Building roofing systems have long been a major concern for facility managers. For many, roofing problems start before the roof installation is completed. It is estimated that over the life of a building, more money is spent on roof maintenance, repair and replacement than on any other building system. Roofs are perhaps the most crucial component in the building envelope. Too often nevertheless, they are ignored until something goes wrong. Deferring roof maintenance does not save money. Ignoring roof maintenance contributes to the steady deterioration of the roofing materials until the point is reached where the roof must be replaced.
Why are the roofs ignored? Part of the problem has to do with the location of the roof. Roofs are not visible to most facility managers or maintenance personnel daily. As a result, they tend to be forgotten. Many of the decisions concerning roof maintenance funding are made by those who are not directly involved in the maintenance process. To them, if something isn’t broken, it doesn’t need fixing. If the roof isn’t leaking, they will not authorize spending funds for roof maintenance. To counter such issues, you need considering competent roofing experts, as there are roofing contractors Troy, Michigan, who can assess and examine the roofs on regular basis to avoid the damage that can be caused later. Although there are many causes for deterioration of a building’s roof, most can be classified in one of two general categories; natural causes and man-made causes. In all buildings, both are continuously attacking the roof.
Natural causes involve those that act on the roof because of the environment in which the roof must perform. Snow, ice, rain, hail, and wind can cause physical damage to roofing systems. Temperatures as high as 160 degrees harden and break down roofing materials. Temperatures below zero compel them to become brittle. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun chemically alters roofing materials, weakening them.
Air pollution combines with rain to form acids that attack roof surfaces. Oxidation weakens materials, allowing thermal stresses to generate tears and splits. Vegetation, fungus, and algae attack roofing materials, demolishing them down or causing physical damage that allows water to enter the roofing system. Ponded water can chemically alter and compress materials, reducing their strength and puncture resistance.
Man-made causes start with the roof construction. Manufacturing defects and improper installation practices account for a substantial percentage of the problems facility managers experience with roofs. Once installed, the roof is subjected to other man-made factors that accelerate its deterioration. Equipment installed on the roof that is not properly sealed allows water to penetrate the roofing membrane.
Vibrations from the roof installed mechanical equipment fatigue flashings and roof membranes. Careless mechanics working on roof-mounted equipment can drop tools and equipment panels that easily penetrate roof membranes. Foot traffic wears paths in roof membranes, popping blisters, displacing ballast, or damaging membrane protective coatings.
The net result of this ongoing attack from both natural and man-made forces is that water gains access to the roof membrane. The best way to counteract the forces working against building roofs is to conduct periodic inspections and to make needed repairs as soon as they are identified. Regular inspections will help to uncover any weaknesses or damage that would make the roof at risk for the wind or water damage. Regular inspections will also help to keep roofing warranties in effect.
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