Roof Maintenance, Sustainability and RoofPoint Life-cycle Management

A technician from Sheridan, Ark.-based RoofConnect walks a roof and documents it as part of an annual maintenance survey. RoofConnect, which has locations around the country, including Monroe, N.C., has made maintenance contracts a major part of its business.A technician from Sheridan, Ark.-based RoofConnect walks a roof and documents it as part of an annual maintenance survey. RoofConnect, which has locations around the country, including Monroe, N.C., has made maintenance contracts a major part of its business.

The roofing industry knows good design, quality materials and proper installation are the key tenets to achieving a leak-free, long-term roofing system. Roof system maintenance is an equal part of the equation and should not be overlooked, even though there is a tendency for “out of sight, out of mind” by many building owners.

A technician from Sheridan, Ark.-based RoofConnect walks a roof and documents it as part of an annual maintenance survey. RoofConnect, which has locations around the country, including Monroe, N.C., has made maintenance contracts a major part of its business.

A technician from Sheridan, Ark.-based RoofConnect
walks a roof and documents it as part of an annual maintenance survey. RoofConnect, which has locations around the country, including Monroe, N.C., has made maintenance contracts a major part of its business.

Roof maintenance is not only important to long-term service life, it is a key factor for the overall sustainability of roof systems. RoofPoint, the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing’s Guide for Environmentally Innovative Nonresidential Roofing, emphasizes durability and life-cycle management for sustainable, environmentally friendly roof systems. Of the 23 credits within RoofPoint, nine are in the Durability/Life Cycle Management (D/LCM) section. It’s clear the roofing industry recognizes the importance of longevity when it comes to environmentally friendly roof systems.

Looking deeper into RoofPoint, one of the nine credits in the D/LCM section is titled “Roof Maintenance Program”. Establishing and maintaining a partnership with the building owner is a win-win for the roofing contractor and the building owner. Performing inspections
and maintenance provides the owner with an ongoing information resource, ultimately allowing better management of capital and the roof asset by extending the life of the roof system.

From a sustainability perspective, a longer lasting roof—extended by regular roof system maintenance—means roof replacement is appropriately postponed and with that comes a reduction in material and energy use, as well as reduced expense and waste. Roof system maintenance is a win for the owner, the environment and the roofing contractor.

PHOTOS: RoofConnect

About the Author

James R. Kirby, AIA
James R. Kirby, AIA, is director of Codes and Regulatory Affairs for the Kellen Co. He is a licensed architect in Illinois and has a Master of Architecture—Structures Option and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois. Kirby also has a Graduate Certification in Sustainable Building Design and Construction from Boston Architectural College. Kirby has expertise in roof system design and construction, weatherproofing and energy-efficiency of the building envelope, as well as rooftop PV systems. He also is an accredited Green Roofing Professional. Kirby has a strong combination of association experience, as well as roofing expertise, which help serve the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) and the Roof Coating Manufacturers Association (RCMA), among others.

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