Three Common Fall Roofing Pitfalls... and How to Avoid Them

Fall is here - the season of pumpkin spice, crisp leaves underfoot, tailgates and football games. It’s a time when many of us look forward to cooler days and cozy weekends. But for building owners and facility managers, fall often comes with a less welcome tradition: scrambling to get roofing projects wrapped up before the end of the year.

The good news? With the right approach, you can avoid these common pitfalls and set your roof (and your budget) up for success.

The Pitfalls

1. Late Maintenance Starts

First rains in the fall can be a blunt reminder that your roof didn’t get the work it needed this year. Ok, that is what it is. Better to accept it and course correct than chase leaks all winter. Yes, Fall is also one of the most expensive and risky times to bid and begin work. Still, it is significantly better late than never - better to get maintenance done on a scheduled basis than to be reacting to further leak calls all winter. Even in the Fall, you can find weather windows that can allow your contractor to perform proactive maintenance using specified materials. 

2. Forgetting the Roof Equipment

Picture this (we see it all the time): new stains on the ceiling tile, or a drip down the wall. The tenant reports that the roof is leaking, the property manager engages a roofer and spends $500 to $5000 on the roof. Flash forward to the next rainstorm, same thing again. We assess, we open up the mechanical units, and we find that there are either 1) condensation problems coming from cool outside temperatures interacting with warm water pipes or 2) pan leaks, missing gaskets, or other waterproofing issues within the unit. We would hazard a guess that, across the US, tens of millions of dollars are misspent in this way every winter (not to mention stress and strained relationships). 

3. Getting so caught up in emergencies that you don’t plan to avoid these realities next year

The scramble to react to problems comes right at the time of the year when you could be planning for the future. 

The Fixes

1. Focus on Emergency Maintenance & Expectation-Setting: If it’s too late for a major project this year, don’t think that the only other option is reactive leak response. Prioritize proactive maintenance with a short-term performance focus to mitigate problems as much as possible. Set expectations.

2. Schedule a Fall Assessment: Partner with an independent roof consultant or qualified contractor who can give you a clear picture of your roof’s condition and break the cycle. Good roof management can be achieved through simple means, if they are consistent. Without a current assessment of your roof’s condition, it’s nearly impossible to know how much to set aside—or where to focus funds. Engage an independent consultant to assist you with leak response and partner with you maintenance contractor (or help you find a qualified contractor), couple that investigation with a full roof assessment, set budgets around your goals, and make this the last Fall where you are scrambling after leaks rather than sipping the latest Pumpkin Spice creation and strolling in the Fall colors. 

3. Engage your HVAC Contractor for Equipment Assessment: Make sure that their scope includes assessment of both the external and internal waterproofing/drainage components of the system, as well as pipe wraps and condensation management systems

4. Build Contextualized Budgets and Plans for Next Year: Good roof management starts with accurate, informed budgets that reflect what your roof actually needs. Without knowing what state your roof is in, you don’t know where to set your budgets.

Pro Tip

Piggy back a full maintenance scope and

assessment onto your post-rain leak response.

Don’t let fall roofing pitfalls put your budget - or your building - at risk. With the right mix of maintenance, planning, and expert guidance, you can step into winter with confidence.

If you need help, reach out and we will help connect you to the right contractor or guide you through the best action plan.