I’ve run into that exact warranty situation—lost a pretty decent claim on a flat roof because the paperwork wasn’t there. The contractor had done the work, but nobody kept track of the little fixes or inspections, so the manufacturer basically shrugged and said “not our problem.” Frustrating, but I get why they do it.
The thing that gets me is how different the approach is depending on what kind of roof you have. Flat roofs seem to need way more attention than pitched ones, at least in my experience (I’m in New England, so snow load is a real headache). On my last commercial building, we had a modified bitumen system and I was always worried about ponding water. I’d try to get up there to check after big storms, but honestly, I was mostly relying on a local roofer to do seasonal checks. Climbing up myself felt like tempting fate with those slippery patches.
Has anyone actually found a good way to keep tenants or employees from storing stuff up there? That’s been a bigger issue for me than actual leaks. It’s like people see an empty flat space and think “Ah yes, perfect spot for old chairs or random HVAC parts.” Makes tracking repairs even harder when you can’t see half the surface.
Also curious if anyone has tried using drones for inspections? My neighbor swears by them—he says it saves time and keeps everyone safe—but I haven’t taken the plunge yet. Wondering if it really picks up on all those little issues you’d notice in person, especially around flashing and drains.
How much does climate play into your inspection schedule? In areas with heavy rain or snow, are folks doing quarterly checks or just sticking to annual? Sometimes I feel like twice a year isn’t enough when we get back-to-back nor’easters...