The Enemies of Your Roofing System

Your roofing system’s performance is affected by numerous factors. Given the fact that your ultimate goal is to have a roofing system that lasts a long time with low lifetime maintenance costs, we need to know what we’re up against.

Sun: Heat and ultraviolet rays cause roofing materials to deteriorate over time. Think about it, direct sunlight causes the material to heat and cool rapidly, causing deterioration. Usually this occurs faster on the sides facing south.

 

 Rain: When water gets underneath the membrane, flashing or other materials, it can work its way along the roof deck to a penetration point in the deck, resulting in a roof leak. Often, water can sit on the deck for a considerable amount of time which encourages deck and insulation deterioration and may significantly increase the cost of re-roofing the system.

 Wind: High winds can cause all sorts of damage on the roofing system. If condensation lines are not securely attached to the roof, they will swing back and forth, causing slices and punctures to the membrane. Flying debris and equipment will also cause serious damage to the surface, allowing points of water penetration. Extremely high winds can cause extensive damage.

 Moss, Algae and Vegetation: Moss and algae can grow directly on the membrane, especially around AC fluid lines. Once growing, it holds even more moisture to a roof system’s surface, causing deterioration. In addition, vegetation roots also can work their way into the system and structure. Make sure all vegetation is trimmed away from the building.

 Trees and Leaves: Tree branches touching a roof will scratch and gouge roofing materials when the branches are blown by the wind. Falling branches from overhanging trees will almost certainly puncture most membranes. Leaves on a roof system’s surface retain moisture and cause rot, and leaves in the drainage system will cause the roof the ‘pond’ water.

 Missing or Damaged Materials: When a piece of your roofing system is missing or damaged, the roof structure and the building interior are vulnerable to water damage. The problem is likely to compound, as the missing or damaged piece will cause surrounding areas to be damaged as well.

 Punctures: The most preventable enemy, punctures, usually occurs because of carelessness on the part of people visiting the roof: HVAC technicians, window washers, painters, maintenance staff, smokers and tenants. Punctures can also occur because of debris left, blown or tossed on the roof.

 Flashing Deterioration: Fact: most leaks on a roof occur at the flashing areas (perimeter walls, roof penetrations, etc.). Without good, tight flashings around vents, AC units, roof hatches, skylights and wall/roof junctions, water can enter the building and cause damage to the building interior.

 Neglect: The biggest enemy of the roof is often the owner. Roofs, like any equipment, require periodic routine maintenance to fix little problems early, before they become big and expensive. Discover simple, comprehensive and cost efficient programs for you (plus how much it could save you) at www.MyRAMCON.com. 

Roofing Trends: Shelter From The Storm

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.