When you notice a leak in your roof, you really only have three options:
- Ignore it and hope for the best.
- Try to fix it yourself and hold off on calling a roofer.
- Call a roofer right away so it gets fixed and you don’t have to worry about it anymore.
As roofers, we’ve seen it all. As homeowners and business owners ourselves, we know that a leaky roof is stressful and inconvenient. The reality is that nobody wants to deal with a leaky roof. At the same time, if you have a leak at your business, you’re responsible for getting it fixed (and quickly, if you don’t want to deal with — and pay for — even more problems caused by the leak).
What Happens If You Don’t Fix Your Leaky Roof?
In an ideal world, your roof wouldn’t have a leak, but things happen. Buildings get old, roof work fails, storms brew — we do live in Florida, after all. But the impact of a leaky roof goes beyond an annoying drip, especially for businesses.
Loss of Customers
No matter what type of business you run, you want it to be clean, professional, and welcoming to your customers, both prospective and current. Think about it, as a customer yourself. It’s not very appealing to do business with someone who has a huge brown spot or hole on their ceiling. An active leak that has a bucket, bowl, or cup placed underneath to catch the drips is even worse.
It’s understandable if you’ve already called in a roofer to help with the leak and have told both your employees and customers that it will soon be fixed. If you’re just letting it sit, though, that’s going to turn customers off and away. If you won’t take care of a roof leak, what makes them think you’d take care of them?
Unhappy Employees
Good work environments improve productivity. They also make work a nice place to be, and happy employees tend to do better work. If you’re expecting your employees to do their jobs in a workspace that’s not just unsightly and disruptive, but also dangerous, you can count on them to be less productive, and probably unhappy.
Similar to your customers, your employees will probably think that you can’t — or won’t — take care of them if you don’t take care of the leak. And let’s be honest, you wouldn’t want to work in a place like that. So why would they?
Health and Hazard Dangers
This one is pretty obvious, but it’s something that isn’t talked about enough. Customers, employees, and even you can get sick or hurt as a result of a roof leak. It sounds far-fetched, but what happens when the leak sits too long, and mold and mildew start to build up and work their way through your HVAC system? Your customers can get sick. Your employees can get sick (and call out, or don’t call out and come in and get others sick who call out). If they have underlying health conditions, this could be detrimental to their health.
Besides this, slip and fall accidents are all too common, and they’ll cost you. Fixing a roof leak is much cheaper than dealing with a lawsuit.
More Expenses
So many business owners want to ignore a roof leak because they don’t want to pay for the leak. Usually, you’re not prepared for it. Leaks always seem to come at the most unexpected times. A lot of times, you don’t have the funds set aside for it. But a problem that sits often gets exacerbated, and the last thing you want is to cost yourself even more in the long run.
A roof leak also usually means a higher bill because leaks spread and start to affect the surrounding surfaces; interior damage to your roof and walls can add up.
What to Do If Your Roof Is Leaking
If you find yourself dealing with a leaky roof at your business, there are a few things you can do to be proactive about it.
First, if the area is occupied, you should clear it to minimize property damage. Then, get the dreaded bucket and place it underneath the leak. Even if it’s not raining, drips can still happen, so don’t move the bucket away, and be sure to empty it as it fills. Finally, check other areas for leaks — just in case.
Once you’ve done all that, call a roofing company. Don’t put it off. It could be a simple, affordable fix. If it’s not, the sooner you get a handle on the problem, the better off your business and pocket will be. Trust us!
Got a Roof Leak at Your Business?
No matter the type of commercial building your business is in, if you have a leak, you need help from an experienced roofer who understands your building and can find an affordable solution that works.
If you’re dealing with a roof leak and want an honest estimate, contact us today. Our roofing company serves businesses in St. Augustine, Nocatee, Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, and the surrounding communities in Northeast FL.