ROOFING + BUILDING ENVELOPE
Post-Winter Commercial Roof Inspections A look at what building owners should prioritize in Q2 By Kevin Campopiano Campo Roof
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very winter leaves its mark on a commercial roof. Snow loads, freeze-thaw cycles, wind events and temperature swings all stress roofing systems in ways that often aren’t visible from the ground. Most buildings make it through the season without obvious leaks, but when we climb onto those roofs in the spring, we usually find early signs of trouble that developed over the winter – loosened flashing, clogged drains, small membrane punctures or areas where water has started to pond.
Photo courtesy of Campo Roof
Even when everything looks fine from inside the building, small issues are often already developing on the roof. Those issues rarely cause immediate failure. But if they go unnoticed through the spring and summer storm season, they can become much larger – and much more expensive – problems. That’s why Q2 is one of the most important times of year for property managers and building owners to evaluate the condition of their roof. Not because the roof is failing today, but because this is the window where there’s still time to plan.
Q2 is when planning should start
The best time to evaluate whether a roof may need restoration or replacement is earlier in the year, before contractor schedules tighten and weather becomes less predictable. Commercial roofing projects rarely happen quickly. Most are scheduled four to eight weeks in advance, and many commercial roofs take three to four weeks or longer to complete, depending on size, building operations and weather. Most roofing schedules start filling up by late summer. Once the colder fall months arrive, the window for complet-
VIEW FROM THE TOP While every roof system is different, most commercial roofs follow a similar lifecycle pattern. Installation quality, maintenance, weather exposure and rooftop traffic all affect how long a roof will last.
ing roofing work becomes much smaller. In practical terms, if a roof project isn’t already being evaluated by the end of Q2, there’s a good chance it won’t happen until the following year. Owners who inspect within the first half of the year give themselves time
to review budgets, evaluate options and schedule work before demand peaks.
Common issues found after winter
When post-winter inspections are performed, roofing contractors aren’t just looking for obvious leaks. Most
What the Lifecycle of a Commercial Roof Usually Looks Like Roof Age 0-10 years 10-15 years 15-20 years 20+ years 42
What Is Typically Seen System performing normally Early signs of wear Repairs becoming more frequent System nearing failure
What Owners Should Be Doing Annual inspections & preventative maintenance Begin evaluating restoration options Budget planning for replacement Replacement planning strongly recommended Properties | April 2026