Maintenance & Inspection

Roof Maintenance & Inspection

Just like your heating and air conditioning equipment, a roof needs periodic servicing and inspection in order to maximize return on your investment.

Not only is owner roof maintenance required under most roofing manufacturer’s warranty conditions, but the National Roofing Contractors Association has determined that regular roof maintenance can add years of serviceable life most roof systems.

Periodic inspections can uncover potential problems before they become emergencies, and they can reduce the total amount of expenditures on a roof system due to service calls. Roofing systems are valuable assets that must be maintained and protected. Successful property management depends on periodic inspection and regularly scheduled maintenance of your roofing system.

Periodic inspection will help you extend the life of the roof as well as reduce the potential of water damage to the interior of the building. Roof surfaces do not wear evenly due to weathering and other environmental exposures. This holds true for different sections of the same roof surface. To reduce the potential for damage it is recommended that commercial roofing structures be inspected at least twice a year. The suggested times for routine inspections are in the spring after the winter season, and late fall after the hot summer but before the winter weather arrives. Inspections are also warranted following a major weather event such as wind and/or hail storms.

Roofing systems may fail due to a number of factors:

1. Poor workmanship during installations

2. Poor design of the roof system

3. Faulty materials

4. Weathering or weather events

5. Trapped moisture or mechanical damage

6. Neglect and lack of maintenance

7. Foot traffic on the roof surface

A roof maintenance program should be a systematic approach similar to that of any other mechanical system requiring maintenance. Your HVAC systems for example require regular inspections and routine maintenance to keep them in operational condition. As with any other maintenance program, management should assign this duty to a competent and trained person. The maintenance program should include documentation (inspection forms, photographs, notes, repair invoices, etc.) to identify and record the issues noted during the routine inspections and to provide guidance to the contractors who will complete any needed repairs. The goal of a roof maintenance program is to identify problem areas and complete repairs before they become major issues.