Roof maintenance is always an on-going need for commercial building owners. It is of extreme importance for a roof system to reach it’s full desired life expectancy. Yes, there are times when a roof system will have leaks that are to be treated on an “as need” basis. These types of leaks may arise from a puncture or tear in the roof (typically caused by others) or it could be from a seam popping open which sometimes may be a warranted repair if a roof warranty is in place. However, outside of these random roof leaks that can occur on a roof system, building owners can take several necessary steps to help ensure more frequent leaks, damage and issues do not arise on the roof system. These main proactive steps to prolonging the life of a building’s roof are typically done via a yearly or bi-yearly preventative maintenance program.
Peach State Roofing is most commonly hired on a bi-yearly preventative maintenance program with its current customers. Typically done in the months of Jan/Feb and July/Aug, Peach State Roofing always seeks to provide quality service while not making things too complex. Each owner has the ability to design a preventative maintenance program specific to their building’s needs, however below are five main things provided by Peach State Roofing when it comes to preventative maintenance inspections each year:
- Overview photos/roof status – Each maintenance inspection should include overview photos to show the general condition of the roof. Having a report which allows it to act as the “eyes of the owner” is key to understanding the condition or any issues on the roof.
- Clean all drainage areas – Clogged drains, gutters and scuppers are a high priority detail to pay attention to. Drainage areas that are not monitored correctly can create a bad build up of water on the roof which could lead to immediate leaks, severe ponding water on the roof surface and in extreme emergency cases – deck overload which could collapse the buildings roof deck from it not being able to drain.
- Clean all debris on the roof – Often times other contractors might leave things on the roof or debris somehow gets up there. This can have negative consequences as it may lead to damage on the roof. Whether debris blows around or it wears/rusts onto the roof system, having un-needed debris on the roof is not a good thing for the building owners roof.
- Re-caulk and re-seal as needed – There are certain parts of a buildings waterproofing and roof system which are completed using types of commercial grade sealants. Whether its caulking on termination bars, pitch pans with pourable sealant or pipe clamps which are sealed – every roof has areas that need continual monitoring and touch up if they crack or open up.
- Other non-roof related items – Often times buildings have issues on the roof that are possibly not even associated with the roof but can cause a building owner leaks or major issues in the future. One example could be an HVAC unit with its access panel door open/hanging off. This would be something Peach State Roofing would recommend to have fixed as this could blow off across the roof damaging the roofing system itself. Another example could be degraded wall caulking joints. They are not associated with the roof but can create easy water access areas.
So overall, preventative roofing maintenance programs do not need to be anything too complex. Just the fact of addressing main areas of concern is better for creating a roof system that will last many years beyond what it could with nothing in place. Peach State Roofing has 17 offices located nationwide with an 18th set to open in the coming months. Anyone interested in learning more or setting up a yearly/bi-yearly preventative roof maintenance program can contact one of our local offices. For information on the Peach State Roofing office closest to you, please visit our website at www.peachstateroofinginc.com and click on our “Locations” page.