Consumer Advisory Bulletin

Maintenance: The Key to Long-Term Roof Performance

Roofing professionals generally agree that a good roof requires proper

design, quality materials, and quality application in order to perform

successfully. Yet once the roof is installed, nothing is more critical to

its long-term performance than establishing a program of regular inspections

and proper maintenance.

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) believes that the most

effective way to keep a roof performing for a long period of time is for the

building owner to have a formal, long-term relationship with a professional

roofing contractor. A professional roofing contractor:

* Understands local building practices.

* Understands different roof systems, and can make recommendations

concerning which type of system is best for a particular building.

* Has a trained and experienced workforce.

* Can respond quickly should a problem arise.

* Is well established in the community, so the owner understands who he

is dealing with.

* Works in, and gives back to, his local community.

* Best understands the local business environment, and knows how to

complete the work.

NRCA has expressed concerns regarding the long-term warranties offered by

many roofing material manufacturers, because warranties do not necessarily

provide assurance of satisfactory roof performance. Warranties often contain

provisions which significantly limit the warrantor's liability and the

consumer's remedies in the event that problems develop or damage occurs to

the roof system.

Instead, NRCA believes that the best way for a building owner to ensure

satisfactory post-installation roof performance is to have a formal,

long-term maintenance agreement with a professional roofing contractor.

Maintenance programs typically offer the following advantages:

* A maintenance program is proactive rather than reactive. It can help to

identify problems at their early stages, while they can be corrected

and before they become catastrophes.

* Regular maintenance can reveal and address sources and causes of leaks

before they occur. Too many owners have their roofs examined only after

a roof leak occurs.

* A maintenance program allows for a planned, organized approach to

management of a roof asset-and allows for responsible, timely

preparation of long-term capital expenditures.

* Response time to address leakage problems is greatly improved. Warranty

repairs, on the other hand, can take time to be processed-while the

problem remains unresolved.

Building owners should take care in selecting the roofing contractor who

will perform the maintenance work. Additional information is available from

NRCA, or from an NRCA-member professional roofing contractor in your area.

Copyright© 1996 - 1997 National Roofing Contractors Association