Property managers have a lot of things they need to deal with. Making sure the property is properly maintained can be a real challenge. The roof is one of the most important parts of any property. It is one of the first lines of defense for the building. The proper management and maintenance of commercial rain gutters are incredibly important to maintaining the health of the building overall. The good news is there are things you can do to make your job of caring for the commercial rain gutters on your buildings much simpler and easier.
- Keep an eye on the flow from the gutters. The first way you can tell if your commercial rain gutters are in trouble is when they stop draining the way they should. A lot of properties around the nation are surrounded by trees, shrubbery, or some other kind of vegetation. This means all of these gutter systems can become full of debris from the plants growing all around them. This can stop up the drainage system. When this happens, the water can build up and additional strain is placed on the structure of the property. While there are other protections built into the roof, this can be a real problem. If, after the gutters become clogged, and the area is hit with a massive weather event, such as a hurricane or blizzard, and the structure is in real trouble. Make it a point to check the gutter system from time to time to make sure they are doing their job.
- Pay close attention to the people who spend time on your roof. You should also take a look at it after workers or cleaners leave. When contractors work on a roof, they often use a lot of very heavy equipment. This should not deter people from getting needed repairs done on a roof but it should inspire you to check over the roof to make sure there was no damage done to it when the crew was up there. Many times, human error when working on a roof can cause damage. Anything left on the roof itself can and will find its way into your gutters. The more you know about what is happening on top of your roof, the better.
- Keep an eye on tenants and turnover. Any manager of a commercial property knows that tenants come and they go. While they are living or running their business at the property, they may make some changes that impact the roof. These may be satellite dishes put on the roof. You should work with them when they start making changes but there is also work to do after they leave. You should take care to see that all joints and seams are tight and in good working order. When you are dealing with tenants, ask them to report any leaks or issues with the roof as soon as they see them. Problems inside the building can indicate problems with the roof or the commercial rain gutters. The sooner these issues are dealt with, the easier they will be to fix.
- In real estate, it is still location, location, location. What does that have to do with your commercial rain gutters and roof health? A lot. Where you are located matters because the climate is different in different areas of the country. One thing you may want to consider if you are looking at a full gutter installation is to get copper gutters. These work well in any climate and will last about a century. If you live in a climate that seems temperature swings or is humid, you may be at risk for mold growth on your commercial rain gutters. Snow and wind can damage your roof and the gutters. Sun can damage the roof, animals and bugs can chew away at the building. Keep the climate in mind when you are working out your roof maintenance plan.
When people get into commercial property management, they may not think much about roof maintenance and repair. Taking good care of commercial rain gutters can do a lot to make your job easier and much less stressful.
