Flat Roof Routine Maintenance Procedure

Where flat roof refurbishment coverings have been specified by a manufacturer there will often be a warranty in place, and the terms of the warranty will normally require that inspection and maintenance are carried out at set intervals, according to their instructions. Additionally, many warranties require that such records must be maintained and be available for viewing by the manufacturer or their representatives.

Routine Maintenance procedures

It is usually advisable to cut back overhanging branches to reduce leaf fall onto the roof, and to renew mortar or mastic pointing at the top of upstands or counter flashings. Attention to the pointing of such terminations is important as this is the critical, and exposed, interface between a roof and the building.

Repair/renewal

Repairs should be undertaken using materials compatible with the original work and, if still under an original guarantee, by the original installer. Where the roof has a manufacturer warranty, the manufacturer should be consulted regarding the specification of the remedial work, and to ensure liaison with the original installer of their system. Failure to observe this process can violate the manufacturer warranty.

All works of inspection, repair and renewal should be recorded in the owner’s building information manual.

Safety

In order to carry out the aforementioned inspection and maintenance works, operatives will require safe access to the roof. Ideally there would be internal access to the roof and guardrails around perimeters. However, where these are not present trained and competent operators should be employed to access the roof safely and set up safe inspection practices while on the roof. These practices will vary from job to job, and according to the risk assessment for the works, and experienced roofing contractors