Prolonging Roof Life: The Importance of Good Maintenance
Four factors dominate the condition and life-cycle of a roof system:
- Design efficiency
- Quality workmanship and materials
- Weather
- Roof maintenance
The first factor involves things like planning for adequate drainage and calculating wind uplift. The second factor, which focuses on the use of quality materials and professional installation is essential for setting your roof system up to fulfill it’s entire life-cycle. The weather is impossible to control, but a strong roof that’s in good condition is more likely to withstand high winds, torrential rains and repeated freeze/thaw cycles.
This brings us to the fourth factor — roof maintenance. A good preventative maintenance program can extend the life of your roof well past its warranty period. Prolonging roof life is the goal of all facility owners and managers because it translates into savings of tens of thousands of dollars, or more, in damage repair costs or premature roof replacement.
There is no such thing as a maintenance-free roof. The natural tendency of a roof is to begin to slowly deteriorate as soon as it’s installed. Intense sun rays can boost temperatures on the roof over 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and the formation of ice can weaken the roof system. Year after year, the unrelenting force of nature takes its toll.
The best insurance against premature roof failure is professional inspections, preventative maintenance and quick repairs of small issues before they can develop into large problems that can compromise the roof’s integrity.
Our StarCare™ Preventative Maintenance program was designed to prolong the life of the roof system through a comprehensive inspection, repair and preservation schedule.
Think of a quality maintenance program as a type of insurance policy. By finding and addressing problems as they occur, the life of the roof increases, which translates into big financial savings. If you have a 20-year roof warranty, good maintenance could extend the life of your roof by another 3-5 years. Every year that you don’t have to invest in major roof construction or roof replacement is like money in the bank.
Investing a small amount in a program that inspects your roof once or twice a year and performs annual maintenance not only saves on major repair costs, it protects your roof’s manufacturer warranty.
There’s no substitute for a good maintenance program. North American Roofing’s StarCare™ program is recommended nationwide by major roof system manufacturers as a proactive step that building owners and facility managers can take in protecting their investment.