The old saying goes “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”. Well, when if comes to roofing, your benefits will greatly out weigh any loss when it comes to maintaining your investment. The life of your roof is directly related to how often it is inspected and how quickly small problems are identified and repaired. The federal government, which is the largest building owner in the United States, found that their average roof lasted less than 5 years before leakage and less than 8 years before replacement. Now, when you invested in installing your roof and receiving your 10 or 20yr Manufacturers Warranty, I’m sure that you don’t find that 8 years of life very profitable. A national roofing association has shown that as many as 35% of all roofs do not reach their life expectancy. Of the causes identified with premature roof failure 47% is due to poor workmanship, 16% to poor design, 9% each to faulty materials and weathering, 8% each to trapped moisture or mechanical damaged and 3% to roof traffic. If you do not now have a formalized program to inspect, identify and repair roof problems, how long will your roof last?

To better help us illustrate our point, take a look at the following example of scheduled maintenance:

After your home, your second larges investment is your car. Your owner’s manual recommends that you change your oil every 3000 miles and perform other yearly maintenance. If you follow those instructions, what is the result? The car lasts longer, has fewer problems and you can claim most major problems under the warranty provisions of the manufacturer. You budget and spend a small amount of money to protect the value of this large investment.

But, if you elect to change the oil randomly, fail to change the filters, check the transmission fluid, change the ozone sensor, etc, what happens? The car has frequent and expensive repairs, it can leave you stranded and you spend more money to replace something that could have lasted years longer. Plus, without that proper maintenance, the manufacturer will not cover those damages.

What we, at Bob Behrends Roofing, are really looking to do is provide as many business owners and building managers to the fact that programmed roof maintenance makes economic sense. A roof inspected semi-annually (which is also the recommendations of the manufacturers) can last as much as 50% longer than one that is visited only when there is a leak. Maintenance with documentation provides you with a written history of reports and repairs that if there ever was an issue with your roof, you are fully prepared to reap the benefits of you Manufacturer’s Warranty. This program gives you both knowledge and control. It protects your asset and provides value. We can also provide you with all the information and history you need in case of a weather catastrophe; you would be fully prepared with all the documentation your insurance company would need. Also, we are willing to work hand in hand with you and your insurance company when starting our program to see if you qualify for any discounts and/or benefits provided by implementing a maintenance program like ours.

Now, let us tell you how Bob Behrends Roofing can work with you to maximize your investment…

Initially you will be meeting with one of our commercial representatives that will not only introduce this program but answer any questions you may have as you read through the program details. You will also be asked several questions that will help us to understand the history and type of investments you have in your roof. That information will help us put together our detailed report. The following is the information you will be receiving in your report.

  • Introduction to your roof: This will explain what type of roof you currently have and the general layout, i.e. if you have HVAC units, antennas, drains, etc. It will also explain what general maintenance is usually required for this type of roof.
  • Pictures with attached reports: You will receive pictures of your roof and its current condition. This will help you further understand why maintenance is so important when maintaining your roof and what improvements are already necessary if any. The pictures will be covering, but are not limited to:
    • Drainage – If you have water pooling or other drainage issues
    • Gutters and Downspouts – These will be checked for proper drainage and for any repairs
    • Petroleum Product Spills – Some products can destroy your roofing if they are not addressed directly after a spill
    • Animal Fats – This kind of build up left unattended will disintegrate your roofing
    • Chemical Spills – If another company is on your roof making repairs, i.e. HVAC, they may spill chemicals on your roof that will compromise the material
    • Excessive Foot Traffic – This can be a considerable problem causing holes and tears throughout the roofing material
    • Flashings – You flashings need to be checked periodically for rusting, cracking and lifting. If a flashing of any kind is not sealing correctly, you can almost guarantee a future problem
    • Unnecessary Penetrations/Obstructions – This will include any objects or penetrations on the roof that are either unnecessary or no longer working for your building. These can cause issues in the future if not removed.
    • Cleaning – This is a general maintenance rule. If the material is kept clean, problems are spotted easier and the material lasts longer. Commercial roofing manufacturers recommends cleaning once every two years for good general maintenance.
  • Immediate Issues: If there are any immediate issues noted while on your roof, we will make those issues aware to you as soon as possible. This might include damage to the roof that is currently or will be causing interior damage to your property or material malfunctions you may want to turn into you Manufacturer’s Warranty.
  • Closing Report: This will cover the details of what was found on your roof and its current condition. We will give you a projected life time of your roof and what repairs and maintenance can extend that life time projection. You will also receive your personalized maintenance program for the year and its estimated budget.

Maintenance Program

Your maintenance program will be specifically designed for your particular needs. This personalized layout will allow our workers to focus on the individual needs of your roof along will the general maintenance necessary for every roof. You will have the choice of signing up for annual, bi-annual, or quarterly maintenance inspections. These inspections will include:

  • A report of the current condition of the roof along with any changes since the last maintenance inspection
  • If repairs are needed, before and after pictures will be taken along with a detailed report of what was needed for that repair
  • Any projected issues or significant noted changes will be documented and brought to your attention. You will be receiving an update and copy of our maintenance log for each inspection for your records.

At our office, we will be keeping your locations information and reports filed for any future reference you may need. This will help the insurance and warranty processes move along in a timely manner in the event of weather catastrophe. With your permission, we can work directly with your insurance company to insure that any necessary repairs or replacements costs are covered in your claim so there is no cost to you other than your deductible. Also, as stated previously, when signing up for this program, we can notify your insurance company and assist you in receiving any discounts or benefits through that company. Attached is a copy of the checklist / report that will be kept for your roof. This may change slightly to focus on your particular roofing needs.

Other benefits when signing with Bob Behrends Roofing

Free Storm Service: This service will guarantee that after any major wind or hail storm, you will have one of our workers on site as soon as possible to report any damages sustained during that storm. That report will include both details of any damages and pictures along with a free estimate of what those repairs will cost. This information can be turned into your insurance company in a timely manner to insure further damage is avoided. If temporary repairs are necessary until your insurance adjuster can come inspect the roof, we will get pre-approval from the insurance company to do those repairs.

Re-roof Report: In the event that your roof is in need for replacement, we will not only provide a report of why the replacement is necessary along with a free estimate, but we can offer some beneficial changes from your previous roofing choices. This may include more energy efficient material or an installation process that will last longer and benefit your building more so than the previous roof installed.

Building Repair Reports: If you are planning on having repairs or changes done to the exterior of your building, i.e. siding or masonry work, we can come out both before any after to insure those workers do not cause any damage to your roof. Pictures of the area will be taken before the work is done, and if damage does occur, we can take “after” pictures and take report of the damage. This will assist you in pursuing any compensation without costing you money for those damages. Unfortunately, this happens often and without this documentation, most building owners have to pay out of pocket for those repairs.

24-Hour On-Call Service: If something happens, at any time, to your roof where you need one of our roof techs immediately, you can call your designated tech 24/7 and receive assistance. This service includes our tech coming on-site and inspecting any damage to the roof and performing temporary repairs until a more permanent repair can be made.

Bob Behrends Roofing, Commercial Division, LLC is owned and operated by the same individuals that own several other construction businesses. If you are in need of services that we can provide for you though our other companies, we will offer a discount on these services. This includes metal work through Metal Masters, LLC, gutter and downspouts repairs and installation through K&B Gutters, LLC, or any residential roofing needs through Bob Behrends Roofing, LLC. Please note the information in the back of this packet for further details of these companies.