Roof Maintenance Management Is A Necessity To Protect Your Investment
Most people never consider their roof’s condition until something is wrong. However, your roof must be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure it works as it’s supposed to – protect you and your belongings from the elements (sun, rain, ice, cold, debris, etc.). A roof with problems will cause premature aging and other issues.
Maintaining a regular roof maintenance schedule offers you the chance to inspect every aspect of the roof, determine the materials’ conditions, and notice if there have been changes since the last time the roof was inspected. A roof will exhibit signs of wear and tear but even more noticeable signs of damage.
Minor Issues Can Lead To Huge Headaches
If your roof starts leaking, it will cause a massive problem with the inside of your building, as the water will damage the building structure, ceilings, walls, equipment/machinery, electrical work, etc. And, when you have to make these repairs, along with the roof repair, the costs can be astronomical.
Wet insulation will become ineffective at its job and cause other issues to appear. For example, a minute gap has appeared around the flashing of the exhaust fan. This gap allows water to seep in, getting into the insulation and building. It will take time to locate the source of the leak if you wait until you see the water getting into the building. In the end, your roof’s performance and longevity are shortened.
When you hire an experienced commercial roofing company to inspect your roof, they will notice the problem and repair it, ensuring minimal damage to its system and interior. The inspector will also look for other problematic signs such as:
- Debris build-up and damage
- Storm damage
- Roof penetration signs
- Loose or missing flashing
- Mold
- Roof membrane damage
- Slipping base flashing
- Gutter seal corrosion
- Roofing material degradation or damage
Some issues can be repaired on the same day or takes several hours of work that can be done within the week. If you’re unaware of what problems your roof is having (and there could be multiple), it could culminate into a huge problem that will lead to roof collapse, especially if severe weather strikes your area.
Red Flags To Be Mindful Of
A huge red flag of possible roof damage is water ponding, which means the water is not draining or evaporating as quickly as it should or within 48 hours. If you notice water still on the roof, you will need to determine if it’s a clogged draining system, a roof deck issue or the tapered roof insulation hasn’t been installed correctly.
Pooled water has a lot of weight to it, and it will put a strain on the system and weaken the roof and building. If there is a hole in the roof membrane, which can happen during severe weather, it can lead the pooled water to leak into the roofing system and eventually your property.
Containments have collected in the pool water, which can lead to your roof’s membrane degrading.
Degradation can happen to new and older roofing materials if exposed to containments for too long.
In the inspection of your roof, you may notice a change in your roof membrane’s appearance, such as bubbles, blisters, cracks and gaps. These are signs of premature aging, which can be problematic for buildings with a single-play system.
If you notice signs of a roof leak (wall stains, ceiling stains, musty odors or mold smell), you need to have your roof checked immediately and make repairs to eliminate the damage-causing problem. However, you won’t have to make repairs if you put into place a regular roof maintenance schedule.
Get A Detailed Written Commercial Roof Maintenance and Management Report
You want to make sure that the roofing company you hire to conduct an inspection are experts in the field. They should provide you with a detailed roof management report that includes a budget. When you know the roof’s current condition, with photos to back it up, you can get an idea of what your budget and plans are in case you need to repair or replacement.
Your budget can take a huge hit if there is an emergency with your roof.
You want a good working relationship between you and the roofing contractor. You want the contractor to have 10 or more years in the roofing business and have worked with numerous property managers and owners. Be sure you hire someone who understands the roofing system you have and can do the maintenance on it and any repairs, renovations or commercial roof replacements if necessary.
Make sure contractor feels as if they are a partner with the intent of keeping your best interests at heart.
How Often Should Your Commercial Flat Roof Be Inspected?
It’s a good idea to set up a regular roof inspection schedule, and the contractor may suggest a timeframe based on some key factors that include but are not limited to:
• Geographic location
• Property type
• Roofing system
• Age of roofing system
A good rule of thumb is twice a year and any time after severe weather. If your roofing system is older, you should inspect it more often.
How To See Roof Maintenance
Roof maintenance should be a little like car maintenance. You need to change the oil often, use the right kind of oil, get it tuned up and repair the car so that it runs for a long time and offers a good resale value. Roofs that have been maintained regularly will last 25% longer than roofs that have not been maintained. Translation: eight more years of solid investment in your roof if you take care of it regularly.