Roof Maintenance 101 Part 1

Roof maintenance is a topic commonly overlooked by many homeowners and building owners. However, performing preventive roof maintenance is the single most important factor in assuring the roof system lasts its expected lifetime. Roof maintenance costs for a 2,000 square foot house range between $500 and $1,500 and for a 10,000 square foot warehouse they range between $2,500 and $3,000. Roof maintenance is especially important for flat roofs where clogged drains and scuppers can cause ponding water which rots the roof membrane. The Florida Building Code considers any roof that has standing water for more than 48 hours as having improper drainage. Ponding rainwater should be shallow enough to evaporate within this time. In addition to rotting the roofing material, ponding water also cause strain to the roof deck which can result in structural problems such as deck deflection which also worsens the ponding problem. Performing roof maintenance can spot and correct ponding areas before they create bigger (and more costly) problems. All manufacturers of roofing materials state on their warranty that if routine maintenance is not performed, the warranty will be void. So performing roof maintenance is not only necessary to prevent premature roof failure, but also to ensure you’re covered if there is a material defect that should be covered by the roofing material manufacturer.