Mark Forbes
Maintenance from a Roofing Contractor Keeps Your Roof in Top Shape
Updated: Oct 28, 2021
Avoid Roof Problems With a Preventive Maintenance Program
As a business owner or facility manager, you can’t be expected to know as much about commercial roofs as a professional roofing contractor. Yet with a bit of knowledge, you can keep on top of the condition of the roof on your commercial building and know when it’s time to consult with a roofing contractor for a repair or replacement.
Here’s a roofing checklist from the online magazine Buildings.com. Buildings.com is aimed at building owners and facility managers.
The checklist is designed to help you prevent recurring issues and unexpected failures with a combination of preventive maintenance, inspections and corrective action.
Roofing Checklist
Inspect your roof at least twice a year and after a severe storm.
Keep roof drains clear of debris.
Every few years schedule a moisture survey to detect for wet insulation or leaks.
Check the connections between the roof and the wall connections. Examine flashing for tears and wrinkles.
Periodically walk the roof’s perimeter and examine any repaired sections, sheet metal and copings.
Check for splits in the stripping plies on bituminous roofs.
Check for corrosion on metal roofs. Condensate on the copper coils in roof-mounted HVAC equipment can cause corrosion. Collect and remove any water in ducts to prevent it from coming into contact with the roofing materials.
On single-ply roofs, periodically re-caulk the top of face-mounted termination bars if needed.
Keep traffic off the roof to avoid damage.
Provide regular watering and care to plants on green roofs.
Regularly inspect rooftop solar arrays. Ice and snow can cause them to become dislodged. If necessary, mount a ballasted system on a pad to protect the roof membrane from damage.
Create a roofing file that contains important roof documents, including warranty information.

Get Maintenance from a Pro
You don’t have to take on this responsibility yourself. Some roofing contractors offer maintenance programs. A regular maintenance program can help you get the most out of your roof by finding and preventing leaks and other problems before they cause major damage to your building and your pocketbook.
The RoofGuard® maintenance program from United Materials can help you keep your roof in top condition. With the RoofGuard plan, a trained professional from United Materials will conduct a thorough roof inspection at six-month intervals and provide you with a roof condition report.
About United Materials in Denver, Colorado
For nearly 100 years, customers in Denver and the Rocky Mountain region have trusted United Materials with their commercial roofing projects. United Materials is the region’s premier roofing contractor. We install high-quality, long-lasting commercial roofs that provide an excellent return on investment.
United Materials serves customers throughout the west. From our home in Denver, we serve customers in Colorado, Montana, Arizona and Texas.