Roofs are major and long-term investments for houses especially for large buildings. Homeowners and building managers must find solutions to minor issues to prevent bigger long-term problems in the future. A minor leak today could become a major leak tomorrow if left unattended.

Cost of roofing repair or replacement can soar up when building managers and homeowners neglect to address issues right away. Hence, the importance of strictly observing proper maintenance programs designed to prevent premature degradation of roofs cannot be overemphasized.

Roof manufacturers in fact recommend proactive roof maintenance. The more proactive maintenance there is and less reactive, the longer the lifespan of the roofs will be.

Below are proven methods that can save homeowners and building managers considerable costs from otherwise-preventable roof repairs:

Advance Planning

The average commercial roof lasts around 17 years. With proactive preventive maintenance, you can extend the period up to 20 or 30 years by fixing minor problems before they become major headaches.

All roofing systems ultimately wear out regardless of the durability of the materials installed. A regular proactive maintenance program immediately spots isolated problems and allows building managers and homeowners to implement low-cost solution to extend the roof’s life.

Using Thicker Membrane

Membranes are installed on roofs to prevent water leaks and damage to structures. While a 60-mil sheet is more expensive than a 45-mil sheet, the difference in price does not exceed 5 per cent of the total roofing cost.

Thin membranes are weaker than thick membranes because they have lower resistance to hail, puncture and tear. Hence, thinner membranes tend to wear out faster. While some roof manufacturers and contractors give warranty to thinner membranes to be more competitive, using thinner membranes is not a good idea because the homeowners will eventually suffer if the membrane – and roof – degrade faster.

Maintenance Checklist

Keep a maintenance checklist that should be looked at a minimum of twice a year preferably after the summer and winter months. The checklist will help you monitor any potential problems before they arise. Adopting a proactive attitude in maintaining your roof means checking the seams, rafters, gutters and other areas that pose potential problems in the future. Since you do not normally see the roof on a daily basis, minor issues could slip through unless you follow a maintenance checklist where these could be detected early on. Keep in mind that a simple roof leak may actually hide a bigger problem underneath.