Supply chain issues have hit the roofing industry hard! Here’s what you need to know.
Many industries have been hit hard by supply chain shortages, and commercial roofing is no exception. Between pandemic-related shutdowns and two very busy hurricane seasons, manufacturers in the roofing industry have struggled to keep up with demand. This has made major commercial roof repairs and roof replacements much more difficult to complete.
Here at Dolan Roofing & Construction, we always remind our customers about the importance of regular maintenance and proactive repairs when it comes to extending the life of your commercial roof. Due to severe shortages, roof replacements may take much longer than usual to complete—and carry high price tags. So today, we’re breaking down the supply chain shortages and why this makes commercial roof repairs more important than ever.
What’s behind the roofing supply chain shortages?
Many factors have combined to create a severe shortage in the manufacturing of roofing materials. First, of course, is the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns over the past couple of years left production frozen for many months, as manufacturing, of course, cannot be completed remotely.
In addition, busy hurricane seasons have also impacted the production of roofing materials. Several hurricanes have hit Louisiana, a major center for roofing manufacturing, since 2020. This includes hurricanes Laura (2020) and Ida (2021), both Category 4 hurricanes. Hurricanes have the potential to both halt production for multiple weeks and damage manufacturing facilities.
What materials are in short supply?
While there are roofing supply shortages across both the residential and commercial spheres, the most severe shortages are currently impacting critical supplies used for flat roofing systems—much more common for commercial roofs.
Some of the materials that are in especially high demand include specialized flat roofing screws, plates used to affix flat roofing materials to the roof, and many types of TPO membrane. While there are still sufficient supplies for repairs and smaller roofing projects, a large commercial roofing project is likely to be a year out. If a shorter timeline is needed, the price of roofing materials may be increased by as much as 50% or more.
The importance of commercial roof repairs
With roofing materials in such short supply, it’s more critical than ever to avoid the need for major commercial roofing repairs and roof replacements. The best way to avoid major roofing projects is to practice effective roof maintenance. This includes scheduling regular inspections for your commercial roof and repairing even minor roofing issues promptly. Proactive commercial roof repairs prevent minor issues from turning into major problems that may necessitate a roof replacement.
How is Dolan rising to the challenge of servicing commercial roofing needs?
Here at Dolan Roofing, we always provide extremely thorough commercial roofing inspections to identify potential issues before they worsen. We’re focusing even more on our inspection services to help property owners avoid a major repair or roof replacement that would be very difficult to complete.
When we complete an inspection or repair a leaking roof, our trained technicians look at every nook and cranny of your roof to spot problems. From top to bottom, we check for safety issues, adequate ventilation, and even future AC issues that may result in water entering your building. We make sure each property owner we work with is fully educated on what types of damage should likely be covered by their insurance provider.
These values have always been fundamental to the way we do business, but they’ve taken on even more importance given current shortages.
Make Sure Your Roof Will Last! Schedule an Inspection Today
At Dolan Roofing & Construction, we want to make sure your roof is in the best health possible. This is especially important now, with major commercial roofing projects made much more difficult by severe shortages in roofing materials. Our San Antonio trained roofing experts are standing by to complete a full inspection of your commercial roof and complete necessary repairs promptly to extend the life of your roof as long as possible. Contact us today to get started!
