Autumn is here!! Time for Annual Roof Maintenance

As the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, it is time for proactive building owners and property managers to hire a responsible roofing contractor to perform roof maintenance. So what exactly does that mean? This post will explain!

Savvy Building owners, Facilities Managers, and Property Managers schedule regular maintenance for their roofs every year. Here is a comprehensive listing of what you should look for.

DRAINAGE -Drains are the most critical area on any roof. Low slope roofs have a number of drainage options. Some roofs have a simple drip edge that allows water to run off the edge of the building. If you have a drip edge, make sure that the lip of the drip edge is not preventing water from flowing off the edge. Carefully inspect the perimeter and make corrections as needed. Look for separation of the membrane from the metal edge and stress fractures at corners and joints.
It is common to see built-in Primary and Secondary Drains with internal guttering like these below. These drains are rugged, heavy duty drains that take plenty of abuse. Inspect the drain rings and make sure they are firmly fastened in place. Look for any cracks or splits n the membrane and drain area and repair as needed. Also make sure that these types of drains have screens in place. A tennis ball or leaves can easily clog the primary and secondary drain.
Many roofs utilize "through wall scuppers". Scuppers should be inspected on the inside and the outside for cracks or fractures. Many times water will flow through the scupper with no problem, but then leak back into the facility through the outside edge. Make sure the outside edge is sealed with an elastomeric material.

Some roofs have a combination of all three. Here is a popular combination - a primary drain with a through wall scupper for overflow.




Make sure that whatever drainage system your facility uses that the drains are clear and flowing. Scuppers and drains should be cleared of all debris, and repaired/reinforced as needed. If water is allowed to build up due to a clogged drain, severe damage can occur. It is not uncommon for a roof to collapse due to faulty drains. Water is heavy, it weighs 8.35 lbs per gallon. 1000 gallons of water can quickly accumulate on a roof and overstress the structure leading to catastrophe! Don't be caught unaware. Inspect, clean, repair, and water test your drains every year.

PIPE FLASHINGS & PENETRATIONS

Pipe Flashings and Penetrations are common leak sources. Annual Maintenance includes inspecting these areas. Old, dried out mastic and non-reinforced repairs should be cleaned up and properly reinforced. All new repairs should also be properly surfaced.


New repairs should be made following good roofing practices and compatible materials.




WALL COVERINGS - Parapet walls should be inspected repaired as needed. It is not uncommon to see wall like this, where the roofing material is missing or blown off. Check the seams, look for loose corners and reinforce as needed.










SKYLIGHTS -Skylights area notorious leak sources and as skylights age they can develop problems. Inspect for cracked or broken domes - repair or replace as needed. Inspect the base flashing and especially the corners. Repair as needed.









SHEET METAL FLASHINGS - Coping metal and other metal flashing should be inspected and repaired as needed.















DEBRIS - Leaves and other random debris can cause big problems with drainage. Make sure that trees are trimmed away from the roof and that the drains are cleared.










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