Why Roof Maintenance is Critical

Any large investment requires routine maintenance to protect its health and longevity – and your commercial roof is no different. While a building manager may consider the roof to be “out of sight, out of mind,” there are many compelling reasons to consider roof maintenance a priority for building upkeep. In fact, recent roofing studies point out some facts that may surprise you:

• Not every damaged roof needs to be replaced – and experts estimate that more than 80% of all roofs are replaced prematurely.
• A roof maintenance program can save up to 50% over the life of a 30-year roof compared to replacing it every 15-20 years.
• Roofing structures that are proactively maintained have an average lifespan of 21 years – a full 8 years longer on average than roofs that are only maintained when there is an issue.
• When property owners and facility management only react to problems as they occur, their average cost of maintenance is 25¢ per square foot annually. However, those who inspect and repair their roof proactively invest an average of 14¢ per square foot each year.
• Repairs, maintenance, and roof restorations cost significantly less than a roof replacement.
• A roof leak may be active for many weeks or months before evidence of the leak appears in the building interior.
• Current industry data reveals that most roofs have a life cycle ranging from 10 to 25 years. Although there are many factors that impact the roof’s lifespan, the most influential factors tend to be heat, maintenance routine, frequency of roof traffic, and roof slope.

  Regardless of what type of roofing system your commercial building utilizes – metal, bitumen, SPF, or BUR – the cost savings that roof maintenance represents are worth the cost of an annual program.

  Quick Guide to Comprehensive Roof Maintenance and Care

  • • • Keep Accurate Records: All records related to the roof should be kept in a comprehensive file. These documents and records may include warranties and contracts, inspection reports, repair and maintenance bills, and any of the original construction specifications and invoices.
      • Perform Routine Inspections: Inspections should be conducted at least once annually, although twice a year is recommended. This is especially important for roofing structures located in areas that experience extreme weather. Ask your commercial roofing contractor what time of year is best for inspections, as maintenance and repair are recommended at different times of the year for different regions. For instance, in Florida, roof maintenance is more easily performed during winter months, while regions that experience snow may want to maintain their roof in the fall.
      • Add Inspections after Significant Storms: Always re-inspect the roof for damage after severe weather such as hurricanes or tornados. There may be damage that can be fixed more cost-effectively if the issue does not become worse over time.
      • Hire a Professional: All roof maintenance and repairs should be performed by a professional roofing contractor.
      • Clear Debris Off the Roof: Always remove leaves, branches, dirt, rocks, and trash from the roof, gutters, downspouts, drains, scuppers, and the surrounding roof areas.
      • Keep Roof Traffic to a Minimum: Limit access to the roof to necessary personnel only, and install walkway pads to guide and contain traffic to specific areas.

  One of the first industry facts that we discussed was that many roofing structures are replaced needlessly. At Unicoat Industrial Roofing, we specialize in helping commercial property managers significantly extend the life of their roofs by professionally applying quality roof coatings.

  If you are a property manager or building owner looking for ways to save money and extend the lifespan of your building and its roofing components, call the team at Unicoat Industrial Roofing to set up a consultation.