Spring Rains and Roof Maintenance Time

Roof Maintenance: These April Showers bringing May Flowers also usher in a time to check the health of your roof!

Spring rains and the impending storm season are an ideal time to conduct some roof maintenance. According to a recent E-Newsletter by one of our roofing subcontractors, BL Dalsin Roofing, “All roofs are vulnerable to deficiencies that lead to leaks. Extreme weather and seasonal freeze thaw cycles can damage your roof…’Corrective Roof Maintenance’ should happen when existing critical defects could lead to a threat to your building interior, such as water damage. By proactively performing maintenance on your roof you are managing your ‘Roof Asset’ preventing potential problems that can turn into critical defects and possible water intrusion.”

Some of the roof maintenance activities you should consider, according to the same E-Newsletter, includes:

• Roof Inspection: Conduct a visual survey of the exterior condition of your roof system and related sheet metal work. Look for deterioration or damage that has occurred between [roof reviews].

• General Upkeep: Clear debris from the roof surface, gutters, interior drains and through-wall scuppers. Debris can cause water to pond, which causes premature aging of the roof and could cause significant damage to the roof system.

• Roof Maintenance: Maintenance…can include replacing deteriorated sealant on metal flashing, refilling pitch pans, re-sealing suspect flashing at equipment curbs and perimeters, and securing drain clamps and rain collars at pipe penetrations.

Please contact our team to discuss any concerns you may have about your roof and if required, connect you to a qualified roofing company.

Roof Alert! Avoid Roof Collapse

Roof Alert! Avoid Roof Collapse

Avoid roof Collapse Image Source: by jnaithani via flickr (orignal, no alterations made)

How to avoid roof collapse is an all too serious consideration for commercial property owners. At this time of year – it is important to observe the amount of snow on your facility’s roof. The snow we currently get is very wet and heavy in nature, and can sometimes pile up and exceed the designed structural capacity of the roof system.

This is especially true where “high / low” roof conditions exist – allowing snow to fill in the space next to the wall separating the two heights. The snow tends to melt from the bottom up, refreezing in the form of ice, and not visible due to the snow above. It is not unheard of – to find the lower third of the snow drift is in fact – solid ice.

It is also very important to keep roof drains and downspouts open – as they continuously go through a “freeze / thaw “ process.

A salt lick, purchased from the local hardware or feed store can help drastically. Place the block (s) on a small piece of wood or plywood, near the roof drainage points on your roof.

Watch closely, from the inside of the building for deflection ( sag ) of the roof structure , and observe the roof from above for pooling of water and ice .

If you have any questions or concerns – please call us – and our team at APPRO Development can refer you to competent help with these or any building issues.

<a title="Image Source License" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode" target="_blank"><em>Image Source License Information</em></a>