More and more companies and institutions are seeing the benefits of moving to solar power, including major energy cost savings, significant tax incentives and MACRS depreciation, reduced environmental impact, and the advancement of organizational sustainability goals.

But there are pitfalls. Before spending the money on a solar power system, you will want to make sure your roof is suitable and prepared for the panels—and that your contractor has experience with rooftop installations—to avoid problems like roof damage and leaks, structural issues, suboptimal energy efficiency, and other challenges.

A cautionary tale

Sterling Commercial Roofing recently was engaged by a customer who was already experiencing significant roof leakage after working with another firm to install more than 60,000sf of solar panels on their commercial roof just one year before. To fix the problem, the customer was very unhappy to learn that they were looking at over $1 million in unanticipated costs to remove the solar panels, replace the roof and re-install the panels.

The issue: Like many rooftop systems, the solar panel arrays were anchored into the deck under the roofing material. Failing to work with a solar contractor with adequate roofing experience resulted in a system that was improperly installed, destroying a perfectly good roof.

Make sure your roof is ready

Aligning the lifespans of the solar and roofing systems is also critical. With performance warranties covering most commercial solar panels for a period of 25 years, even newer roofs should have a life expectancy analysis to avoid the considerable costs—even years down the line—associated with a solar system outlasting the surface it sits on.

Aside from the roof condition, there are other considerations. Is the roof structurally sound enough to support the weight of the solar panels and frames? Is the current roofing material and insulation appropriate for a solar energy system?

Poorly insulated roofs can negatively affect solar energy absorption and the energy efficiency of both the building and the panels. Effective thermal insulation also optimizes the lifespan of roofing materials and solar energy systems by minimizing temperature fluctuation.

Let us take a look

At Sterling Commercial Roofing, we have professionals experienced in rooftop solar panel systems. We can provide an inspection and advise on the remaining life of your roof and other structural or installation considerations to provide maximum assurance that your organization will reap the full benefits of solar power for many years to come.

Contact us at 815-626-7744 to schedule a free initial inspection and consultation, either to support an accurate early-stage cost-benefit analysis or to avoid problems once you’ve decided to proceed with a rooftop solar power system.

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A one-of-a-kind wall panel and bracket system. Precision fits and long material lead times. High-stakes engineering challenges that included calculating wind load, bracket intervals, structural framing, fastening method and other critical factors.

Choosing the right partner was the absolute key to the success of this unusual, one-of-a-kind project. The general contractor chose Sterling Commercial Roofing (SCR).

Decorative wall panels with insulation and brackets

As part of a larger repurposing of an existing facility to create a new home for the State of Illinois Central Management Services (CMS) department, the project involved fabrication and installation of more than 900 aluminum panels over CMU (concrete masonry unit) and brick walls.

The panels were affixed to extruded aluminum thermally broken brackets and rails, with 4-inch-thick mineral wool insulation between the walls and panels. The 1/8” thick panels were of varying dimensions, some precision perforated, some solid plate.

Balancing evolving designs with long material lead times

A huge challenge was balancing design specifications that often changed with lead times of 16 to 18 weeks for the panels—this made it necessary to order the panels before the framework was finalized and installed, heightening the risk of fit problems.

When the perforated panels arrived, project managers realized that the two-to-three-inch holes made bird nesting a likely issue. Sterling Commercial Roofing engineers developed a solution on the spot—cutting and affixing a dark coated mesh to the back of the panels before installation—that would both address the issue and preserve the design aesthetic.

Safety the only choice

SCR’s unique commitment to safety contributed to the completion of the project with no mishaps. With our OSHA-certified crews and an in-house safety director that develops a customized safety plan for every project, we completed the project not only without any major injuries but also without damaging the building roof, skylights or surrounding structure.

Project successfully completed

Sterling Commercial Roofing coordinated with supplier-partners, design/engineers and the general contractor to address numerous challenges—some unanticipated—along the way. The key measure of success is customer satisfaction, and SCR delivered. Everyone was delighted with the results, including the general contractor and the ultimate client, the Illinois CMS Department.

Choosing the right provider

In unique, highly complex projects like these, it’s critical to choose the right provider, a partner with the scale, relationships and resources, including financial, to solve the inevitable problems and see the project all the way to completion. Sterling Commercial Roofing fit the bill.

Regular inspections and maintenance can extend your commercial roof’s 20-year life by up to 20% or more.

High heat and heavy rain in summer. Winter’s cold, snow and ice, often freezing, thawing and refreezing in cycles. Here in the Midwest, weather extremes can put a heavy strain on your roof, working together stealthily to create small problems that, left undetected, can become big ones.

Timely, professional inspections can find and fix those small problems early. Trust Sterling Commercial Roofing to provide the knowledge you need to minimize maintenance costs and maximize the life of your roof.

‍WATCH OUR ROOF INSPECTION VIDEO

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Whether it was a mild one or more severe, winter takes a definite toll on a roof. Snow falls, collects in areas of shade and low points and melts at varying rates. Rain can come in large quantities in short periods and evaporate more slowly than in summer. Temperatures can range widely, from low 60s or higher to subzero.

All of these conditions can shrink or split roofing materials, create space between walls and flashings, or concentrate moisture in specific areas of vulnerability.

Leaks are not always obvious or even noticeable

Roof leaks can be stealthy. Often, leaks are not noticed until they advance to the point of dripping into interior spaces. But damage can occur much earlier.
 
We often see leak damage between the outer layer and the roof deck, whether in insulating material or between the top and mid-layer membranes, which may not be visible but can cause slow deterioration, including rot, of wood decking or black mold formation—serious problems that are best solved before they become a major cost or even health issue.

Spring inspections designed to find issues early

At Sterling Commercial Roofing, a spring roof inspection can start with a visual assessment, conducted free of charge, to put expert eyes on the roof and identify any potential issues. Customers often have their facility manager or other company person walk the roof with us to learn in real time of any areas we see that might require action.

We can also use specialized thermoscan technology to go deeper, scanning the roof for evidence of moisture below the surface. Some customers request core cuts to get a full and accurate sense of the condition of all your roof layers, sometimes advisable for older roofs.

Address small problems before they become big ones

The business rationale for spring roof inspections is simple. When it comes to a commercial roof, it pays to inspect and maintain it on a regular basis. There are multiple payoffs: Catching problems at an early stage makes repair easier and less costly. Regular inspections can significantly extend the service life of your roof. And knowing the exact condition of your roof enables longer-term budget planning—we can help you project when the roof will require replacement, five or more years in advance.

Trust is critical

It’s important that you trust the roofing expert conducting the assessment or inspection. The last thing you want is someone going up on your roof looking for projects that aren’t needed. That’s why an established, reputable commercial roofing contractor is a must.

Over the course of our almost 40 years in business, Sterling Commercial Roofing has built a reputation for safety, quality and integrity that’s second to none in the industry. We succeed, not by doing unnecessary projects, but by building relationships. This is how we’ve become one of the largest and most trusted commercial roofing contractors in the Midwest.

Take action in early spring

Depending on the weather, mid-March through early May is the ideal period for a spring roof assessment. Contact us directly to schedule your free assessment or learn more about our discounted inspection packages.

Your industrial roof protects more than your building. It protects valuable equipment and other contents inside the premises. It also can play a significant part in the energy efficiency of your facility.

Winter presents a number of challenges for your commercial roof, challenges that can multiply with every year that passes after initial installation. Especially in the northern Midwest, normal winter precipitation—including snow, which can accumulate and melt slowly, and rain, which can freeze in place—has an uncanny ability to find your roof’s vulnerabilities.

Temperature fluctuations add to the strain. In a climate where average temperatures have warmed in recent years, your roof can see a very wide range, from sun-warmed high surface temps to subzero cold snaps. This drives repeated expansion and contraction of the roofing materials, potentially creating leak points.

Mitigate the risk with a fall roof inspection

At Sterling Commercial Roofing (SCR), we always recommend on-site roof inspections, ideally twice a year, to spot minor problems and make sure they don’t become major ones. In fact in our experience, we’ve found that regular inspections can extend the life of your 20- or 30-year roof by as much as 10 years or even more.

The goal of a pre-winter inspection is to identify any obvious problems. Clearing any fall debris such as leaves or branches, making sure drainage systems are all clear, checking to make sure all seams and flashings are in good shape—these are a few of the things we look for to help ensure your roof performs the way it’s designed to in winter weather.

Minor investments can save major costs

A SCR roofing expert can conduct an on-site roof assessment free of charge. We walk the roof and provide a professional opinion on the condition of the roof and any areas where winter-related problems could occur. For the highest level of assurance, we can do a more in-depth inspection for a relatively small fee, depending on the size, age and type of roof.

We have decades of experience conducting pre-winter inspections. In vast majority of cases, what we find is minor and can be repaired or otherwise addressed quickly and inexpensively.

Integrity is everything

A common source of hesitation to requesting a roof inspection is the fear that the roofer will try to generate work by identifying problems that aren’t there. This is where the integrity of the roofing professional comes in.

At Sterling Commercial Roofing, we build more than roofing systems. We build trust.

Our goal is to save our customers money and extend the life of their current roof. For almost 40 years, we have succeeded, not by doing unnecessary projects, but by developing relationships. This is how we’ve become one of the largest and fastest-growing commercial roofing contractors in the Midwest.

Take action in late summer or fall

August through mid-October is the ideal period for a pre-winter assessment. Contact us directly to schedule your free assessment or learn more about our discounted inspection packages.