Why do so many commercial roofs receive attention only after a problem occurs?
Recently, I've been collecting aerial images of commercial roofs across Edmonton.
What strikes me is how different they all are.
Different materials.
Different ages.
Different rooftop equipment.
Different maintenance histories.
Yet from the ground, most people would likely describe them the same way:
"Looks fine." Or they haven't even seen the roof.
The challenge is that "looks fine" isn't really a maintenance strategy.
As I've spoken with property managers, building owners, contractors, and facility teams, one question keeps coming to mind:
How do we actually know when a roof needs attention?
For many buildings, the roof is one of the most important and expensive assets on the property.
It protects:
Yet it often receives attention only after a leak, complaint, or visible issue appears.
Why?
I don't believe most property managers or building owners are ignoring their roofs.
In most cases, they're simply managing dozens of competing priorities.
Property managers are balancing:
Building owners are focused on operations, capital projects, and controlling costs.
Meanwhile, the roof quietly does its job in the background.
Until it doesn't.
From my conversations so far, there seem to be two common approaches.
A problem appears.
The issue is investigated.
Repairs are made.
This approach is common because it addresses issues when they become visible and urgent.
Regular inspections establish a baseline.
Changes are monitored over time.
Potential concerns can be identified before they become larger and more expensive problems.
Neither approach is right or wrong.
Every building, budget, and ownership group is different.
The more people I speak with, the more curious I become.
How does your organization determine whether a roof is performing as expected?
Do you have:
Or do you simply address issues when they arise?
The more conversations I have, the more I realize the answer may not be about roofs at all.
It may be about confidence.
Confidence that a critical building asset is doing exactly what it's supposed to do.
Confidence that small issues won't become major surprises.
Confidence that decisions are being made with good information.
If you're a property manager, facility manager, building owner, contractor, consultant, or part of a maintenance team, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.
How does your organization approach roof maintenance and long-term building planning?
What challenges do you face?
What works well?
The best insights often come from conversations, and I'm always interested in learning how others approach these challenges.
Feel free to reach out for a conversation. Or just give me a call 780-905-7371 and we can chat over coffee.
Author's Note
Darrel Pendry is the owner of Raven Drone Services Ltd. in Edmonton, Alberta, helping property owners and managers capture actionable building data through aerial imaging, mapping, and inspection services.