The state of their roof is always a cause for concern for facility managers. It’s no secret that a roofing issue can be expensive and cause operations to come to a halt at a moment’s notice. Couple this with ever-increasing energy costs, and it’s clear that an efficient and sturdy roof plays an important role in your business.
Therefore, facility managers need to have a strategic and proactive approach to how they manage their commercial roofing and roofing budget. Getting the most out of both is a balancing act, and when done properly, it can provide you with the peace of mind and cost savings that all managers are seeking.
Proactive Commercial Roof Maintenance by the Numbers
Being proactive with your commercial roof maintenance plan is beneficial for many reasons. It allows you to be in a better position to anticipate, manage and deal with roofing issues when they do arise. You never know when a storm could hit and cause damage to your roof, but when you have a proactive maintenance plan, you will be better prepared to deal with it, helping to minimize the damage and repair costs.
As outlined in Commercial Roof Maintenance: A Proactive Approach by Anthony Vross, being proactive as opposed to being reactive is an important starting point for companies looking to improve their roof maintenance.
“Owners and facility managers who react to problems as they occur, pay an average of 25¢ per square foot annually for maintenance. Owners and facility managers who inspect and repair routinely (proactively) – before problems happen – spend an average of only 14¢ per square foot annually,” says Vross.
Proactive maintenance offers significant cost savings. According to Roofing Contractor Magazine in the article Why Roof Maintenance Pays, your commercial roof will last an average of 21 years when you are proactive and only an average of 13 with a reactive roofing maintenance plan.
That is an 8-year difference! Think about the cost implications of this for a minute. Hypothetically, over a 60-year period, with a proactive approach you would need to replace your roof about 3 times.
With a reactive approach, over the same time span, you would need to replace your roof about 4-5 times, not to mention the additional maintenance costs associated with a reactive approach to roof maintenance.
The additional cost of replacing your roof 1-2 additional times is likely not an expense your company wants to incur.
Companies need to break the cycle of being reactive. Why are companies still taking a reactive approach? It’s easy to have an “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude, especially if you are operating on a tight budget. Saving money today is always important. Equally important is to make sure your actions truly represent a cost saving in the long term.
However, when you wait for issues to arise, although it seems as though you are saving money, it will cost more in the long term to do spot repairs and”put out fires” if and when they happen. Being proactive, and investing in a high quality commercial roofing maintenance plan is the key for the long term health of your roof and your roofing maintenance budget.
Key Takeaway
There is no doubt facility managers have a lot on their plate, and your roof needs to be on the top of the list. Remember, 30% of your building protects 100% of your investment.
Get yourself ready for conversation about your commercial roof – read Go To School – On Your Commercial Flat Roof
Don’t wait until it leaks. A preventive maintenance program, including regular inspection and reporting, reduces potential damage, saves money, and prolongs the lifespan of your roof. Put your roofing budget to good use by taking a proactive approach to commercial roofing maintenance.