Roof inspection and preventative maintenance is required for all metal building systems. Preventative maintenance is necessary to not only increase the lifespan of your building, but it is required in order for warranties to remain in effect. That being said, most building owners never step foot on their roof to do an inspection or perform any preventative maintenance. A roof inspection should be performed at a minimum every year. Ideally you would perform and inspection and perform preventative maintenance in the fall to prepare for winter, and again in the spring to repair any winter damage.
When you get up on a roof it is easy to be overwhelmed at everything you need to look at. But there are a few key things you need to address.
Gutters & Downspouts
- It might seem simple and insignificant, but the gutters & downspouts need to be cleaned on a regular basis. No matter how well the roof is installed, if the gutters are backed up you will have leaks. A metal roof is not designed to hold water.
Fasteners
- Screws can back themselves out of a metal roof due to movement of the building. The rubber gasket on screw can wear out over time, especially when the screws were originally over-tightened and overly compressed the gasket. Screws need to be looked at regularly and screws need to be replaced periodically. A single screw hole can cause a leak that will have you chasing your tail for months trying to find the source.
Sealants & Rubber Flashing
- Sealants and rubber flashing components will fail before the metal roof panel itself fails. If the caulking has deteriorated, it needs to be removed and new caulking needs to be installed. If rubber flashing or pipe boots have cracked, they need to be replaced.
If you focus on addressing these three major components with your preventative maintenance program, your metal roof will likely outlive any warranty. If you don’t like heights or working on a roof, hire a qualified metal building contractor to perform this work for you. It is the best way to preserve your investment.