Looking after your roof investment By Rob Harris
not only limited to the actual repair of the Getting a new roof for an existing building roof itself; the potential water damage, and is a large investment that institutional mandisruption to activity within the building, agers will eventually have to face. Many can be more expensive and will likely not decisions of funding, scheduling and probe covered by the guarantee. Unseen water tection of the occupants and contents have from small leaks that is trapped within the to be made before the roofing process can insulation above the vapour barrier will rebe started. There are many types of roof duce the effective insulation value, resultsystems available today due to advances in ing in additional heating and cooling costs. material technology, which can make the The moist areas will spread over time if not specification and tendering of the work diffound immediately, causing increasing exficult for those unfamiliar with the roofing pense both in heating/cooling costs and technologies and materials. To make the eventual repair or early replacement of the best possible decisions regarding the roof roof system. system investment, an independent roof A roof maintenance checklist is essenconsultant should be retained to advise, tial and serves to organize the information specify and tender the work to qualified required. Checklists are used for all types bidders. A good consultant will know all the of inspection work, reminding the inspecavailable materials and installers in the area tor of what to look for when reviewing a in order to acquire a quality roof system. project. A written record of what has been After investing in a new roof, maintedone and items that require repair or mainnance of roof system is the best way to get tenance will be preserved for later referthe full value over time. When maintenance ence. Problems that need work to be done is not done, the roof system will fail premaby professionals can be more easily passed turely and the guarantee – however long – RoyalStewart_Ad.qxp_Layout 1 12-03-29 2:10 PM Page 1 on in a copy of the report. can be voided. The cost of a roof leak is CONSULTANTS SUPPLIERS INSTALLERS www.royalstewart.com
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Ops Talk • Spring 2012
The checklist should have basic identification. The address and roof areas involved, as well as the date, weather and inspector should all be recorded. A roof plan or sketch of the roof area is needed to help locate anything mentioned in the report for future reference. Photographs are handy to identify defects for repair, and also provide a good record to refer back to during future inspections. Changes in the roof condition, such as ridging of membranes or curling of shingles, can be verified with a historic record. The inspections should be performed at least twice a year. A fall inspection should find any damage caused by the heat of the summer changing to the cooler days of the upcoming winter. This change in temperature causes shrinkage and cracking of exposed sealants and older roof materials. A spring inspection can identify any damage caused by winter storms or freezing. Damage caused by snow removal or wind-borne debris can cause leaks that need to be repaired to minimize the damage. Preventative maintenance resulting from regular inspections will help prevent roof leaks and minimise the water that enters the building. Debris from any nearby trees, etc. should be removed before it restricts drainage and causes water to build up on flat roofs or be redirected on steep roofs. A build up of material will impede the drainage on any roof system and is the most common cause of leaks during a heavy rainfall. Small debris such as leaves are carried by water flow to the drains on flat roofs and effectively forms a dam around them, causing
