Tips to Expand the Life Span of the Roof

Now is the time for building owners to be scheduling fall roof inspections

By Heather Davis, Metal-Era

Now is the time for building owners to be scheduling fall roof inspections.  This needs to happen in year one of a new roof and continue yearly to provide lasting ROI from any roofing investment.  A good customer will ask probing questions about current trends and technologies in the roofing industry.  Metal Era, a leading manufacturer is pleased to share information on three key areas in regards to roof maintenance and performance.

1. Inspections – Building owners, who regularly have their roofs inspected including roofing membrane, flashings and metal details, pay a significant amount less on average in roof repair and maintenance annually. Inspections offer the ability to detect problems before they occur.  According to an article on buildings.com, proactively maintained roofs last an average of 21 years while a reactive maintenance plan results in about a 13-year life span for the roof.
2. Ventilation – Airflow is frequently forgotten but it is one of the most important aspects of extending a steep slope roof’s life. Properly designed and calculated airflow can reduce moisture accumulation and heat build-up which in turn reduces a building’s chance of mold, lowers heating and cooling costs, reduces the risk of ice dams, and thereby extends the integrity and life of the roof.Commercial and residential steep slope ventilation solutions are very different – it is important to install the correct size of ventilation product on your building. Regularly installed without verifying required NFA, residential products are much too small and cannot provide the proper amount of airflow commercial roofs need.By calculating the Net Free Area of the roof, the correct amount of ventilation can be determined.  Be sure products offer a strong performance warranty, are tested and certified to withstand severe weather. Roughly 14,000 high wind events occur annually in the US above 58mph according to data published by the NOAA.
3. Edge Metal  Securement – Securement issues with the edge metal on a roof can lead to numerous other problems. When fascia or coping is improperly designed, installed, or membrane penetration is excessive, water and wind can infiltrate your system.  This can mean mold under the roof covering, failure in a wind event, and potentially, water leaking into your facility.  Purchasing edge metal designed to protect against wind, water, and thermal movement can save time and money over the life of your roof system.

Look for edge metal that does not penetrate the roof’s edge and is backed by testing. Many systems today such as Metal-Era’s provide independent third party testing of the pressure a system is designed to withstand. With that come wind warranties on the edge metal, ranging from 10 yr 90mph up to 215 mph and the lifetime of your roof. FM Global, a leading property insurer, noted that the perimeter flashing is a critical component in many roofing failures they have witnessed. In addition, current building code requires that edge metal be tested to meet ANSI SPRI ES-1, a test designed to provide assurance that a system will meet the designed pressure, and be able to withstand a major wind event.

For more information on Metal Era products, visit www.metalera.com.

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