Replacing a roof is an important investment that building owners need to make at some point. As with any investment, you will want to do your due diligence with the type of roof you choose. You will also want to take proper steps to maintain the roof so it lasts as long as possible.
Maintaining Your Investment
Depending on the type of roof you install, you will want to take all the necessary steps to maintain that roof. If you install a TPO roof, for example, you can expect a lifespan of 20-30 years from most manufacturers where an asphalt roof can last up to 40 years. How do you make your roof lasts as long as it should in real-world conditions? Preventative maintenance.
1. Pipe and Equipment Supports
The roof houses many important features of the building including gas lines, conduit, HVAC equipment, solar racking, and roof walkways. One factor to consider is ensuring you have high-quality pipe support that will do the job and outlast your roof. Choosing recycled rubber support with a little more weight will ensure that the pipe support does not float down the pipe when it rains and will be able to handle harsh conditions 24/7. Consider checking out our C-Port rooftop pipe supports or contact us for more information.
2. Removing Unnecessary Equipment
The rooftop is not meant to be a storage place. Be sure to take all unnecessary and unused equipment off the roof. Anything that is placed on the roof should be there for a purpose and anything that is unnecessary has the potential to damage the roof membrane.
3. Having a Proper Preventative Maintenance Schedule
Having a plan in place to inspect, assess, and repair is crucial to catch any issues before they cause harm to the roof. Areas that have been previously repaired can often be the first place to leak again. With a scheduled plan in place, there is a layer of security with routine inspections to the infrastructure, supports, flashing, and membrane conditions.
4. Remove Rooftop Debris
Dirt and debris that accumulates on your roof have the risk of developing mold and/or mildew on your EPDM roof. That mold/mildew is a parasite that attaches itself to the roof and grows – similar to bathroom mold that can grow in showers. It does not attack the membrane but is unsightly and if allowed to grow will discolor the roof completely and may become a stain that cannot be removed.
5. Lastly, Install A Roof Walkway
Keeping contractors to one specific route and off of the substrate will help keep the number of potential dangers to a minimum. Roof walkways also allow people to safely get over cable runs and pipes. If you are looking for a roof walkway for your building, contact us for a quote or consultation.