Importance of Maintaining a Building’s Roof

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Scheduled maintenance is critical to a buildings long term success for their commercial roof system.  According to studies of over 2,000 building owners, scheduled roof maintenance is recognized and utilized by most facility professionals. Infact almost eighty percent have a regular maintenance plan for their building. However, many of these building owners, have multiple properties. And nearly a quarter of them have maintenance plans on fewer than half of their buildings.

Many building owners don’t understand the importance of a regular maintenance plan. They think a new roof should last, and don’t understand why they should spend additional money. You may have installed the top of the line roof system, but it will still need to be maintained. The same can be said of a Bentley car, just because the car cost $300,000 it will still need to have regular checkups to keep it in great shape. Maintenance and repairs are necessary to get the most service life out of a building’s roof system.

Interior Roof Drains – Leaks

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If leaks are suspected at interior drains, insure the drain is free flowing. Then check the drain bowl from the underside of the deck to determine if plumbing parts are cracked. Then check to see if condensation is a problem, or if the plumbing joints are leaking. If no problems are evident, inspect membrane to drain bowl interface for problems. Then check clamping ring bolts and snug down in sequence to tighten clamping rings.

If the leaks persist – remove the drain clamping ring. Repair or replace all drain parts that are missing or are broken. Drilling and retapping of drain bolts and receivers may be necessary. Next cut back and remove existing membrane flashing. Then remove the sheet lead flashing.

Then set a new sheet lead. Install the same type and number of flashings that were removed. Reinstall the clamping ring and secure the bolts by tightening them in alternating sequence. Then, you may choose to recoat the flashing with a coating that is compatible.

Built-up Roofs – Potential Problems and Problem Areas

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Built-up Roofing Membranes – Problem Areas


Built-up roofs are composed of bitumen (either asphalt or coal tar) and glass fiber, polyester or organic reinforcing felts.

  • Some of the most common problems and problem areas of built-up roofs
    Holes, tears, or abrasions
    Fishmouths and buckles (wrinkles)
    Surface coating deterioration
    Membrane deterioration
    Dry side laps
    Blisters
    Debris, vegetation and other containments
    Inadequate equipment support
    Ponding water
    Alligatoring or eroding of surface
    Crazing or eroding of mineral surfaced cap sheets
    Splits
    Fastner back-out
    Loose or displaced wall and base flashing
    Open side laps
    Deteriorated flashing
    Scuppers
    Pitch pans
    Interior drains
    Interior gutters
    Loose mechanical attachment of base flashing
    Exposed gaps at the top of base flashing
    Penetrations (loose or unbounded membrane flashing)

NOTE: When repairing a BUR the material should be compatible with the type of membrane being repaired. Meaning asphalt-based products should typically be used to repair asphalt BUR and coal-tar based products to repair coal tar BUR.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY BUILT-UP ROOF IS COMPOSED OF ASPHALT OR COLD-TAR?

Simply conduct a field test – Place a piece of the membrane in a container of mineral spirits and shake. If the material starts to dissolve and turns brown quickly, it is asphalt.

Celebrate Carlisle’s 50th Anniversary

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CARLISLE STILL ROLLING AFTER 50 YEARS

Carlisle is celebrating a very special Golden Anniversary – 50 years since they introduced the first EPDM single-ply membrane to the commercial roofing market!

This year’s IRE (International Roofing Expo) is going to be a huge event, but make sure that you stop by booth # 1031 to visit Carlisle! Join them in celebrating 50 years of roofing with good food, free drinks, giveaways and other great surprises.