Shelter From the Storm, Maintenance Required

Long before mankind could imagine such inventions as air conditioning, high tech security or cubicles; it discovered the benefits of a secure,watertight structure to protect against the elements. From the natural shelter of cave dwellings man emerged to construct roofs from various native materials, including animal skins, dirt and twigs, and tree bark. These early roofs needed to be completely portable and likely required constant repair. In some ways, very little has changed. The essential purpose of a roof—to shield building occupants from the ravages of weather—is the same. And we share one basic tenet—roofs should not leak. These days, the demands placed on roofs have changed significantly. They are expected to last 20 years or more and, with proper preventive maintenance and inspections, should not fail, particularly during inclement weather.

Weathering The Storm
Building owners and managers must keep in mind many things when renovating, replacing, or designing a maintenance plan for roofs. This includes increased wind loads and more frequently occurring 100 year rainfalls, hurricanes, and hail storms. Facility managers and building owners must be aware of the need for roofing systems that do more than just keep water out of their facilities. Throughout Florida, increased durability and high performance roofing systems are important protection against hurricane force winds and golf ball sized hail. The impact of the sun’s rays on a roof can also be particularly harmful. Roofing materials can decay over time due to the sun’s heat and ultraviolet rays.

How To Keep Up
Proper maintenance and informed decisions can help ensure a long life for your facility’s roof. To explain it simply, past and current, the most pressing issue and greatest challenge in roofing is to provide a reliable, watertight, and leak free waterproofing system for a 20 year service life. So how can you extend the roof service life and mitigate storm risks? Simple really, it is proven that you can prolong the life of a roof, diminish the impact of regular wear and tear, and ensure the roof remains in good condition during a storm through adequate maintenance practices. However, it is easy to install a roof and forget about it until something goes
wrong. This is a mistake that could lead to leaks or potentially damaging roof failure. Sadly, roofs are not maintenance free. Some roofing types require less maintenance than others, but they all require some degree of upkeep. The better this asset is maintained and cared for, the longer service life facility managers will get in return. Inspections are necessary to prevent costly damage. Some problems may not be evident from a superficial perspective. A leak is an obvious problem. Less obvious, however, is wet insulation, which can cause an organization to lose thousands of dollars in thermal investment. The investment in a regular maintenance, inspection, and repair program is imperative to manage the roof properly. We strongly encourage all of our clients, to extend the service life of your roof and lower lifetime maintenance costs. Ensure your roofs are regularly maintained by a quality preventative maintenance program. We offer our clients a full range of solutions, including an unlimited, no-cost leak response. You have a leak, we fix it free. End of story. Call us at (877) 726-2661 to learn more.

Roofs and Hurricane Preparedness

With hurricane season coming into full swing at the end of the month, most facility managers and building owners in Florida have one eye on the news hoping that another 2004 hurricane season is not upon us. Rather than wait until a storm is on the radar and there is little to no time to prepare, now is the perfect time for managers to think about their roofs. A study from The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues (RICOWI) and information released by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) examine the weaknesses in roofs during hurricane conditions and outline the necessary steps to prevent severe damage in the future.

The Causes Of Roof Failure
Installation practices are often the reason that roofs do not perform. The RICOWI study examined roofs after the 2004 season, which included the destructive hurricanes Charley and Ivan. Its findings revealed the defects in installation. “Failure of roofing systems resulted from vulnerability at the perimeter and punctures and tears from debris,” says David Roodvoets, wind event coordinator for Houston, TX-based RICOWI. “The attachment to the deck could not resist the loads created when the perimeter securement failed, which led to progressive loss of membrane coverage.” The study found that roofs designed after 1992’s devastating Hurricane Andrew performed well unless there were installation problems. These include internal pressurization from openings (typically created by failed accessories); perimeter detachment; and corrosion
issues. As Andre Desjarlais, member of the RICOWI team, clarifies, “If you can’t hold the edge down, no matter what kind of roof you have, the whole thing is going to come down. The issue of fastener corrosion was seen over and over again.” When high speed winds entered buildings through these spaces, roofs were compromised.

Preparation For 2012
Careful installation practices can make a significant difference in a roof’s hurricane preparedness. According to the RICOWI study, nearly 95% of roof failures were caused by poor workmanship and substituted materials. We’ve seen, on occasion, nails from local hardware stores were used in place of proper fasteners. The question you should ask yourself now is this: “Is my roofing system prepared for a hurricane?

The Good News
If you’re unsure or have doubts, you really should call RAMCON to come and perform a comprehensive inspection. We offer free inspections and reviews for all our clients and will provide you documentation
about that status of your system. We’ll help you document a dry roofing system which will aid you with your insurance company should a roof become damaged during a storm. Our technicians will review the roof assembly, assure that all the rooftop units are secured and there are no weak spots in the system . We’ll identify missing fasteners, voids and punctures and much more so you can know your system is ready.