The Importance of Roof Maintenance

Often an afterthought, the life of your roof should never be taken for granted. In this article, we’ll look at roofing maintenance programs, commercial roof maintenance contracts and plans, and how to prepare for roof repairs.

What Is the Importance of Roof Maintenance?

When you invest in a building, you’re investing in your future. Extending the life of your roof system is essential; identifying small damages before they become costly repairs will save time and money. Read on for more tips about the importance of roof maintenance.

What Does Roofing Maintenance Entail?

Maintenance is when a professional regularly inspects your roof, searching for weak spots that could be susceptible to further issues. Depending on the type of roof, regular checks should be conducted at least biannually, if not quarterly, before potential problems like water damage or wear and tear become costly. Here are a few of the long-term benefits of being proactive about your roof:

Preventing Future Issues

A key point to understand is that many roofing issues can be prevented if discovered quickly; however, it’s on the property owner to be proactive. Preventative maintenance can lead to inexpensive and quick fixes that would otherwise grow into significant and costly damage.

For example, let’s say a pipe cracked along your ceiling. With routine maintenance, an inspector quickly locates this minor concern and swaps parts to avoid further damage. Failure to find this issue during a checkup would have resulted in thousands of dollars of water damage.

A second instance is termites. Similar to the effects of water damage, a termite infestation can cause discoloration and deterioration to your roof. Regular maintenance keeps these critters away from your ceilings and even your property altogether.

Maximizing the Life of Your Roof

When your roof is installed, you receive an estimate of the life on your roof. Most will last 20 to 25 years. The minor costs of regular maintenance are nothing compared to the substantial financial repercussions of replacing the roof in its entirety.

Commercial Roof Maintenance Checklist

Now that we’ve stressed the importance of roof maintenance, provided below is a checklist of ways to stay proactive:

Check for Leaks
A checkup in your attic or along ceilings for any signs of water damage should be a regular practice to detect leaks. Odors or visible stains should be reported to a professional immediately.
Wash Your Roof
Biannual washes can provide significant long-term benefits for the life of your roof. Washing will eliminate almost all algae, which could rot into the roof if not cleaned.
Clean Your Gutters
Cleaning gutters is recommended multiple times a year. Built-up water caused by clogged gutters can easily seep into your roof and cause permanent water damage. Especially before winter, remove any debris that doesn’t belong in your gutters. Restricted drainage as cold weather hits will cause icicles to form on your roofline, a structural and safety hazard.

If you are still noticing icicles and your drains are clear, you are experiencing ice dams. Resulting from a difference in heat between the upper and lower portions of the roof, the bottom half could be frozen around drains. Schedule maintenance for roof ventilation repairs.
Trim Branches
Check the surroundings of your roofline; any overhead branches are a potential damage concern. Snow, storms, and wind are all weather conditions that could cause a branch collapse over a commercial surface. Larger branches and trunks will puncture the core membrane of your roof, risking replacement.
Ponding
Ponding or standing water is a common commercial roof issue. If you notice water on your roof 24 hours after the most recent rainfall, ponding has become a concern to your commercial surface. Roof membranes are only water-resistant, so continued build-up will cause leaks and core damage, potentially requiring a roof replacement.

A common cause of pondering is downspout placement. Gutters and other equipment placed improperly leads to inefficient drainage, building up ponding on the surface. Check to see if your downspouts and gutters are draining shortly after rainfall.

Your commercial building could also experience drainage system failures. Schedule regular inspection and maintenance to improve downspout and eliminate ponding.

Commercial Roof Maintenance Contracts

Technicians provide the services below based on their maintenance program and contracts:

Cleaning all roofing system parts
Cleaning ponding water and finding the cause
Repairing all membrane damage
Inspecting seams and expansion joints
Securing loose sheet metal
Applying caulk

Reactive Service

Contractors like Rainville-Carlson offers 24/7 emergency leak response:

15-minute guaranteed response times
2-hour emergency ETA

Proactive Service

Roof maintenance programs include:

Free inspections
Online roof management platform
Convenient scheduling
Repair and replacement consultations

Rainville-Carlson roof maintenance plans are the solution for preserving your roof. Contact our team today to begin maintenance.

Roof Maintenance Services

Commercial Roof Maintenance Plans

Roof maintenance will save you money, time, and stress. Here we will jump into the different plans offered by providers to solve any of your roofing needs:

Maintenance Contracts

Roofing services benefit all property owners by increasing roof life expectancy, minimizing repairs, and decreasing costs.

Leak Detection

Roofers today have the best technology to detect leaks upon inspection. Fast, non-invasive thermal scans locate wet insulation, which is a sign of leaky roofs.

Roof Inspections

Based on a detailed inspection, contractors can determine your roof’s current condition and recommend any necessary repairs.

Roof Repair

Following inspections, contractors can provide any repairs to prolong the service life of your roof. Especially in Minnesota, weather conditions can quickly change your roof’s condition.

Extend the Life of Your Roof Today

Don’t waste any more time—value the importance of roof maintenance. Rainville-Carlson is here to provide quick and effective solutions.

It’s essential to have your roof inspected and maintained promptly. Mother Nature can deal unexpected damage at any time, but many proactive steps can save you time and money. Above all, you need to feel safe and secure in your building. Contact our team today to begin maintenance programs with Rainville-Carlson.