September Commercial Roof Checklist: How to Prepare Your Minnesota Building for Winter

Fall is an important time for commercial building owners to take a close look at their roofing system.

After a summer of heat, storms, wind, and heavy rain, September provides an opportunity to identify roofing problems and complete necessary maintenance before Minnesota’s colder weather arrives.

For commercial properties in Minneapolis and throughout the Twin Cities, winter can bring snow, ice, freezing temperatures, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Problems that seem minor in September can become much more difficult to address once winter arrives.

A professional fall commercial roof inspection can help building owners understand the condition of their roof and address potential problems before they become emergency repairs.

Why Should You Inspect a Commercial Roof in the Fall?

Commercial roofs experience constant exposure to the elements throughout the year.

By the time fall arrives, a roof may have developed damage that isn’t immediately visible from inside the building. Small punctures, deteriorated flashing, damaged seams, blocked drains, and problems around rooftop equipment can all create opportunities for water intrusion.

Fall is also an important maintenance window because it gives building owners time to address problems before winter weather makes roofing work more challenging.

The Minnesota Department of Administration’s cold-weather guidance specifically recommends checking roofs to ensure flashings are secure, cleaning roof drains, and developing a preventive maintenance plan for monitoring snow accumulation.

7 Things Building Owners Should Check Before Winter

1. Inspect the Roof Membrane

The roof membrane should be inspected for visible signs of damage, deterioration, punctures, blistering, open seams, or other areas that could allow moisture into the roofing system.

Different commercial roofing systems can show wear in different ways. TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, built-up roofing, and other systems should be evaluated based on their specific materials and installation details.

A professional inspection can help identify problems that may not be obvious from the ground.

2. Check Flashing and Roof Penetrations

Some of the most vulnerable areas on a commercial roof are the places where the roofing system meets another building component.

These can include:

• HVAC equipment
• Pipes and vents
• Skylights
• Roof curbs
• Parapet walls
• Wall transitions
• Other rooftop penetrations

Flashing and seals around these areas should be inspected for deterioration or damage.

A small problem around a penetration can eventually allow water into the roofing assembly and interior of the building.

3. Clear Roof Drains and Scuppers

Drainage is especially important heading into winter.

Leaves, branches, dirt, and other debris can accumulate around roof drains, scuppers, gutters, and other drainage points during the fall.

If water cannot drain properly, it can collect on the roof. When temperatures drop, that water can freeze and create additional stress on the roofing system.

Before winter arrives, building owners should make sure drainage systems are clear and functioning properly.

4. Look for Ponding Water

Standing water is a warning sign on many commercial roofing systems.

If water repeatedly collects in the same area after rain, there may be an issue with drainage, roof slope, or the condition of the roofing system.

Ponding water can contribute to premature deterioration and may become an even bigger concern when temperatures begin to fluctuate between freezing and thawing.

If you consistently see water collecting on your commercial roof, it’s worth having the area professionally evaluated.

5. Inspect Areas Around Rooftop Equipment

Commercial roofs often have HVAC units, vents, electrical equipment, pipes, and other equipment installed above the roof membrane.

Maintenance and service work around this equipment can sometimes result in accidental damage to roofing materials.

Fall is a good time to inspect these areas and make sure equipment curbs, flashing, and surrounding roofing materials remain in good condition.

6. Check for Storm Damage

Minnesota commercial roofs can experience significant exposure to wind, hail, and heavy storms during the warmer months.

Not all storm damage results in an immediate leak.

A professional inspection can help identify damage that may not yet be visible from inside the building, allowing property owners to address problems before they are compounded by winter weather.

If your building experienced a major storm during the summer, a fall roof inspection can provide an opportunity to document the roof’s current condition.

7. Review Your Roof’s Maintenance and Repair History

Fall is also a good time to look beyond the physical condition of the roof and review its history.

Building owners and facility managers should know:

• When the current roof was installed
• What type of roofing system is in place
• When it was last professionally inspected
• What repairs have been completed
• Whether there have been recurring leaks
• Whether there are active warranties
• When the roof may need major repairs or replacement

Having this information organized can make future maintenance and budgeting decisions much easier.

What Happens If You Wait Until Winter?

Minnesota weather can make commercial roofing problems more complicated.

A minor issue that could have been repaired during mild fall weather may become an emergency once snow and ice arrive.

For example, a damaged flashing detail may allow water into the building during a fall rainstorm. Once temperatures drop, that moisture can freeze and create additional problems.

Winter also makes roof access more difficult and can limit the conditions in which certain roofing work can safely and effectively be performed.

The goal of a fall inspection isn’t to predict everything that will happen during winter. It’s to identify known problems while there’s still time to address them.

Should You Repair or Replace Your Commercial Roof?

A fall inspection may reveal that your roof needs anything from minor maintenance to a more significant repair or replacement.

That doesn’t automatically mean the entire roof needs to be replaced.

The appropriate solution depends on factors such as:

• The age of the roofing system
• Overall roof condition
• Extent of existing damage
• Frequency of leaks
• Condition of insulation and underlying materials
• Previous repairs
• Expected remaining service life
• Long-term plans for the building

A professional roofing contractor can evaluate the existing system and help determine whether maintenance, repair, restoration, or re-roofing makes sense.

What Should a Commercial Roof Inspection Include?

A thorough commercial roof inspection should look at more than just the roof membrane.

Depending on the building and roofing system, an inspection may evaluate:

• Roofing membrane
• Seams and transitions
• Flashing
• Roof drains
• Scuppers
• Roof edges
• Penetrations
• Skylights
• HVAC curbs and equipment areas
• Ponding water
• Signs of moisture intrusion
• Previous repair areas
• Visible storm damage

The goal is to understand the overall condition of the roofing system and identify areas that may require attention.

Prepare Your Commercial Roof Before Minnesota Winter Arrives

For Minneapolis and Twin Cities building owners, September and early fall provide an important opportunity to get ahead of winter roofing problems.

A professional commercial roof inspection can help identify damage from the previous season, address drainage issues, evaluate vulnerable areas, and create a maintenance or repair plan before snow and ice arrive.

Allweather Roof has served Minnesota since 1925 and provides commercial roofing services including inspections, maintenance, repairs, emergency service, and re-roofing.

Don’t wait for the first winter leak to find out your commercial roof has a problem.

Contact Allweather Roof to schedule a commercial roof assessment and prepare your building for the season ahead.