What “wears out” roofs?

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Exposure... Either long-term exposure to the elements (sun, water, freeze-thaw) or shorter-term exposure to damaging air pollutants and chemicals

 

Structural Movement... Such as building settlement or expansion/contraction not accommodated by the roofing system

 

Biological Growth... Such as vegetation in areas of standing water or algae

 

Not Fixing Problems Promptly... These can add up to a much shorter roof life – e.g., if a small problem is not repaired, then a large amount of insulation can be damaged

 

Forgetting About Maintenance... This is perhaps the single biggest cause of premature roof failure

 

Change in the Use of the Building… e.g., an increase in the interior relative humidity of a building can cause severe condensation problems within the roofing system

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What can cause immediate problems?

 

Extreme Weather... Lightning, high winds, hail, drenching rains that overflow the flashing heights

 

Equipment Additions... Improperly added equipment or other items improperly added on the roof (items added by tenants are a very common source of roofing problems)

 

Trade Damage... Punctures, holes, etc. caused by trades other than your roofing contractor Unintended Abuse…

 

Vandalism or accidental damage…even a small hole can let in a large amount of water into the roofing system

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