Not a lot gets by you. As a successful business owner, you can’t let it. But one of the most important and most overlooked things is the roof over your head. Maybe you reason that, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. But a failing roof isn’t often obvious, and when you do notice, it’ll be too late. Luckily, there are some things you can look for.

If Your Roof is Already Old

You should have a professional commercial roofing company inspect your roof every year. They’ll spot the on-set of any potential points of failure. With continuous maintenance, your roof will live a long and happy life.

However, at the 20-year mark, you’ll want to face the music—your roof is old. And with old age, comes the potential for catastrophic failure no matter how often you check up on it. At this stage, it’s best to ask your commercial roofer for advice about replacement.

If Your Roof is Sagging

In the industry, it’s called “ponding”. That is, when you notice pools of water that never seem to dry from the surface of your roof. Water is the worst enemy of any roof, no matter how new it is. In fact, roofs are designed to drain away water before it has a chance to do any damage. So if you notice any standing water on your roof, then the structural integrity may be suffering, causing sagging, and ultimately impeding the natural slope that’ll keep water from standing.

Once your roof starts sagging, it’s only a matter of time before irreversible damage occurs. It’s best to call in a commercial roofer as soon as you suspect there’s a problem. And don’t forget to get an annual inspection—this is something any professional roofer will look for and address.

Your Roof is Shedding Shingles

Shingles act as a hardy exoskeleton for your roof. They repel the elements and are constantly receiving a beating from the sun and weather. With UV light from the sun, constant wind, and pervasive rain, it makes sense that your shingles will eventually start to fall off, especially after a nasty storm.

But once a shingle comes off, you leave the interior of your roof exposed to the elements. And once you get an excess amount of moisture inside your roof, you’re going to have an even bigger problem than a few missing shingles. It’s best to call in a commercial roofer if you start to see missing shingles, or find them in your gutters or on the ground.

Your Roof is Missing Its Flashing

Flashing is the material that covers the seams of the exterior portions of your roof, such as the chimney or your rooftop HVAC system. It’s an important feature, as it seals out water at the precise spots where water can most easily find a way in. It’s completely normal to see areas of your roof where the flashing has been ripped off—most likely from the wind.

But just because roof flashing is one of the first things to fail on your roof doesn’t mean you shouldn’t react accordingly. On the contrary—flashing is the thing keeping rain and snow from the inside of your building. The second you see that some has been ripped away, call in a commercial roofer so they can do a full inspection, and at the very least, they’ll quickly replace that flashing for you.

Your Roof Isn’t Insulating Like It Used To

One of the most important jobs of a roof is to act as an insulator. Think of it as a hat. In the winter, it keeps your building’s heat from escaping. And in the summer, it keeps heat out by providing protection from the sun and keeping cool air inside.

Butif your roof isn’t doing what it’s supposed to, your building’s heating and cooling system will need to work overtime to compensate. You may notice a sudden change in your utility bills. Once that happens, and once you’ve ruled out any mistakes by your power supplier, it’s time to have a roofer come in and check out your roof. It could need some TLC.

You’re Better Safe Than Sorry

You know your building better than anyone. You’re there, day in and day out. And you’ve probably done your share of maintenance. For this reason, you’ll probably know when something changes. You may notice some ponding on the roof long after the last rain. Or maybe you see some missing shingles or flashing. Beyond that, many other things can trigger your sixth sense regarding your building. If you think there might be something wrong, it’s best to play it safe in call in a commercial roofer.

With that said, sometimes it’s better to get ahead of a problem before it even starts. Having your go-to roofer commit annual inspections is always the best way to spot a problem in its infancy. What would you rather do—replace some flashing or wait until you’ve got a mold problem? Being proactive gives you the time to make responsible decisions regarding your business. With commercial buildings, it’s better to be safe than sorry!