Preventive measures can be taken to protect Las Vegas businesses' roofs
from storms associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon, local
roofing contractors say.
El Niño is a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the
tropical Pacific that could bring some nasty weather to the West Coast this
winter.
Businesses must be prepared.
"There is the potential for some severe storms in December and January,"
said Dennis Conway, president of Commercial Roofers Inc.
"In California they are already having a difficult time finding
roofing material. If you know you have a problem or don't know and want
to be proactive, you need to call a (roofing) contractor. There is not a
roof in (Las Vegas) that couldn't use some work."
According to Conway, business is usually relatively slow until a storm
comes around. During a bad weather situation Conway receives such a high
volume of calls it is impossible to get businesses the help they need.
Problems like this, said Conway, can be prevented by awareness and action.
"Business owners must get on their roofs," he said. "They
need to clean any excess debris off their roof, flush all their drains and
make sure there are no holes in the roof."
Problems like this, which may seem minute and arcane to many business
owners, can escalate during a storm. Conway has seen thousands of dollars
worth of damage to carpets, drywall and electrical equipment that could
have been prevented.
A typical service call from Commercial Roofers Inc., said Conway, runs
from $45-$55 an hour. An average repair costs a business about $150. That
price can skyrocket to $800-$1,000 during a storm.
"Preventive measures could save you a lot of money in the future,"
he said. "Most contractors raise their rates during and after a storm."
Sean Martin, an estimator for Falcon Roofing, agrees.
"Our business increases 50-75 percent during extreme storms,"
he said. "Typically, businesses don't get into the roof maintenance
services we offer. The roof is 'out of sight, out of mind,' in Las Vegas."
Meantime, construction defect attorney Thomas Miller said local homeowners
could find leaking roofs and flooded patios have exposed structural defects
that are a result of faulty construction.
"Unfortunately, most people find out they have a construction defect
only after it rains," Miller said in a news release. "It can be
the only indication to a homeowner that a problem exists with the home.
"Despite what a builder may say, those leaks mean that structurally
something is not right. No matter what a builder may say, however, the homeowner
always has some kind of recourse available."
© Copyright 2008 The Miller Law Firm. All rights Reserved.
If you experience problems or have questions, contact us at Info@ConstructionDefects.com.
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