Maintenance A Good Investment?

An out of sight, out of mind mentality toward roofing maintenance can end up being one of the most costly mistakes a property owner can make. Once installed, a roof should never be ignored.

A number of issues constantly battling and weakening your roof system include:

• Exposure to the elements — sun, water, wind, snow, hail, freeze-thaw and more.
• Exposure to damaging pollutants and chemicals.
• Structural movement as buildings settle, expand or contact due to ground movement and temperature change.
• Biological growth such as algae or standing or ponding water.
• Biological elements such as birds, rodents or insects.
• Change in the use of the building
• Equipment repairs, perforations and additions can cause even problems to an already installed roof.

Several studies have found that a comprehensive maintenance program for commercial properties can cost as little as $0.04-$0.05 per square foot per year, while the alternative of forgoing maintenance will cost $0.15 per square foot per year. For residential properties, these numbers generally lower.

While those numbers are significant, it may not seem substantial until you start calculating on larger properties over several years. However, they only consider the costs directly associated with the actual roof, and don’t include other less obvious, but very real costs, such as:

• Damage to the interior, furnishing and fixtures.
• Damage to merchandise and inventory (for commercial buildings).
• Damage to electronic equipment such as computers, HVAC, electrical wiring and more.
• Air quality issues caused by mold and mildew (and possibly associated medical cost for treating allergies and illnesses in reaction to the unhealthy air).
• Legal claims if someone is hurt by a slip or fall while on your property due to a leaky roof, or worse yet, by a falling roof.
• Energy loss through wet and damp roof insulation (both heating and cooling).
• Business interruption (for commercial properties).
• Higher insurance premiums as you turn in more frequent claims.
• Premature replacement of the entire roofing system.

In short, a proactive approach is almost always more economical than being reactive. Many well-maintained roofs have shown that it’s feasible to extend a 10 year roof system to 20 years, and even more in some cases.

Many roofers offer free inspections, so if nothing is wrong, you won’t be out of pocket. To go one step further, many roofing companies are now offering roof management programs that provide for tracking remaining roof life, priority service after storms, and forecasting future expenditures that would otherwise be unexpected (and stressful) surprises.

Whether you’re due for a roof inspection, looking to extend the life or your existing roof, or are planning for installment of a new roof, consult a professional roofing company to that offers and ongoing maintenance or roof management program — you will find that it not only provides for an excellent return on investment, but also peace of mind knowing you don’t have to worry the next time it rains.