At minimum, twice per year — spring after winter stress and fall before winter. Most manufacturer warranties require documented annual or biannual inspections to remain valid. Buildings in severe weather markets, roofs with heavy equipment traffic, and roofs approaching end of service life benefit from quarterly inspections. A post-storm inspection should be performed after any significant hail or wind event regardless of the regular schedule.
An infrared roof inspection uses thermal imaging cameras to detect wet insulation invisible to the naked eye. After sunset, wet insulation retains solar heat longer than dry insulation — creating warm anomalies visible to infrared cameras. The survey produces a thermal map showing the location and extent of all moisture in the roof assembly, often before any interior leak is visible. Infrared surveys are the most important diagnostic tool for determining restoration candidacy, repair scope, and replacement timing.
A professional Apex inspection includes: full visual inspection of membrane, seams, flashings, drains, and accessories; infrared thermographic survey for moisture mapping; core sampling to verify moisture where indicated by IR; comprehensive photo documentation of all deficiencies; and a written condition report with prioritized findings, repair cost estimates, remaining service life assessment, and capital planning timeline. Every report is designed to be actionable — not just a list of observations.
Commercial roof inspection costs vary by scope: a basic visual inspection runs $500–$1,500; a full visual inspection with written report $800–$2,500; adding infrared thermography $1,000–$3,500; a complete inspection package $2,000–$5,500; and a pre-purchase assessment $2,500–$6,000. A biannual program typically costs $1,000–$4,000 per year — a small fraction of the warranty coverage and leak prevention value it protects.
A pre-purchase inspection is a comprehensive condition assessment performed before acquiring a commercial property. It provides an objective evaluation of current roof condition, identifies deferred maintenance and hidden moisture damage, estimates remaining service life, and projects capital expenditure requirements over a 5–10 year ownership horizon. Pre-purchase inspections protect buyers from acquiring buildings with hidden roofing liabilities and frequently provide negotiating leverage for purchase price adjustments or seller repair escrows.
Yes — for most manufacturer NDL warranties. Most manufacturer No Dollar Limit warranty agreements require documented biannual inspections and maintenance as conditions of coverage. Failing to perform and document required inspections can void the warranty — converting a warranted risk into an uninsured one. Apex's warranty compliance inspection program is designed specifically to meet manufacturer inspection documentation requirements and preserve your coverage.
Yes — that's exactly what a professional assessment is designed to answer. The combination of visual inspection findings, infrared moisture mapping, and remaining service life assessment provides objective data to determine whether the roof needs targeted repair (localized failures, sound membrane), restoration (aging but sound substrate, less than 20–25% wet insulation), or full replacement (widespread moisture, end-of-life membrane, or structural issues). Apex provides this recommendation with supporting data — not a predetermined conclusion.
Yes. Apex inspects all major commercial and industrial roofing systems — TPO, EPDM, PVC, spray polyurethane foam (SPF), liquid-applied membranes, modified bitumen, built-up roofing (BUR), metal roofing, and hybrid assemblies. Each system type has specific failure modes that experienced inspectors know to look for — loose TPO seams behave differently from EPDM adhesive failures, and SPF topcoat degradation requires different diagnostic attention than membrane punctures.