The start of the year is more than just a calendar flip for facility managers. It is a critical window to protect the building envelope. High-performing facilities don’t wait for spring thaws to assess damage. They use the beginning of the year to create and execute their yearly maintenance strategy that minimizes operational costs and sets the stage for year-long resilience.

If you want to minimize expenses, ensure safety compliance and avoid operational interruptions, here is a checklist used by the industry’s most efficient teams.

Is your commercial roof as safe as it should be? The condition and design of your facility’s roof is critical for servicing equipment such as HVAC systems and production exhaust systems. Poorly maintained roofs and missing safety measures can lead to injuries and property damage. As a commercial roofing contractor with over 55 years of experience across North America, we have seen many common safety hazards that are simple to fix but carry serious consequences if ignored. Ensure you are not overlooking these six crucial ways you can boost your roof safety and avoid hidden risks.

1. Skylights

Skylights are popular in commercial facilities because they harness daylight, reduce power bills and create a more comfortable environment. However, unprotected skylights are a serious fall hazard. From a safety perspective, they are essentially holes in your roof. Installing skylight screens, covers, guardrails or personal fall arrest systems is critical for any roof that features these light sources. Additionally, if your facility is in a FM Global Very Severe Hail (VSH) Zone, it is now a requirement to have FM-approved VSH skylight protection. 

2. Access Points

Simply getting onto the roof can be the most dangerous part of the job. Are your access points like ladders and roof hatches compliant with OSHA fall protection protocols and industry best practices? Some commercial facilities often overlook the transition points where people enter and exit the roof. Common safety issues may include missing guardrails around roof hatches and fixed ladders lacking necessary safety cages or fall-arrest cables. There are many solutions to keep your access points safe and secure. 

3. The Parapet Wall Illusion

A common misconception is that a parapet wall may serve as a safety barrier. In reality, many commercial parapet walls are only 12 to 23 inches tall. These may actually become tripping hazards rather than fall protection. According to OSHA standards, a guardrail or protective barrier must be between 39 and 45 inches high to adequately protect a person. If your parapet wall does not meet these height requirements, additional railing must be installed to ensure safety and compliance. 

Managing a commercial facility often feels like juggling a dozen balls in the air, especially when it comes to coordinating various vendors for roofing, flooring and painting. Let’s face it, this can quickly turn into a complex maze! But what if you could simplify the process?

As winter approaches, it's time to prepare for the unique challenges that this season brings. Freezing temperatures, snow accumulation and thermal shock are a triple threat that puts serious strain on your most vital facility asset: your commercial roof. The big question isn't if it will snow, but how you will outsmart the weight to keep your building safe, sound and operational.

Severe weather events can be unpredictable, but one thing is certain: the damage they leave behind can disrupt your business. When there are strong winds, heavy rainfall, tornadoes or hurricanes, your roof can become compromised. As a result, your entire operation is at risk. This is why it is key to understand the best options for immediate protection and long-term recovery after a severe storm. 

Hey there, it’s Anne Serzz! Today, we’re shifting focus to the fast-paced world of real estate and property management. Whether it’s tight loading zones or weekend-only work windows, every property comes with its own set of roofing challenges. I sat down with Billy Phillips, Global Accounts Project Manager and Tom Vehrs, Senior Vice President of National and Global Accounts to get the inside scoop on real estate roofing. In this blog, they’ll uncover what building owners and managers are really looking for and how your roof can help you deliver it. Let’s dive in:

Time flies, right? Hard to believe it’s already time to start planning for 2026. As you build next year’s facility budget, make sure you’re not overlooking a few critical areas that directly impact safety, efficiency and compliance: your facility's roof, floors and parking or access areas.

As 2025 comes to a close, many facility and operations managers are faced with a familiar challenge: what to do with remaining maintenance dollars before they vanish from the budget. If you don’t use them, you’ll lose them. This is a great opportunity to make smart, strategic roofing investments that protect your building, reduce long-term costs and set you up for success in 2026.

Commercial roofs take a beating during the summer. With extended UV exposure, extreme heat and daily thermal cycles, even the most durable roof systems like TPO, EPDM and PVC are under constant stress. While these materials are built to perform in tough environments, they can degrade or fail without proper maintenance. Once a summer storm or hurricane hits, that hidden wear and tear may turn into costly water intrusion. Here's a breakdown of the key summer-specific challenges your commercial roof faces and how to stay ahead of them.

Now that summer is in full swing, you need to realize that sometimes it’s the small details that are failing your roof. Drains, flashings, seams, pitch-pans and metal edges may seem like the least of your worries but they have the potential to cause some major roofing headaches. Whether it’s heat and humidity or rain and winds, the weather you’re experiencing may be putting some serious stress on your roof components. Over the years, we’ve learned that taking a look at each detail of your roof makes a drastic difference to its overall performance, especially during stormy summers like this one. This article is packed with pro tips to help you meet strict insurance requirements and avoid costly downtime. Let’s take a closer look at what you should focus on this summer.

Store owners: How’s your roof holding up? With back-to-school sales in full swing and Labor Day promotions will be here before you know it, the stakes are high this summer. Your aisles are about to be packed with eager shoppers, keeping your customers focused on your products and your register ringing is key. In order to keep your facility safe, dry and fully operational during the rush, you need to start from the top down.

Managing large-scale commercial construction projects presents a number of challenges, particularly when it comes to coordinating multiple vendors for roofing, flooring and painting. The complexity of these projects often leads to misalignments in schedules and quality control. That’s where CentiMark Corporation comes into play. We offer a fully integrated solution through our dedicated new construction divisions, streamlining roofing, flooring and painting services under one roof. This approach simplifies coordination, improves safety, improves quality assurance and keeps your project on track.

It's Anne Serzz and I’m back with another #AskCentiMark article! When it comes to the automotive industry, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” roofing solution. From sleek showrooms to sprawling manufacturing plants, each facility brings its own set of challenges and our roofing pros are here to help.

Hey there, it’s Anne Serzz and I’m here with some inside advice: resorts, hotels, restaurants and conference centers are evolving and roofing plays a critical role in both guest comfort and the property's overall aesthetic appeal. In this blog, we’ll uncover some roofing tips and innovative tools for the hospitality industry.

Hey there, it’s Anne Serzz! As you know, healthcare facilities require a roofing system that not only keeps patients, staff and operations protected but also meets strict codes, cleaning requirements and the needs of sensitive medical equipment. Managing these critical environments can be tough, this blog is your prescription to success!

Hi again! It’s Anne Serzz and I’m here to give you some roofing tips to keep your educational facility watertight. Whether you’re in charge of a small private school or a large college campus, you are deeply familiar with the strict codes and safety regulations that play an integral role in this industry. You need a roof that deserves an A+ and Joshua Attannaiso is here to help! He is well-versed in a wide variety of roofing projects for educational facilities. Let’s dive in:

Spring is here and the roofing season is about to kick into full gear. As we already know, this year may bring some challenges, including labor shortages and potential cost increases due to inflation, raw material price fluctuations and tariffs. Whether you need roof repairs, a full reroof or are in charge of a new construction project and looking at your roofing options, planning ahead is critical to maximizing your budget and meeting deadlines.

Phew, what a winter! Violent storms, snow on the beach and wild temperature swings from coast to coast, we have seen plenty of the unexpected. But one thing we can expect is the impact this winter had on our commercial buildings, especially the roofs that battled heavy snow and ice, high winds and thermal shock from freeze-thaw cycles.

Over the years, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) roofing has been a popular choice due to its flexibility, durability and long-term performance. However, its widespread use has resulted in some common misconceptions about EPDM roofing. This article aims to debunk the myths in order to set the record straight with certain concerns people have with EPDM roofing.

Hi, it’s Anne Serzz and I’m here to help you learn about the top layer of your commercial roof, the membrane! Your roof membrane is essential for safeguarding your building from outdoor elements, ensuring it’s watertight, enhancing energy efficiency and much more. Learning about the different types of commercial roof membranes on the market can help you make better roofing decisions that fit your facility’s needs.