Commercial buildings are expensive to buy or build. Extreme weather is also making property more expensive to insure. It makes a certain amount of sense, as extreme weather is hard on roofs.

Even worse, a leaky roof is often unnoticed for unfortunately long periods of time unless it’s dripping on workers or customers. That prolonged period when it goes unnoticed can turn a small leak into a huge problem.

You’re likely thinking, “Yeah, roof leaks are bad, but what can do about it?” It turns out that there are several things you can do to prevent leaky roofs or catch them in a hurry. Keep reading for three key tips.

1. Regular Inspections

One of the key things you can do in terms of leaky roof prevention is regular inspections of the roof. If you’re comfortable with heights and think you know what to look for, you can do the inspection yourself. If not, hire a professional roofing company to come out once a year and give your roof a once over.

They’ll tell you about problems they find and suspect areas you should keep an eye on moving forward. It’s also a good idea to inspect the roof or get an inspection following extreme weather events like hail, high winds, tornadoes, or hurricanes.

2. Prompt Maintenance

All too often, a property owner will learn about a minor leak and just let it go. They’ll think something like, “Oh, that’s not a crisis. It can wait until the weekend.”

Unfortunately, waiting until the weekend often becomes a month or two before the minor leak becomes a major leak. At that point, you risk electrical problems, damaged equipment, fungus growth, or damaged merchandise.

Prompt commercial roof repairs from a roofing company, such as HP Roofing Pro, can ensure that your minor leak never becomes a major leak.

3. Keep the Roof Lifespan in Mind

Much like residential roofing, commercial roofing doesn’t last forever. Depending on the material choice and wear, commercial roofs typically hold up for between 15 and 30 years. You should make sure you know what kind of roofing material is on your building. If you bought the building, find out when the roof went onto the building.

You can expect more problems like a leaky roof toward the roof’s end-of-life expectancy. If you’re closing in on that end-of-life date without a major leak, replacing it can help prevent that major leak from ever appearing.

Leaky Roofs and Your Commercial Building

Leaky roofs are less a matter of if than a matter of how soon. Every type of roofing eventually reaches its end of life, at which point leaks will happen. Even with regular commercial roof maintenance, the roof will eventually develop leaks.

You can put off those catastrophic leaks with regular inspections of the roof. Prompt maintenance or repair when someone finds a problem can keep a minor leak from turning into a nightmare. Replacing the roof at its end of life will prevent major problems.

Looking for more business management tips? Check out the posts in our Business section.