DIY INSPECTION
&
MAINTENANCE
A Service of the Jewett Roofing Company
A Letter from our President
Our customers have been the true blessing over the course of our thirty-five years in business. Many of the roofing projects and repairs that we complete are the direct result of relationships that extend back decades. An important part of these relationships has been the ability to identify needed repairs in order to extend the service life of existing roof systems.
It is no secret that there is a savings to our customers if we can conduct repairs in an efficient and effective manner. The savings and service life of a roofing system are extended when our customers understand the importance of preventative maintenance. With a roof assessment conducted by Jewett Roofing, our customers can be provided the information needed to make decisions that best fit the needs identified using the resources available.
It is our sincere hope that you allow Jewett Roofing to demonstrate the level of professionalism and expertise that has become our trademark over the last thirty-plus years. In providing this service, we aim to add value to a
relationship that we hope to maintain in the decades to come. Should you have any needs or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us at your convenience.
Very Respectfully, Dan Jewett
President
DIY Roof Maintenance
Owner Ability
Whether you’re a building owner, facilities manager, or maintenance professional, you already know that keeping an eye on your roof can prevent big surprise expenses.
Jewett Roofing offers comprehensive preventative maintenance and inspection programs. If you have time and initiative, you can do basic inspections yourself!
Disclamer/Liability/OSHA
Remember, you are responsible for your safety. Working on roof tops and near roof edges present very real dangers.
Jewett Roofing is not liable for any damage to property or injury to yourself or others as a result of following the directions of this guide.
OSHA has very specific guidelines pertaining to how roofs are accessed and the safety procedures that need to be followed. It is your responsibility to know and understand all relevant OSHA regulations.
Jewett Maintenance Program
Jewett repair professionals spend all day every day looking for and identifying leaks on rooftops just like yours. They are experts in our field and know the most likely places to find where a roof may fail next.
They will inspect and clean any drains on the roof top.
Our technicians follow a 33 point roof inspection checklist ensuring that nothing is glossed over or forgotten.
A Jewett Roofing inspection includes a full inspection report delivered straight to you the customer. This report contains
Photographs of the issues identified by our employee An overview of the locations of the issues
Recommendations and price for immediate repair action
Recommendations and price for long term or maintenance items
To arrange for an experienced Jewett Roof technician to visit your building call:
DIY Roof Inspection -
PVC / TPO
PVC TPO
At first glance, it can be hard to determine which roof material is which. Both types of roof are single-ply thermoplastic membranes. Both are commonly attached to the roof deck by mechanical fasteners or by adhesive. Both are heat welded together at the seams to create a monolithic waterproof sheet.
Problems to Watch For:
Seam Failure
In thermoplastic membranes, seam failure occurs when an overlap has not been properly heat welded together. This is commonly known as a “Cold Weld”. Once properly bonded, a heat welded seam will never separate.
Punctures
Punctures are typically caused by falling branches, snow removal, HVAC Repairmen, or Hail. Inspect around HVAC Units(especially near access doors) and under overhanging trees.
Impact damage
Hail storms can cause total roof failure. Typically hail that approaches 1.75” will cause significant damage to a roof. To the right, you will see a hail strike on a PVC membrane. Hail strikes often leave a tell-tale “splat” mark on the roof.
DIY Roof Inspection -
EPDM
Fully-Adhered EPDM Ballasted EPDM
Often referred to as “rubber“ roofs, This material has the look and feel of a bicycle inner tube. EPDM can be attached directly to the structure as seen in the left photo, or the rubber can be loose laid and weighted down with washed river rock called “ballast”. Rolls of rubber are typically glued together, or in newer installations, they use pre-applied strips of adhesive to bond the material together.
Problems to Watch For:
Punctures
Punctures can come from almost any source, whether it’s falling tree branches, hail strikes, or loose HVAC doors or tools.
Membrane Shrinkage and Tenting
As EPDM membrane ages, the membrane begins to shrink, pulling away from parapet walls.
Seam Failure
The aging and shrinking of the EPDM also causes constant pressure on this seams of the rubber membrane. We often see where the adhesive has failed and the overlap lifts up allowing water to enter the roof assembly.
DIY Roof Inspection -
Modified-Bitumen
Modified-Bitumen roof have the texture of a typical house shingle. This type of roof is adhered to the roof either by hot-applied liquid asphalt, by liquid adhesive, by propane torch, or pre-applied self-adhesive.
Problems to Watch For:
Lifted seems
There are a number of different ways to bond sheets of modified bitumen. Because of this variety, there is no primary cause for a lifted seam. However, once water penetrates into the seam, the freeze thaw cycle can exacerbate the problem quickly.
Impact Damage
The photo on the left was taken of puncture cause by a falling TV antenna. Punctures are usually easy to identify because of the contrast between the gray granular surface and the black membrane beneath.
Surface Erosion.
This will be the easiest roof deficiency to spot on a mod bit roof. When new, the membrane on this type of roof is covered in very tiny granules. These granules serve to protect the underlying membrane from UV light which causes the bitumen to break down. Over time these granules will wear off, accelerating the deterioration of the water proof layer.
DIY Roof Inspection -
Metal Roof
Standing Seam Metal Roof Corrugated Metal Roof
There are two common types of metal roof. Standing seam metal roofs (pictured on the left) are composed of long sheets of metal 1’ to 2’ wide. These sheets have their edges bent up into a configuration that allows them to be joined together in a water proof seal. Standing seam roofs have no visible fasteners. Corrugated metal roofs are typically long panels around 4’ wide. These panels are overlapped and fastened using screws which are driven through the top of the panels and sealed with a rubber gasket.
Problems to Watch For:
Missing screws and nails
Metal roofs are notorious for their ability to expand and contract. This motion can cause the fasteners that hold the roof together to back their way out of their hole. This is a very
common cause of leaks on metal buildings.
Rust
Rust is a sign that your metal roof is nearing the end of its useful life. Not only does it contribute to accelerated roof damage, the runoff of a rusty roof can leave ugly stains on the side of your building and even ground surfaces such as concrete.
Failed Repairs
We often encounter an attempted repair on metal roofs using incompatible materials. In the picture on the right, you can see a repair was attempted on this seam using an asphaltic roof compound. Not only has the repair failed, but the compound is contributing to rusting on the exposed metal surface.
DIY Roof Inspection -
Spray Foam
Spray Foam Over Metal Roof
Spray foam is actually a coating that is applied over the top of an existing roof system. A urethane foam is sprayed directly to the existing roof, then coated with an elastomer to make the system waterproof and prevent UV of the foam.
Problems to Watch For:
Ponding water
Due to uneven applications of the foam, ponding water is often a problem. Ponding allows water to find any imperfection in the coating application. Ponded water will seep through the surface of most types coating eventually.
UV Deterioration
If coating is not UV stable, or if pests burrow into the surface of the foam, urethane foams decompose rapidly in the presence of sunlight.
Trapped Moisture
If the coating of a foamed system is compromised, the foam can absorb a lot of water. This water eliminates any insulative properties of the foam. Additionally, the foam prevents the evaporation of the mosture. The trapped moisture accelerates the oxidation process of any metal it comes in contact with.
DIY Roof Inspection -
Built-Up Roof
Smooth Surface-BUR Gravel Surface-BUR
Built-Up roofs are created by “building up” the water proof layer by applying hot tar and a reinforcing mesh in an alternating fashion. As these roofs age, they crack and split due to UV exposure from the sun. This
weathering process often results in an appearance similar to the back of an alligator.
Problems to Watch For:
Cracking / Failed Flashings
DIY Roof Maintenance
Drains
Drains are usually composed of a base plate that is fastened to the roof deck and a removable leaf grate designed to keep debris out of the drainage system.
Problem
In this example, maple seeds and other debris were clogging the grate on this drain.
Solution
You’ll need: A Garbage Bag. A Pair of Latex or Nitrile Gloves (If
you are averse to touching slimy decaying plant matter with your bare hands). A Pair of Rubber Boots may come in handy.
Step 1: Remove debris that has collected around and in the leaf
grate.
Step 2: Remove the leaf grate and any other debris that may
prevent water from draining.
Step 3: Replace the leaf grate and move on the next drain!
Caution:
If ponding water is a common occurrence on your roof, areas that are covered in water may be very slippery.
Roof grates are often made of cast iron.
DIY Roof Maintenance
Gutters
Problems
Gutters can be found on almost any sloped roof. If leafs and other debris clog the gutter or downspout, water will have nowhere to drain and will flow over the top of the gutter. During winter months, clogged gutters can lead to dripping onto frozen walking surfaces, leading to a safety hazard.
Solution
You’ll need: A Ladder. A pair of gloves. A second person to help
stabilize the ladder. A small garden trowel may be useful if your gutters have a lot of debris.
Step 1: Remove debris that has collected in the bottom of the
gutter. Be sure to drag clutter away from the downspout opening to prevent a clog.
Step 2: Clean any leaf strainers located in the downspouts.
Inspect the interior of the downspout to ensure that debris has not become lodged inside.
Step 3: If you find that your gutter is pulling away from the fascia, or if it is missing rivets or otherwise failing. Call
Jewett Roofing for a repair or replacement estimate.
Caution:
Working near roof edges is not something to be taken lightly It is your responsibility to follow all
OSHA guidelines while servicing your roof.
Call Jewett Roofing to schedule a roof service appointment.
