Is foot traffic bad for flat roofs?

Uncontrolled foot traffic can damage roofing membranes and seams. Over time, this can lead to wear, punctures, and leaks. Walk pads and designated pathways help protect the roof surface and extend its service life.

Not sure if your roof is properly protected? O’Hara’s Son Roofing Company (OSR) can inspect your roof, provide routine preventative maintenance, and install walk pads where needed to help reduce damage and extend performance.

Call OSR, the Big Roof Pros Coast to Coast, at 847-255-3600.

#commercialroofing #employeeappreciation #industrialroofing #GAF

Myth: A new roof does not need maintenance.
Truth: Even new commercial roofs require routine inspections.

Many building owners assume a new roof means years of worry-free performance. While a properly installed system provides long-term protection, regular inspections are still essential.

Routine maintenance helps:
• Identify minor issues before they turn into costly repairs
• Keep drainage systems clear and functioning properly
• Protect manufacturer warranty requirements
• Extend the overall life of the roofing system

A new roof is an investment. Ongoing care ensures you get the full value from it.

Call O’Hara’s Son Roofing Company (OSR), the Big Roof Pros Coast to Coast, at 847-255-3600.

#commercialroofing #employeeappreciation #industrialroofing #GAF

“View From a Roof” episode 2 celebrates the beauty of perspective on a flat commercial roof, where the boundless canvas of sky and vast roof converge, inspiring awe and appreciation for both nature and human innovation. Thank you Didier Calderon and Josh Loreto for sharing your perspective with us!

#commercialroofing #employeeappreciation #industrialroofing

“View From a Roof” celebrates the beauty of perspective on a flat commercial roof, where the boundless canvas of sky and vast roof converge, inspiring awe and appreciation for both nature and human innovation. Thank you Alma Garcia for sharing your perspective with us!

#commercialroofing #employeeappreciation #industrialroofing 

Welcome to Episode 6 of OSR Road Warriors, showcasing the remarkable travel superintendents who are instrumental in O’Hara’s Son Roofing’s ongoing success. This week, we’re proud to spotlight Kelly Lopez.

Kelly was born in La Vega, Dominican Republic, and completed all his university studies before moving to the United States in 2015. Soon after arriving, he started working in roofing with the help of his friend Gabriel Rodriguez, who taught him the trade and helped him get established in the industry. Kelly now has ten years of experience in both commercial and residential roofing and has been part of the OSR team for the past two years.

Outside of work, Kelly is a professional DJ and volunteers with the Carteret Police Department in New Jersey.

• What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve found on a roof?

Three bullet holes that were causing leaks.

• Describe a time when your problem solving saved the day.

I solved ten leaks in different areas of a building. These leaks had gone unresolved for two years before I fixed them.

• What’s your approach to ensuring safety standards are met on every project?

I follow OSHA regulations and make sure the work is done correctly and safely.

• Is there anything you want to share about your time at OSR?

I am happy working for the best roofing company, OSR.

#commercialroofing #employeeappreciation #industrialroofing #travelsuperintendents

At O’Hara’s Son Roofing (OSR) safety is always our top priority, and we’re proud to highlight Didier A. Calderon, who has served as a Traveling Superintendent with OSR since February 10, 2020. With a strong focus on quality and safety, Didier plays a key role in keeping projects on track and crews protected. Always on the move, he brings leadership, dedication, and a commitment to excellence to every job site

1. What is the weirdest thing you have found on a roof?

I was working on a roof in El Paso, Texas, and we found a raccoon and a fox up there. How they got there—we couldn’t figure it out. There weren’t any trees around the store at all.
You’d be surprised at the weird stuff you can find on roofs. I’ve seen snakes, raccoons, foxes, brand-new shoes… but the weirdest one was definitely a bulletproof vest.

2. If you could invent a new safety gadget or tool, what would it be?

Well, what can I say—nowadays it feels like everything’s already been invented. We’ve got safety lanes, safety fences, harnesses… I still remember when we used to just tie a big rope around our hips when we didn’t have enough harnesses. Things have come a long way!

3. What’s your favorite safety slogan or motto?

My favorite safety slogan is: “Let’s go home the same way we came.”
It doesn’t matter how much you’re getting paid—by the hour or by the day—your back, your knees, or any serious injury isn’t worth it. Some things can’t be fixed with money. Always think twice before doing something unsafe.

4. Have you ever had a “safety superhero” moment where you swooped in to prevent an accident?

As a matter of fact, yes. Back in 2017, we were working on a roof in Louisiana. One of our buddies slipped and almost fell through an open curb because someone had forgotten to secure the plywood with screws. Luckily, two of my friends and I were close by and managed to catch him just in time before he went through the curb.

5. What’s your go-to method for reminding forgetful colleagues about safety procedures without being too serious?

I like to say: “Please take safety rules seriously. If you don’t take care of yourself, nobody will—and don’t forget, you’ve got family waiting for you.”

Jobs aren’t going anywhere. We are.

6. What’s the most memorable safety lesson you’ve learned from your own experience?

I’ve learned the hard way—I’ve already fallen from a roof, and thank God I’m still alive. That experience, and many others I’ve seen over the years, have taught me how serious safety really is. I always share what I’ve learned with the crew.

Please, watch your step. Know your surroundings. Know where the first aid kit is, and always keep a fire extinguisher within 30 to 50 feet. And if you see someone doing something unsafe, step in and help prevent an accident.

We are often called out to a commercial flat roof to fix a leak or other costly damage that could have been avoided with a preventive maintenance service agreement. Scheduled preventive maintenance has been found to save 40-50% on maintenance costs and even increase a roofs life by 35%!

Here is what to expect from a preventive maintenance service: 

1. Scheduled Roof Inspections
   Your flat roof is routinely inspected by a certified commercial roof inspector. A proper roof inspection needs the use of special equipment to look for signs of damage and can require many steps.
2. Seasonal Roof Preparation
   Your roof is kept clean and prepared for the upcoming seasons. Your commercial flat roof can build up standing water, snow and debris that can weaken and/or damage your investment leading to costly repairs or even the need for an entire new roof.
3. Repairs as Necessary
   Any damage or leaks found during inspections can be attended to and repaired quickly. The more time it takes to fix any damage or leaks on a commercial flat roof the more damage in the long run.
4. Detailed Records
   A record of inspections, repairs and problem areas will be kept. This helps not only in the maintenance of the roof but also preserves the information in the case where there is turnover with the building manager or owner.
5. Infrared Moisture Scan
   If it seems necessary, an infrared moisture scan will be performed to identify areas of moisture and wet insulation. Moisture infiltration and insulation degradation can be hidden beneath the roof surface and this scan can pinpoint problem areas without invasive testing or costly core samples.
6. Sealing/Re-Sealing of Mechanical Roof Penetrations
   Proactively sealing around penetrations such as pipes, HVAC units and vents. If not properly sealed these areas can become entry points of moisture and leaks over time causing costly damage.
7. Roof Coating/Re-Coating
   If needed a new coating will be added to the surface of the flat roof. This coating adds a seamless barrier that seals and protects against water and the elements.
8. Priority Emergency Service
   If disaster strikes, service techs will be available via a 24-hour emergency number.

As one of the top commercial roofing contractors in the USA, O’hara’s Son Roofing offersprofessional commercial roof maintenance nationwide. To learn more about our preventive maintenance plans for commercial and industrial roofs, contact our service team at (844) 766-3677 today!

How much snow on a flat roof is too much?

In cold climates, flat commercial roofs can collect several feet of snow over the winter. In many cases it is important to have the snow professionally removed to avoid damage to the structure, drainage system or other parts of the roof. As a building stakeholder, unmanaged snow and lack of a winter snow removal plan can cause many issues to your investment.

Some damage caused by snow accumulation include:

• • Falling snow and ice
  • Blocked access to building systems and features
  • Damage to the drainage system
  • Damage to the roofing membranes
  • Roof collapse or structural damage

There are a couple things one can do to prevent risk from snow build-up. Before the snow comesyou may be able to have snow protection features installed. You can also create a snow removal plan to share with your building manager. This would include finding your building’s snow load, drawing out a roof map and familiarizing yourself with FEMA guidelines for snow removal from your flat roof.  

A light layer of snow on a commercial flat roof is typically not an issue. In fact, it should often be left alone as needless snow removal can damage the roof membranes as well. This is why it is important to find your flat roof’s snow load and to reach out to the professionals when it seems possible that the load is getting too heavy.

At O’Hara’s Son Roofing we have experts that can help you prepare a snow removal plan. Once that plan is in place and it seems the load could be getting heavy, we can send out one of our experts to take a small sample of the snow to test its weight. This can save you a lot of money as you may be able to avoid snow removal if that sample shows the snow to be lighter than feared.

Need help making a snow removal plan? Interested in what snow protection features we can install on your commercial roof?

Contact OSR today!