You’ve leased an ideal store location, hired qualified employees, and stocked your store full of goods—your business is all set, right? Well, not quite. While most entrepreneurs focus on the interiors of their business establishment, many forget the one thing protecting both their merchandise and staff from the elements: the roof.
Choosing the right roof and keeping it well-maintained will spare you from major headaches, like the one reported in this article from Tennessee’s ABC 6 WATE:
Heavy rain caused the roof of a store in Knoxville’s Old City to collapse early Tuesday morning.
A Knoxville police officer witnessed the collapse at Big Don the Costumier, 120 Central Street.
No injuries were reported.
The building has a flat rubber membrane covering with drains that allow the water to run off.
The Knoxville Fire Department says rain sometimes falls quicker than the drains can disperse the heavy load, which was the likely cause of the collapse.
Power to the building was disconnected to prevent a fire from occurring.
KFD said the store is unsafe to enter.
Although Texas is many miles from Knoxville, we often have torrential rainfall in a short amount of time. As illustrated in the article, a collapsed roof can prove catastrophic on a businesses’ bottom line so it’s very important to choose a roof that can withstand the abuse that inclement weather doles. Below are a few tips to help you choose the ideal roofing for Austin businesses.
Focus on Long-Term Costs, not Upfront Ones
Don’t go for the cheapest option available—cheaper roofs often use low-quality materials that will quickly deteriorate. Going with a pricier option is worth it if it can save you money on maintenance, energy savings and warranty costs in the long run.
Choose Your Roofing Material Carefully
Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) roofs are highly resistant to bad weather making them ideal for areas that regularly experience storms or hurricanes. Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) roofs, on the other hand, utilize rubber and are much easier to maintain than other materials. Built-up roofs (BUR) have layers of various materials that can protect buildings from extreme heat or cold.
Rely on Reliable Austin, TX Roofers for Installation
For both homes and businesses, roof installation should be handled by professionals like Willi Roofing Services. Remember, any type of roof work is potentially dangerous and requires expert installers to guarantee satisfactory results.
(Article Information and Image from Heavy rain causes roof collapse at Old City costume store, ABC 6 WATE.com, September 03, 2013)
