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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
FLAT ROOF MAINTENANCE
Flat roofs last approximately between 10 to 20 years before they need to be replaced. How do you get your flat roof to last till 20 years? It’s quite simple – you need to regularly maintain it. Your flat roof can have a much longer life span, provided you look after it through regular maintenance. Maintaining a roof will involve some costs. It will save you a lot of money in the long run as it will last longer pushing a roof replacement further away.
What Is Roof Maintenance?
It refers to any kind of work done on a residential or commercial roof in order to prevent wear and tear. Flat roof inspections need to occur twice a year, or after a big storm, to determine if anything needs to be fixed or replaced.
A general flat roof inspection and maintenance should include the following:
Look for Debris
Some debris can be found on a roof usually after a storm. Debris can scratch, puncture or cause serious damage to your roof so it needs to be removed immediately. You should inspect for any visible damage when removing debris.
Repairing Seams & Membranes
Seams are where 2 pieces of roofing material are adjoined. Both seams and membranes can be vulnerable to leaks, specifically in places on the roof that have accessories built into it such as air vents, skylights and air conditioner units. The sun’s harsh UV rays can also break down the membrane overtime, causing cracks to form. Any seam or membrane that is damaged or rendered ineffective needs to be repaired immediately to prevent further problems.
Replacing the Flashings
Flashings are installed into areas of the roof where where two opposing surfaces meet such as parapet walls. These areas require the extra protection that flashing provides. They help prevent water from leaking through the vulnerable areas. Over time, flashings can become loose or deteriorated from excess exposure to moisture and will need to be replaced.
Clearing Clogging
Clogging may occur in drains, vents and scuppers,especially after storms. Scuppers allow water to run off the roof, directing water to flow from the side of the roof down into a drainage system. All drains, scuppers or gutters need to be kept clear.
This to-do is the single most important maintenance task. Backups in the drains will trap water on your roof. Why is standing water on your roof such a big deal?
First, standing water increases the chance of water damage due to a leak. For example, let’s say you have tiny holes in your flat roof. And then it starts raining. Normally that water slides off, but once water starts to stay in place.
Plumbing Stacks
Plumbing stacks are pipes on the roof that direct air flow into the building’s plumbing system. Check that they are clear of obstructions and properly sealed.
Watch for overhanging limbs
Cut off any branches that loom over your flat roof. They could either:
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Sway in the breeze and scratch the roof or
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Break off during a storm, causing damage
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Look for Blistering
Check for leaks and blistering – blistering is roofing spots that are raised and spongy/soft looking. They happen when air is trapped between the layers of felt or the felt substrate. If a blister ‘pops’, then water can enter through and damage roofing material.
Check for Ponding
Ponding is standing pools of water that sit on your flat roof and are unable to drain or dry out. Some ponding that has eventually dried out will leave a concave area with a water mark or dirt ring surrounding it. If you notice these marks, then it means that your flat roof ponds regularly, and a proper drainage system may need to be installed to prevent further damage.
Check For Splits & Cracks
Splitting and cracking of roofing material can be caused by weather changes, added stress or pressure, ponding or simply poor workmanship. Any area that is cracking or splitting needs to be filled.
Fill Pitch Pans
Pitch pans protect and encase supporting connections roof penetrations. They are filled with “pourable sealer,” a more environmentally friendly material and easier to work with than the previously used “pitch”. Though they are simple to build and fix, pitch pans play a key role in maintaining the overall health of the roof because they seal out water in vulnerable areas. So they must be kept cleaned and filled.
Recoat the roof every 5 to 10 years
How Can You Tell Your Flat Roof Needs Coating?
Flat roofs are not usually actually flat, but instead have a very slight slope. Because of this, the main issue which affects flat roofs is drainage issues. It’s far better to coat the roof as a pre-emptive measure rather than wait for drainage issues such as ponding or leaks and then attempt to correct them. Ponding can also lead to fine cracks in PVC called crazing. Any signs of structural damage are a sure sign your roof needs coating. However, even if you do not have signs of damage and it has been five or more years since your roof was last coated, it’s still worth coating your flat roof.
Aluminum Coating For Flat Roof
A popular way to coat flat roofs is to use a reflective roof coating. These can include aluminum or silver roof paints. These paints help keep a home cooler in the summer, which saves on energy bills. A flat roof’s silver coating will not likely be made of actual silver–it is more likely to be aluminum based. These paints also don’t look metallic and, in fact, dry white, which gives them a much more subtle effect. They also inhibit fungal growth and are usually self-priming, which makes them a quicker choice for flat roof coating.
