Roof maintenance (part 1)

There are two kinds of roof maintenance. They can be categorized as either reactive or preventative. Reactive maintenance is brought about due to a leak. We “react” to the leak and fix the roof accordingly. This is the least desired form of maintenance because it costs more than just the roofer’s charges. For example, one of the additional expenses is that there is also the interior damage, and the costs associated with repairing that, which must be added into the total expenditure equation.

Reactive maintenance can also add another cost and unnecessary stress to the situation. Permanent roof repairs require dry weather. Leaks usually get recognized when it’s raining. Needless to say when it is raining it is wet out and we cannot do a quality permanent repair to a wet surface. Temporary repairs may stop the initial leak but a return visit will be required to “upgrade” the temporary repair to a more permanent nature. So now we require a return visit, which will add more costs (again) to the repair bill. Increasing costs may add stress to some property owners but the stress aspect I was referring to is the one in which we are reliant on the weather. What if the leak is not able to be temporarily repaired? And what if the continuous rain is forecast to last several days? As roofers, we are all restricted by the powers of Mother Nature. She is our ultimate boss. Leaks rarely happen with convenience.

Preventative maintenance is the more desirable and proactive approach. Find a potential leak issue developing and fix it before it causes that internal damage. That’s the strategy and result of proactive maintenance. Proactive maintenance will also extend the life expectancy of your roof system. Let me explain. Unless you have an “Act of God” occur (see home insurance policies), a leak doesn’t just happen. It evolves. It starts off as a small deficiency, grows into a larger deficiency and then into a leak. Stop the leak before it starts or grows and you have less damage to your roof system components. That is simple logic. In addition, through this evolutionary process there may be collateral damage. Perhaps it is a larger area of roof membrane that needs to be repaired, or a hardware item such as a vent or drain replaced or even the dreaded wood rot in need repair. Avoiding those additional costs is another benefit to a proactive position.

The case is simple. Proactive maintenance may cost you up front but surely saves money, stress and hassles in the long run.

Now it must be said, and to also act as a final disclaimer – just because you do proactive maintenance there can never be an absolute guarantee of a leak free roof system. Simply put, a timely preventative maintenance schedule greatly reduces the probability of a leak and extends the service life of your existing roof system.