Central Valley
Commercial Roof Inspection and Maintenance in Madera County
Madera County has 2 incorporated cities, Madera and Chowchilla, and a valley floor covered with almond and pistachio orchards, wineries and the processing plants that serve them. Our scan maps moisture under those flat roofs so owners can fix small problems before harvest traffic makes them big.
What kinds of commercial buildings are in Madera County?
Madera County flat roofs belong mostly to 3 uses: nut hulling, processing and storage plants, wineries and wine storage, and industrial and retail buildings along Highway 99 in Madera and Chowchilla.
Almonds and pistachios dominate the farm economy, and the processing plants that hull, sort and store them run hard from late summer into fall.
The city of Madera has industrial parks near the municipal airport and along Avenue 17, while Chowchilla adds agricultural services and public buildings. Foothill communities such as Oakhurst carry small commercial buildings on the road to Yosemite.
- Madera airport industrial area: processing, warehouses and manufacturing near Avenue 17 and Highway 99
- Highway 99 corridor in Madera: distribution, food processing and agricultural service buildings
- Chowchilla: agricultural services, storage and public buildings
- Wine country west of Madera: winery production and storage buildings
- Oakhurst: retail and small commercial buildings in the foothills
| Building type | Common roof system | Typical age | What Madera County does to it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nut hulling or processing plant | Spray foam or TPO | 10 to 30 years | Harvest dust and roof-mounted dust collectors |
| Nut storage warehouse | Modified bitumen or TPO | 10 to 30 years | Heat and blocked drains |
| Winery or wine storage building | Spray foam | 15 to 35 years | Cooling loads in valley heat |
| Highway 99 industrial building | Built-up or modified bitumen | 20 to 45 years | Ponding near old drains |
| Foothill retail building | Modified bitumen | 15 to 30 years | Pine needles and winter cold |
What does the Madera County climate do to a flat roof?
Madera County valley summers often pass 100 degrees, and the foothills above Oakhurst can see snow and freezing nights in winter, so roofs in the same county face 2 very different climates.
On the valley floor, heat dries and cracks older membranes and coatings, and harvest dust fills drains every fall. Foothill roofs deal with pine needles, cold snaps and heavier winter rain.
How often should commercial roofs in Madera County be inspected?
Commercial roofs in Madera County should be inspected 2 times a year, and nut processing plants should add a check right after harvest.
Hulling dust and debris build up fast on roofs near dust collectors, and blocked drains meet the first winter storm soon after. Our commercial roof inspection page explains what each visit covers.
What does a maintenance program cost in Madera County?
A maintenance program for a 100,000 square foot nut processing plant in Madera County costs $12,000 to $15,000 a year on our Monitor program, priced at $0.12 to $0.15 per square foot with a $1,500 minimum.
Monitor fits most Madera County owners, since buildings are fewer and many roofs are mid-life. Nut processors with several plants often move to Protect, because downtime during harvest is too costly to risk. Compare all 3 tiers for Madera County on the maintenance programs and pricing page.
Madera County figures use our published rates: Monitor $0.12 to $0.15 per square foot a year with a $1,500 annual minimum, Protect $0.22 to $0.25 per square foot a year with a $2,500 annual minimum, Manage $0.40 to $0.45 per square foot a year with a $4,500 annual minimum.
How soon can you scan a roof in Madera County?
We can scan a roof in Madera County as soon as roof access is confirmed after your request, and a 100,000 square foot nut processing plant takes about 2 hours at roughly 50,000 square feet an hour, with the PE-stamped report delivered within 48 hours.
Processing plants are busiest from August into November, so we try to scan in spring or early summer. Book your Madera County scan through our roof scan request form, or compare counties on the service areas page.
Which Madera County cities and business districts do you serve?
We serve all of Madera County, and the 6 cities and districts below are where most of its flat commercial roofs sit.
- Madera: the county seat, with industrial parks, processing plants and retail
- Chowchilla: agricultural services, storage and public buildings
- Madera Ranchos: unincorporated commercial and service buildings east of Madera
- Oakhurst: unincorporated retail and small commercial buildings in the foothills
- Fairmead and Berenda: unincorporated farm service and storage buildings
- North Fork and Coarsegold: small foothill commercial buildings
Madera and Chowchilla run their own building permits, and unincorporated areas such as Oakhurst, Madera Ranchos and Fairmead go through the Madera County Community and Economic Development department. Reroofs must meet Title 24 cool roof rules.
FAQs
When should a nut processing plant in Madera County be scanned?
Spring and early summer work best, before hulling and processing begin in August. The roof is dry and the plant is easier to access.
Do dust collectors on the roof cause leaks?
Dust collectors add weight, vibration and penetrations, and their dust clogs drains. We look closely at curbs and supports around every collector.
Do you cover foothill buildings in Oakhurst?
Yes, we scan commercial roofs in Oakhurst, Coarsegold and North Fork as well as the valley floor.
Can you scan a winery building during crush?
We can, but most wineries prefer a scan before or after crush, when there is less traffic around the building.
Who permits roof work in Madera Ranchos or Oakhurst?
Madera Ranchos, Oakhurst and Fairmead are unincorporated, so the Madera County Community and Economic Development department handles roof permits there.
What would Monitor cost for a 100,000 square foot processing plant?
At $0.12 to $0.15 per square foot, a 100,000 square foot roof costs $12,000 to $15,000 a year on Monitor.
Why do valley roofs crack in Madera County?
Summer heat dries out older membranes and coatings, and the daily swing between hot afternoons and cool nights opens seams over time.
Can a scan help plan a reroof before harvest season?
Yes. The Moisture Map shows which areas are wet, so a reroof or repair can be scheduled for spring instead of during harvest.
How long does a roof scan take on a nut processing plant in Madera County?
A roof scan on a 100,000 square foot nut processing plant in Madera County takes about 2 hours at roughly 50,000 square feet an hour, and the PE-stamped report follows within 48 hours.
Which Madera County cities do you cover?
We cover flat and low-slope commercial roofs in every part of Madera County, including Madera, Chowchilla, Madera Ranchos, Oakhurst, Fairmead and Berenda and North Fork and Coarsegold.
Schedule a non-destructive roof scan anywhere in Madera County.
Trusted since 1983 on over 20,000 commercial roofs. California License 435836.