra weight getting added to the roof. For example, if you installed new roofing materials over old ones, you could run into this problem.

A Rise in Energy Bills

As a property manager, you may not notice right away that energy bills are rising among your complex. If people leasing your apartment begin to complain about the cost of energy, it’s something worth looking into. The problem could be on your end and not theirs.

A roof should protect a complex from water damage and provide insulation to maintain the indoor temperature. A roof with holes or other problems can lead to heightened energy bills. If this is the case, get the roof assessed.

Signs of Moisture

One sure way to know you have a problem with the roof is when you see moisture signs. This could come in the form of water stains on the ceiling or water dripping on the walls.

Again, as the property owner, you may not know your roof has a problem like this. A tenant may not notice the problems themselves and won’t contact you to fix them. This is why it is essential to get roof checks every so often.

Clogged Drains

You’ll need apartment roof repair services if more water is coming from exterior downspouts than usual. You can also check this by seeing how much water is collecting on the roof.

If you leave water in pools on the roof, deterioration will eventually happen. You’ll then have to deal with water soaking into the roof.

Seaming Gaps

Many commercial roofs need to connect the waterproof materials with seams. Water can find its way through the seam sometimes and soak into the roof.

An apartment roofing company can assess the seaming of the roof to ensure there are no gaps where water could seep in. You may not be able to tell if these gaps exist without the help of a professional.

Failed Flashings

Flashings join your roof to other structures by creating a sealing. It is also helpful to join two roofing materials together.

If flashings are poorly attached or deteriorate, you could have a roof problem. You should check if flashings are missing every once in a while.

Aging Roof

You should know how long a roof has been in place to know when you need an apartment roof replacement. A roof that has been up for a long time has endured harsh conditions by weather and will continue to deteriorate as time goes on.

Commercial roof replacement is not always necessary for an old roof. If you are unsure about the condition of your roof despite its old age, get a roof inspection to see how much longer it has.

Maintaining an Apartment Roof

To avoid needing maintenance or roof replacement more often, there are things you can do to maintain the life of an apartment roof. If you want your commercial roof to last as long as possible, follow these tips:

Clean the Roof Surface

You should have the apartment roof cleaned at least once a year. This will clear out debris and keep the water draining flow smooth.

Areas where water flow is normal should be cleaned regularly to avoid blockage. This simple task can enhance the life of your roof.

Repair Right Away

If you notice damage to the apartment roof, you should call for help right away. This is especially true if you are having problems with the roof flashing. These are vital to the functioning life of a roof.

Taking care of minor issues can help you avoid bigger ones down the line. After a big storm, it may be a good idea to get a roof inspection done just in case. Storms are usually the culprit when it comes to roof damage.

Consider Wear and Tear

Regular wear and tear are normal for any roof. However, if you suspect a bigger issue going on, it is worth it to get it checked out. Some wear and tear are fine while other types can lead to expensive issues and repairs.

Hire a Commercial Roofing Company for Your Needs

Property managers should be aware that commercial roofing and residential roofing are vastly different. Commercial roofing takes more skill and expertise to handle. When you are dealing with an issue with an apartment roof, hire a commercial roofing service for the right care.

At HP Roofing Pro, we are trained to handle commercial roofing projects and problems. Contact us now to get a free commercial roof inspection.