National Roofing Contractors Association
Maintenance: The Key to Long-Term Roof Performance
Roofing professionals generally agree that a good roof requires proper design, quality materials, and quality application in order to perform successfully. Yet once the roof is installed, nothing is more critical to its long-term performance than establishing a program of regular inspections and proper maintenance.
The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) believes that the most effective way to keep a roof performing for a long period of time is for the building owner to have a formal, long-term relationship with a professional roofing contractor. A professional roofing contractor:
Is registered and/or licensed as a commercial roofing contractor in the state in which the work is to be performed.
Understands local building practices and codes.
Understands different roof systems, and can make professional recommendations concerning which type of system is best for a particular building.
Has a trained and experienced workforce.
Can respond quickly should a problem arise.
NRCA believes that the best way for a building owner to ensure satisfactory post-installation roof performance is to have a formal, long-term maintenance agreement with a professional roofing contractor. Maintenance programs typically offer the following advantages:
A maintenance program is proactive rather than reactive. It can help to identify problems at their early stages, while they can be corrected and before they become catastrophes.
Regular maintenance can reveal and address sources and causes of leaks before they occur. Too many owners have their roofs examined only after a roof leak occurs.
A maintenance program allows for a planned, organized approach to management of a roof asset- and allows for responsible, timely preparation of long-term capital expenditures.
Response time to address leakage problems is greatly improved. Warranty repairs, on the other hand, can take time to be processed- while the problem remains unresolved.
Building owners should take care in selecting the roofing contractor who will perform their and repair and maintenance work. Additional information and a copy of our preventive maintenance program is available by contacting us at (401) 461-2100.
