Central Valley
Commercial Roof Inspection and Maintenance in Tulare County
Tulare County sits between the Sierra foothills and the valley floor, with 8 cities, a farm economy led by dairy and citrus, and a busy distribution corridor along Highway 99. Our moisture scan helps packers, processors and warehouse owners spend repair money on the roofs that need it.
What kinds of commercial buildings are in Tulare County?
Tulare County flat roofs belong to 3 industries: citrus packing on the east side of the county, dairy and food processing around Tulare and Visalia, and distribution centers in the Visalia Industrial Park.
Lindsay, Exeter and Porterville sit in one of the largest citrus belts in the country, and many packing houses there are decades old with roofs that have been patched many times.
Visalia is the largest city and the main commercial center, with medical offices, retail and a growing industrial park near the airport. The city of Tulare hosts the International Agri-Center, home of the World Ag Expo each February.
- Visalia Industrial Park: distribution centers and manufacturing near the municipal airport and Highway 99
- Tulare industrial area: dairy processing, food plants and agricultural service buildings
- Lindsay, Exeter and Strathmore: citrus packing houses and cold storage on the east side
- Porterville: packing, light industry and retail near Highway 65
- Dinuba and the north county: fruit packing and cold storage near the Fresno County line
| Building type | Common roof system | Typical age | What Tulare County does to it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citrus packing house | Built-up or coated spray foam | 25 to 50 years | Many patches and frost-season heaters |
| Dairy or food processing plant | PVC or spray foam | 10 to 30 years | Steam, washdown and roof exhausts |
| Visalia distribution center | White TPO | 5 to 20 years | Valley heat and large drain zones |
| Cold storage building | Spray foam over insulation | 10 to 30 years | Condensation under the deck |
| Visalia medical or retail building | Modified bitumen | 15 to 30 years | HVAC loads in 100 degree summers |
What does the Tulare County climate do to a flat roof?
Tulare County summers regularly bring weeks above 100 degrees, and winter nights can drop below freezing, which puts flat roofs through one of the widest temperature ranges in the state.
Heat dries out older built-up roofs and chalks coatings, while winter tule fog keeps roofs damp for days. Rain is light, around 10 inches a year on the valley floor, so leaks often go unnoticed until insulation is soaked.
How often should commercial roofs in Tulare County be inspected?
Commercial roofs in Tulare County should be inspected 2 times a year, and packing houses should be checked before citrus season starts in November.
Low rainfall hides slow leaks, so a scan every 1 to 2 years shows wet insulation that a dry ceiling never reveals. Our commercial roof inspection page explains what each visit covers.
What does a maintenance program cost in Tulare County?
A maintenance program for a 150,000 square foot citrus packing house in Tulare County costs $33,000 to $37,500 a year on our Protect program, priced at $0.22 to $0.25 per square foot with a $2,500 minimum.
Protect fits most Tulare County packers and processors, because scheduled repairs stretch the life of old roofs during busy seasons. Distribution owners with young roofs often choose Monitor, and growers with several aging packing houses use Manage for replacement planning. Compare all 3 tiers for Tulare County on the maintenance programs and pricing page.
Tulare 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 Tulare County?
We can scan a roof in Tulare County as soon as roof access is confirmed after your request, and a 150,000 square foot citrus packing house takes about 3 hours at roughly 50,000 square feet an hour, with the PE-stamped report delivered within 48 hours.
Packing houses run long shifts in citrus season, so we scan in late summer or coordinate around shift changes. Book your Tulare County scan through our roof scan request form, or compare counties on the service areas page.
Which Tulare County cities and business districts do you serve?
We serve all of Tulare County, and the 8 cities and districts below are where most of its flat commercial roofs sit.
- Visalia: the county seat, with distribution, manufacturing, medical and retail buildings
- Tulare: dairy processing, food plants and the International Agri-Center
- Porterville: packing, light industry and retail buildings
- Lindsay: citrus packing houses and cold storage
- Exeter: packing houses and small commercial buildings
- Dinuba: fruit packing, cold storage and retail
- Farmersville and Woodlake: agricultural service and small commercial buildings
- Goshen and Strathmore: unincorporated processing and packing buildings
Tulare County has 8 cities with their own permits, and unincorporated areas such as Strathmore, Terra Bella, Ivanhoe and Goshen go through the Tulare County Resource Management Agency. Reroofs must meet Title 24 cool roof rules for the valley climate.
FAQs
When is the best time to scan a Tulare County packing house?
Late summer and early fall work best, after the heat peaks and before citrus season begins in November. The roof is dry and the building is less busy.
Why do roofs in such a dry county still leak?
Light rain hides slow leaks. Water enters through small openings over several winters and soaks the insulation long before a ceiling stain appears.
Can you scan a dairy processing plant without stopping production?
Yes. We work from the roof and stay clear of exhaust fans and steam vents, so the plant keeps running.
Do you cover the east side citrus towns?
Yes, we cover Lindsay, Exeter, Strathmore, Porterville and the rest of the citrus belt, as well as Visalia and Tulare.
Does frost season affect packing house roofs?
Cold nights cause condensation inside cold storage and packing areas, and freezing mornings stiffen old membranes. We check for damp insulation and cracked seams after the coldest weeks.
What would Protect cost for a 150,000 square foot packing house?
At $0.22 to $0.25 per square foot, a 150,000 square foot roof costs $33,000 to $37,500 a year on Protect.
Who permits roof work in Goshen or Terra Bella?
Goshen, Terra Bella, Ivanhoe and Strathmore are unincorporated, so the Tulare County Resource Management Agency issues roof permits there.
Can one program cover packing houses in several towns?
Yes. One program covers buildings across the county, and the portfolio view ranks them so repair money goes to the worst roofs first.
How long does a roof scan take on a citrus packing house in Tulare County?
A roof scan on a 150,000 square foot citrus packing house in Tulare County takes about 3 hours at roughly 50,000 square feet an hour, and the PE-stamped report follows within 48 hours.
Which Tulare County cities do you cover?
We cover flat and low-slope commercial roofs in every part of Tulare County, including Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, Lindsay, Exeter, Dinuba, Farmersville and Woodlake and Goshen and Strathmore.
Schedule a non-destructive roof scan anywhere in Tulare County.
Trusted since 1983 on over 20,000 commercial roofs. California License 435836.