“Stay on Top of Roof Maintenance” – Vancouver Experts

January 28, 2013 Laura MacCormac

According to experts on roof maintenance, Vancouver represents a very challenging physical environment when it comes to the proper care and upkeep of both commercial and residential roof tops. With balmy summers featuring wave after wave of heat, and often times drought, the province can be as challenging as any warm climate for the months of July and August. Of course, the notorious rainy weather is also a challenge, with constant dampness and dry interior heating all becoming factors.

During the summer months, the main reasons for concern most often center around two factors–animal activity and weather patterns. Birds and other small animals often find Vancouver rooftops to be a perfect environment for nesting. For obvious reasons, these nests can become a problem very quickly, allowing interior access to exterior elements as well as blocking drainage paths–simply creating a mess. Weather patterns also allow for the accumulation of things such as small branches and leaves, that can also trap water in place where it will eventually seep through to the interior, causing water damage both along the way and at its final destination. The key to avoiding these summer time hassles is the regular performance of roof maintenance, Vancouver experts say.

Of course, the summertime is actually the less worrisome of the two worrisome seasons. The regular performance of inspections is also recommended in order to help avoid roofing problems at the worst possible time–during the bone chilling dampness of winter. When moisture has entered the building through small crevices, created by either natural wear and tear or by animal activity, this water will seep into the roof after a certain period of time.

According to experts, twice yearly is the minimum recommended frequency for roof maintenance. Vancouver, in particular, has a climate which would be best served by performing this maintenance once in the early spring and then once again in the early fall, allowing building owners time to react to any potential problems long before they have a chance to accumulate.

Source: Image Courtesy of Flickr’s Marcus T Ward.