The roof of a building exists to shelter a building's contents
from weather, and to regulate the interior temperature. During the
summer, the roof traps cooler air inside of the building while in the
winter it keeps warmer air indoors. Given how the roofing structure
functions, a structure with leaks or cracks poses both short-term issues
(including higher energy bills) and long-term problems (such as damage
or injury to the building's occupants). The best way for a building
owner to minimize the risk of these problems is by performing regular
roof maintenance. Major roof repair needs are expensive, so paying a
little bit now to have a company inspect the structure will save
building owners a lot of money down the road.
In a recent study
commissioned by a national roofing association, it was determined that
35% of all roofing structures in the United States fail to meet their
life expectancy. Individuals budget a certain amount of money when
purchasing a new roofing structure but will end up spending more than
intended if the roof needs to be replaced before the end of its expected
life. One reason that individuals are stuck replacing a roof before
they intended is because they do not perform regularly scheduled
inspections and roof maintenance. When detected early, cracks and leaks
can be fixed by a roof repair company before these problems grow into
larger issues. By putting off a major roof repair job, the building
owner turns small issues into more costly dilemmas.
Other reasons
for premature roof failure are subpar workmanship, poor design, trapped
moisture, faulty materials, roof traffic, weathering, and mechanical
damage. However, these issues will be uncovered by hiring a qualified
roofing company to complete an inspection. Some professionals recommend
that individuals complete a roofing inspection once per year, but the
best strategy is to schedule two inspections: one during the spring and
one for the fall. Since different climates bring a different array of
issues, scheduling an inspection at each point will allow the building
owner to catch problems right when they first appear.
The most
thorough inspections will not overlook the gutters, nails and shingles.
Instead of allowing one loose shingle to leak water into the walls and
ruin the whole roof, a roof maintenance company should check shingles
and nails. A clogged gutter can also lead to water accumulation, which
will then cause leaks and mold to develop. A qualified roofing company
will be thorough in its inspections, checking each of these elements to
identify problems so that the roof is structurally sound over the long
haul.
By frequently completing a roofing inspection, building
owners will develop a complete written history of their structure. The
company can track roof repair expenses so that it can budget future
repair costs or get a better idea of when a replacement will be
necessary.
While a roofing company might recommend a small roof
repair following the inspection, these repairs will be less expensive
than having to replace a new roof. Prevent expensive repairs or
premature roof failure by hiring a qualified roof maintenance company to
perform regularly scheduled maintenance.
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