During the recession of 2008, many begrudgingly postponed maintenance on their facilities to stay afloat. Now the economy is coming back along with growing commercial construction activity. According to CMD group and Oxford Economics, the faster-than-projected economic recovery is pushing material prices higher than general inflation. Alex Carrick of CMD group stated the U.S. economy has been performing better than generally acknowledged since the second quarter of 2014. Eventually, as construction in all sectors rise, labor cost will jump in accordance with the demand. These potential cost increases will focus our efforts on becoming even more efficient in managing our resources.
Roof Life Cycle
Perceptive building owners or facility managers understand the Roof-Life-Cycle (RLC) costs of
maintaining and operating their facility(s). They do not ignore routine up-keep and repair. They
implement a plan to regularly service their roof(s). The RLC is the analysis of alternatives that
influence both pending and future costs. It compares initial investment options and identifies the
least cost alternatives for the life of the roof. The RLC considers material, installation, use,
repair, maintenance, and replacement. The key consideration is the impact of both pending and
future costs. As a current building owner or manager, your facility’s stage within the RLC might be
major roof repairs, replacement, or maintenance.
Proactive vs Reactive Maintenance
Protectively maintained roof systems last an average of 21 years compared to an average lifespan of
13 years for reactive maintenance. Those who react to problems as they occur, pay an average of 25¢
per square foot annually for maintenance. Proactive owners and facility managers who inspect and
repair routinely spend an average of only 14¢ per square foot annually.
The best place to start is to discern the difference between proactive versus reactive maintenance.
If you do NOT have a proactive maintenance plan in place, your plan is reactive. Building Owners Best Practices describes reactive maintenance as a doubled-edge sword. Waiting until something needs repair limits the up-front expenses for proactive maintenance. However, waiting for a leak or other damage to occur reduces the overall life cycle
of the roof system, increasing
Detecting the ProblemIf the facility is in need of some attention because of reoccurring roof leaks, choosing between a quick fix, re- roof, or restoration is a quandary. Finding the root cause of a leak is a multifarious effort. Compare it to locating the tooth causing displaced pain without conducting a physical exam or x-ray. RAMCON provides sophisticated analytical tools capable of detecting the location of the current problems and potential problem areas. Infrared scanning and membrane testing accurately detects the location of unperceived damage. Diagnostic testing can outline the current condition of your roof to determine if roof repair, restoration, or roof replacement is necessary.
The maintenance stage of the RLC means your roof is currently leak free; to keep it that way routine inspection for potential problems is paramount. Implementing a proactive maintenance plan with an authorized roofing contractor that regularly evaluates the roof in accordance to its warranty reduces repair costs and extends the roofs-life-cycle.
RAMCON is authorized to install all nine major roofing systems and more than 60 subsets. Because of our extensive experience, we are able to tailor a plan that works for any facility. When it comes to dealing with building codes, energy solutions, and various roof systems, RAMCON stays on top of it. We also offer several types of proactive maintenance programs. Please contact your Service Account Manager at 813.663.9667 for information and any other roofing request.
