The Ultimate Commercial Roof Maintenance Plan for Your Business

Key Takeaways for Property Managers

  • Inspect your property’s roof at least twice each year—in the spring and in the fall—and after major weather events like storms.
  • Perform preventive maintenance tasks like clearing gutters, removing debris, and inspecting flashing to help extend your roof’s life—but always hire pros for structural work or anything that might void a warranty.
  • Use free tools like our Roof Lifespan Estimator and Cost Calculator to evaluate your roof’s condition and make an informed decision about whether it’s time to rejuvenate or replace your roof.
  • Roof Maxx treatments restore flexibility to asphalt shingles, potentially saving you up to 80% vs. the cost of replacement—and can extend your roof’s life up to 15 years with reapplications every 5 years.
Take These Steps to Extend Your Roof’s Life, Avoid Disruption, & Save Your Reserve Funds

For commercial property owners, real estate investors, facilities managers, and asset managers, roofs are more than a building feature—they’re a depreciating asset that directly impacts operating income and NOI. Having a strong roof maintenance strategy defers capital expenditure, increases appraisal value, and preserves insurance coverage.

Whether you oversee an HOA, an apartment complex, a retail center, or an institutional facility, the right approach to roof care can extend your roof’s useful life and help you avoid costly replacements until they’re absolutely necessary.

Use this guide to implement a proactive commercial roof maintenance plan at your property—and find out how solutions like Roof Maxx can help you save money while protecting the future of your business.

Step 1: Schedule Regular Roof Inspections

When it comes to the roof that protects your business, awareness is your first line of defense. Commercial roofs need to be inspected at least twice a year (spring and fall) as well as after every major weather event. These inspections help you:

  • Catch early signs of damage or wear
  • Monitor the condition of aging materials (like asphalt shingles)
  • Plan repairs before they become urgent—and expensive

“When we inspect a property for asset management, we look for flexibility in the shingles. A brittle shingle’s service life is next to none.” – Jack Jenkins, Roof Management

Step 2: Perform Preventive Maintenance

Small issues can become major expenses if you leave them untreated. That’s why it’s important to jump on problems fast—but only if you have the necessary tools and skills.

Remember: maintenance isn’t helpful if it creates disruptions or inconveniences for your tenants, residents, and the other people who use your facilities.

We developed Roof Maxx as a quick way to help property owners keep their asphalt shingles in good condition without impacting day-to-day activities—but if you do need to perform work on your rooftop for any reason, be sure to consider the following:

Safety & Warranty Disclaimer

Working on a commercial roof comes with risks. Always follow proper fall protection protocols, use stable ladders or harnesses, and avoid working alone. Many roofing systems also carry manufacturer warranties that could be voided by improper repairs—so call professionals for anything beyond the basics.

When in doubt, always hire a licensed commercial roofing professional. For large-scale issues, structural problems, or full-scope maintenance, professional help ensures compliance, safety, and long-term value.

Clear Gutters & Downspouts

Clogged gutters can cause water to back up under shingles and damage your building envelope. Keep drainage flowing with these steps:

  • Use a stable ladder to access gutters safely.
  • Scoop out leaves, sticks, and debris using gloved hands or a gutter scoop.
  • Flush gutters and downspouts with a hose to check for proper water flow.
  • If downspouts are clogged, use a plumber’s snake or remove and rinse them out.
  • Ensure all hangers and brackets are secure to avoid sagging or overflow.

Remove Debris & Check for Pooling Water

Leaves, branches, or even heavy pollen can trap moisture and speed up deterioration—especially on low-slope commercial roofs.

  • Inspect the roof surface for debris after storms or each season.
  • Use a soft broom or leaf blower to gently remove debris (don’t scrape or drag).
  • Look for water stains, puddles, or algae growth—signs of drainage issues.
  • Check drains and scuppers for blockages and clean them out if needed.
  • Call a roofer if pooling water doesn’t clear within 48 hours—it may indicate structural issues.

Repair Flashing & Sealant Failures Quickly

Flashing protects vulnerable areas like edges, vents, and roof penetrations. If it fails, water gets in fast.

  • Inspect flashing at roof edges, HVAC units, skylights, and vents for rust, cracks, or gaps.
  • Check sealant for signs of cracking, shrinking, or separation from the surface.
  • Contact a commercial roofing contractor for proper repair—only a professional should do things like reapply exterior-grade roofing sealant or replace loose sections.

Replace Missing Shingles or Tiles

Lost or damaged shingles expose the roof underlayment to the elements and accelerate wear.

  • Identify bald spots, lifted shingles, or broken tiles during routine inspections.
  • Remove any fasteners or debris from the area.
  • Call a professional to come and install new shingles—this is not a DIY job.

A Note on Budgeting for Roof Maintenance

Some condos and HOAs even integrate roof maintenance into reserve studies. These budget-planning tools have traditionally helped a business account for large expenses like roof replacement, painting, and siding—but more commercial property owners are now using them to account for roof rejuvenation as well.

“We’ve now added roof rejuvenation to that list so communities can preserve assets without a big special assessment.” – Mary Jo Betterly, Reserve Consultant

Step 3: Evaluate Your Roof’s Lifespan

Every roof ages, but new shingles often have lower asphalt content and degrade faster than older ones. As roofs begin to dry out and become brittle, repairs become more frequent—and the risk of failure increases.

Our free estimator tool can provide you with a general idea of how much usable life your roof might have left. Try it here: Interactive Estimator: What Is the Lifespan of Your Roof?

And to find out how much replacing your roof could cost you, use our free Roof Replacement Cost Calculator: Roof Replacement Cost Calculator

“Before Roof Maxx, the roofs looked very brittle, crunchy, faded, and honestly gave the property a run-down vibe.” – Jonathan Casilli, Property Manager

Step 4: Integrate Roof Maxx into Your Plan

Roof Maxx is a sustainable roof treatment that restores flexibility and extends the life of asphalt shingles—saving commercial properties up to 80% compared to replacement. It’s fast to apply, non-invasive to tenants, and re-treatable every five years. Multiple applications could help you get up to 15 years of additional life out of your commercial roof as long as the asphalt shingles are in decent condition.

“We did extensive research, spoke to many users… we believe it’s going to extend the life of the roof so that we do not have to face a replacement anytime soon.” – Tom Daniels, HOA Board Member

“Roof Maxx presented a new, innovative application that could extend useful life without busting the budget, versus a $1.5 million replacement.” – Spyglass Hill Representative

Clients across the country are already seeing benefits:

Clients across the country
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We were able to save $10,000 a year on our insurance coverage. – Tom Daniels

Step 5: Track & Reapply

Roof Maxx can be reapplied every 5 years (up to three times) for continued protection. That means long-term roof life extension with built-in maintenance planning.

“The fact that we can reapply Roof Maxx in six or eight years to add another increment of life is very important and attractive to our board.” – Spyglass Hill Representative

Build Smarter Property Maintenance Into Your Budget

Replacing a roof is a major capital expense—but delaying replacement with smart maintenance is a powerful financial strategy. Whether you’re managing a school, church, HOA, or large-scale facility, Roof Maxx helps:

  • Avoid resident disruption
  • Preserve your property’s appearance
  • Reduce risk during storms
  • Reallocate capital to other needs

“Roof rejuvenation is a new idea in property management, but it should be standard. It aligns perfectly with what we’re trying to do: preserve our assets.” – Jonathan Casilli

Ready to Rejuvenate Instead of Replace?

You’re not alone. Commercial property owners and managers across North America are using Roof Maxx as a cost-effective and sustainable way to help large rooftops last longer—saving money and improving the experience of everyone who uses their facilities.

Let’s talk. Find a Roof Maxx dealer in your area today to schedule an inspection and find out whether your property is a good fit for roof rejuvenation.

Save money. Protect your asset. And make a smarter plan for your roof.

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Picture of Georgios Karakitsios
Georgios Karakitsios
"George Karakitsios owns the website and marketing technology behind Roof Maxx. He has spent more than 12 years building web experiences for homeowners and Roof Maxx customers"
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