Routine roof maintenance performed by a licensed contractor is crucial to ensure that the property is fully protected against roof damage and leaks. A semiannual roofing system inspection ensures property owners that the entire roof structure remains functional and operating as designed.
Usually, proper maintenance can only be performed after a visual inspection to see any noticeable indicators of premature failure of roofing materials, or any evidence that components on the roof need to be repaired or replaced.
Through proper maintenance and inspections, contractors that provide roofing services can lengthen the expected lifespan of all materials on the roof. In fact, the routine inspections will often provide the opportunity to detect any problems early on. Finding a problem at its beginning stage is requires a simple fix, as opposed to letting it grow into a huge and expensive project. Often times, these contractors will make recommendations for corrective or preventative repairs to ensure that the roof retains its optimal condition.
The Importance of Maintenance
Various factors on the roofing system can quickly deteriorate the materials, cause extensive damage, and require repair or replacement. Because of that, it is extremely important to perform routine maintenance to handle a variety of problems that include:
• Improper design
• Severe climate conditions
• Additional construction
• Structural movement when the building settles, or contracts/expands the materials
• Normal wear and tear
When the roofing contractor visually finds the first signs of material failure, quick corrections or reparations can be made. This can significantly decrease the potential of any damage to the structure’s exterior envelope, and any interior finish. Avoiding exterior and interior loss saves the property owner money by minimizing replacement materials or repair.
Detecting Roof Issues
Roofing contractors typically follow specific guidelines when performing a visual inspection of the roofing system. These include:
• Making the determination that the entire roofing system continually performs according to its designed functionality
• Quickly identify any weakness, hazard or deterioration of the structure
• Locate leaks
• Quickly identify any necessary replacement component parts, or need for repair
• Maintain the entire roofing structure to increase its longevity
Part of the inspection includes a fascia board’s evaluation, and the continuity of all roof-covering materials. Inspection also includes the functionality of the gutter system, flashing and the soffit. The roofing inspector also needs to look inside at the interior ceilings and walls to look for any detectable signs of water penetration. If signs of structural distress of the roofing system are noticed, it should be recorded and reported to the property owner.
Gutter Maintenance
The entire gutter system needs to be functional to provide protection to the exterior and interior of the building. When the gutter system is blocked with debris, dirt and leaves, it can quickly cause significant problems to the roof, fascia board, siding, soffits, and the structural foundation. A well maintained gutter provides proper drainage of rain and melting snow to minimize any foundation problem.
Often times gutters are compromised through extreme outdoor weather exposure. In addition, most gutter systems move thousands of gallons of rainwater that has accumulated on the roof every year. When gutter systems become clogged, the water and debris often add additional weight, pulling the system away from the structure’s fascia board.
Extending the Roof’s Functional Lifespan
Roof maintenance offers a specific kind of insurance to property owners that the repair bills can be kept to a minimum. By quickly finding problems along with repairing and replacing components, the contractor can extend the functional lifespan of the entire roofing system. Quality roofing services can allow property owners to save money each year that the roof system does not need to be replaced.