Having a maintenance plan to prevent significant malfunctions is vital for any roofing system. A roof maintenance plan is particularly important if your business has a flat roof design. This is because flat roofs can deteriorate if not properly maintained over time. Having a roof maintenance program in place can increase the lifetime of your roof while helping your business avoid more costly repairs and problems in the future.
What Is a Flat Roof?
While flat roofs are commonly used on commercial buildings in many U.S. cities. A flat roof is classified as any roofing system with a pitch of fewer than 10 degrees. Flat roofs tend to look completely horizontal, but most have a minimum slope per foot.
Replacing this type of roof can be a challenge. Therefore, it is important to have a roof maintenance plan in place to ensure your roof is receiving the proper care consistently.
Steps To Create a Roof Maintenance Program
Every business that operates out of a facility with a flat roof should create a roof maintenance program. Having a plan in place ensures regular maintenance tasks are being conducted regularly, preventing costly issues in the future.
1. Consider the Environment
Many flat roof issues are caused by extreme weather. Therefore, the environment in which your business is located should be a major factor in your maintenance plan. For example, if your business is located in an area with mild weather, the building is considered low risk for weather damage. However, if you live in an area with strong winds or lots of trees, or that is otherwise at risk for extreme weather or natural disasters, a more robust maintenance plan is required.
2. Perform Consistent Visual Inspections of the Roof
If you work in a facility with maintenance staff, they should be utilized on a consistent basis to inspect the roof visually. The maintenance staff should check the roof on a bimonthly basis for issues such as torn shingles, holes, pools of water, or loose screws. If your facility lacks a maintenance staff, train a team of workers to perform the inspection. Visually inspecting a facility is not difficult, and workers with basic construction knowledge can be trained to look for issues. You should also hire a roofing contractor to perform annual inspections, especially if your roof is older than 10 years.
3. Inspect Your Roof After Major Events
Conduct a thorough inspection of your roof after major weather events, including strong winds, hails storms or heavy rains. You should also assess the condition of your roof after construction is completed to ensure the roof’s structure was not damaged. For example, check interior walls and ceilings for cracks, water damage, and other signs of deterioration.
4. Check Key Roof Structures
A few aspects of your roof make up a significant portion of its functionality. If these structures fail, your entire roofing system will not last much longer. Your maintenance team should regularly inspect these roofing elements:
- Roof covering
- Roof fascia
- Lightning and thunder protection systems
- Expansion joint coverings
- Roofing penetrations
- Pitch condition
- Roof drains and scuppers
- Flashing
Your roof maintenance plan should involve checking the roof for standing water and making sure the entire structure is free of debris. The roof drainage system should be inspected on at least an annual basis to ensure it is clear of significant clutter. Your program should include detailed plans on clearing areas of standing water and should also restrict access to the roof to essential workers. Maintenance staff should be trained to examine the roof’s slope for signs of damage regularly.
5. Maintain Detailed Records
Ensure your maintenance plan staff keeps detailed records of every inspection. Tracking the roof’s condition over several years can help you identify potential issues before they become disasters. Ensure your team is keeping detailed records of every inspection, repair, and maintenance service performed. You may be able to prevent costly repairs by closely monitoring these records on a consistent basis.
6. Call an Expert When Necessary
There will come a time when you need to call a licensed roofing contractor to perform a repair or maintenance task. Do not wait to deal with minor problems. Fix them before they become large, more costly issues. Always work with a roofing contractor who is licensed and has experience with flat roofing systems.
Work With a Roofing Maintenance Expert
If you are looking for a roofing contractor to help you with your flat roof maintenance plan, contact Benton Roofing today. We provide maintenance and repair services that can help maintain the integrity of your roof. In addition, we can perform services to help preserve the life of your roof and prevent costly issues. Contact us today to speak with a licensed expert or to schedule a consultation.