You are aging, you cannot deny it. Every day takes a toll on you, little by little. Because nobody wants to get old, we do things to delay the inevitable – we eat right (some of the time), exercise regularly (or occasionally) and see our doctors for check-ups to be sure that we have no serious problems. After all, if we take care of the small stuff, it will delay the more serious issues that can shorten our lives.

A roof behaves much the same way. Everyday exposure to the elements (including the sun, rain, air conditioning repair people, and other wear and tear) slowly ages the roof membrane until the service life ends. Every additional year is that much more money that can be saved for other purposes. While a roof doesn’t need good food or proper exercise, a roof does need regular check-ups in the form of regular inspections and prompt repairs.

What benefit is there in spending money every year to maintain the roof? Studies have shown that a roof that is not regularly maintained will only last about half of its expected service life.

Are you now saying “That’s why I have a warranty!” Don’t assume that a warranty will help. Almost all manufacturers of roofing materials state specifically in their warranty that the warranty is void if the roof is not maintained. If you can’t show that the roof has been maintained, you will not have a case when you try to make a claim.

Experienced facility managers know that a roof should be inspected at least twice a year to keep the roof alive as long as possible and to maintain the warranty. Unfortunately, many don’t know what to look for and then either hire someone else to do it or it just doesn’t get done.

When to Inspect the Roof?

In the early part of the roofs’ life cycle (first 10-years), plan your inspections once before the season with the most severe weather and once after. Here in the Midwest, the severe weather is winter where the cold, storms and precipitation contributes more to the demise of the roof. By checking the roof before, you will be preparing and protecting your roof from the severe season ahead.  Having it done after will help repair any problems that happened during that time.

After your roof has eclipsed the 10-year mark, tri-annual or quarterly visits will provide the greatest value to the mitigation of emergency issues and extend the serviceable life of the roof.

The best example of how the weather “Thermal Shock” effects your roof is to look at the current condition of our roads. The extreme colds followed by thaws are creating quite a mess. Your roof is very similar.

So, when is the best time to start having your roof inspected? If you don’t already have one scheduled, there is no time better than the present to get one on the calendar. Coming out of a most treacherous winter will prove that much havoc has occurred on your roof.  With spring right around the corner, don’t wait for problems to start!

NIR offers a variety of options when it comes to providing the right type of care for your roof. Contact one of our Customer Care Specialists today to make sure you and your roof are protected!

Categories: NIR Blog

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