When you own or run a commercial business, simple problems overlooked will cause larger problems in the future costing your company money. Most of the problems resulting from damage to the roof can be avoided through regular inspections and maintenance. The best way to minimize potential problems and extend the life of your roof is to get a maintenance plan in place. Taking the time to maintain your roof will be a good investment of your time and money. In this article, you will learn how to set-up and keep a Roofing Maintenance Plan.
The Plan
To begin, sit down with your company maintenance leader and write out comprehensive plans together that they can support. If you do not employ a maintenance crew, create your program with another leader. Working with another leader is the key that will help you think through the best plan for your business. Be sure to identify every responsible party to enact each part of the plan.
As you create your plan, ensure it includes the following steps:
- When to do regular preventative maintenance and what will need to be done.
- When to do inspections and how to remedy any issues discovered.
- How to check and see if the remedies are successful.
- How you will pay for larger maintenance issues.
Include a database on manufacturers, warranties, and the age of the roof. Also create a process for documenting maintenance, inspections and repairs. Detail what was done and what was discovered or remedied.
Regular Maintenance
Living in four-season areas like Spokane will always require regular preventive maintenance to the roof of your building. In the spring you may need to do some basic roof cleaning from debris that may have fallen or been caught under the snow through the winter.
In the Inland Northwest, your biggest maintenance time will be in the autumn as the leaves begin to fall. You must properly clear the leaves from the roof and clear out the gutters before the snow falls to prevent ice dams. Leaves left on the roof provide an opportunity for mold and fungus to grow. You should also clear your gutters in preparation for winter as clogged gutters will cause problems throughout the winter season. Clogged gutters provide only one avenue for melting snow – over the edge. This can create dangerous icicles and ice dams that can injure others and cause damage to your roof. Dripping water from the roof can also cause wet spots on walkways that will then freeze, creating a hazard for customers who visit your business.
Inspections
First, determine how frequently you need to inspect your roof. Once or twice a year is generally sufficient We also recommend that you inspect your roof after any high wind or hail storm. Do your inspections at the same time as your regular maintenance as you will already be on top of the roof. When inspecting, look for loose or broken shingles, cracks that may let water in, and signs of damaged shingles from hail or wear and tear. Be sure to create a detailed checklist of what needs to be inspected. If you are not confident in what to look for, contact Specialty Home Products and we will send out an assessor to inspect your roof for damage or potential problems.
Remediation
After you complete your inspections, you may find damage that needs to be remedied. Some items you may find important to fix could include: replacing a few shingles, caulking a joint that is beginning to deteriorate, or fixing support to the gutters. Be sure to identify what the problem was, what was done to remedy the problem, when it was fixed and the date you plan to review the work for success. Keeping up with remediation benefits your company by extending the lifespan of your roof.
Review
Not long after you fix any problems, review the remedied area for success or failure. Reviewing a remedy resulting from a problem such as water leaking through the roof will take more time and need more attention than reviewing a simpler repair caught before any damage was done.
Finance Plan
Roofs are not designed to last a lifetime and the cost of replacing a roof is generally a significant expense. Do not let this expense sneak up on you. During your first inspection be sure to identify approximately how old the roof is, its overall condition and how many more years it is likely to last. Contact a contractor for a free estimate of how much it will cost when you need to replace your roof. Once you have this information, create a financial replacement plan for your roof. This can include how much money you save or how you plan to finance the replacement of the roof. Your financial plan should also include general maintenance costs for your roof and other maintenance projects.
Creating a roofing plan and then following it will help maintain the longevity of your roof as well as protect your roof and property from other major damage. We at Specialty Home Products would love to help you with your regular roofing maintenance needs. Contact us for inspections, remediation, and our full-service roof-replacement services to schedule an appointment today. Specialty Home Products offers a well-trained team ready for your call to help maintain your roof so that you can focus on running your business.