How To Inspect A Clients Flat Roof

December 7, 2021 | General

Clients can vastly benefit from having flat roof inspections and this can give your customers peace of mind throughout the years after installation. These inspections also satisfy the customer that the roof has been installed correctly at every stage.

Determine the Roofing Material

Flat roofs may come in a variety of different materials. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses, and the type of material will impact how an inspection is carried out and how often repairs are needed.

Old, traditional roofing that may need replacing could contain tar or gravel, which if treated correctly, can last a few decades. There are also asphalt flat roofs that tend to last a long time with little maintenance, but they are prone to cracking under heat, so the weather will affect how regularly asphalt roofs are inspected.
Metal roofing is an expensive option, but is great in the long run due to their durability and ease of repair. Metal flat roofs usually have a life expectancy of up to 50 years, and will need a less regular inspection due to the robustness of the material.
Synthetic roofs, such as EPDM membranes, are again, durable and reliable, with little to no maintenance if laid correctly. However, it is sensible to carry out regular inspections of EPDM flat roofs, especially if the weather has been severe and tears or rips are likely to have occurred.

Consider the age of the roof

Whilst commercial roofs typically last longer than residential roofs, the inspection will take note of how long the roof has been used for. Older constructions naturally come with higher risks and problems relating to old age, and therefore should be significant factors when regularly laying out inspections and how often these will need to be carried out.

Evaluate the roof structure

Determine how sound the roof deck is, as without one, the roof may not even be safe to walk on to carry out the inspection, due to fragility. If this is the case, it is necessary for the contractor to view the deck from below, or if it's visible or to take care samples through the roof build up to locate and assess the deck type and condition.

To ensure your contractors have the correct training to fit EPDM flat roofing, head over to our website to learn more about what Avenir can offer your business.