SA Roofing November 2018 // Issue 106 | Page 24

FEATURES Maintaining excellence A healthy roof is a longstanding one, therefore the regular maintenance of a roof is imperative – not only for its longevity but also for safety and cost reasons. We investigate the best methods of roof inspection, repairs and maintenance. By Candace Sofianos King | Photos by the ITC-SA While some roof systems call for less intense maintenance than others, the ITC-SA stresses that all roofing systems should be checked periodically and maintained accordingly. W hile the importance of a roof structure as a component of a building and its functioning cannot be overstated, it is possibly one of the most neglected parts of a building. The roof is a structurally important and very costly component of a building – the average cost of a roof as a portion of the final building can easily exceed 25%. 22 NOVEMBER 2018 CLADDING // CONCRETE // INSULATION // STEEL // THATCH // TIMBER // TRANSLUCENT // WATERPROOFING // COMPONENTS The costs associated with repair or replacement of the same roof structure are even more than this due to the additional work required to establish structural integrity. Thus, its imperative that a roof structure, on residential, commercial and industrial buildings, is regularly inspected for any anomalies and that remedial action is promptly and accordingly taken. A roof is a lifetime investment and should last just as long. A roof withstands more from the elements than any other component of a building and the frequency of roof inspections and maintenance is dependent on the geographical location of the given building – if the structure is close to the sea or in similarly harsh conditions, it will need www.saroofing.co.za