Apartment buildings throughout northeast Ohio have very different types of roofs, but what they do have in common is the need for a roof maintenance program.
During the latest inspection of the gable roof on our office we discovered we had a leaking pipe collar/vent stack. This was an inexpensive repair, but if we did not have a preventive maintenance program in place, we could have suffered a large property loss
Establish a twice-a-year roof inspection program for each apartment building you own. In Greater Cleveland late fall and early spring are great times to complete the inspections. While the inspection process for each type of roof may be somewhat different these are some of the items that need to be inspected.
- Ensure all drains are clear of debris and are running freely. This could be the gutter system on a hip or gable roof or the rooftop drains on a flat or mansard roof.
- Make sure no tree branches are touching or scraping against the roof. This will cause premature wear, and if a limb is close to the roof and breaks off it could puncture the roofing material and lead to a loss.
- On a flat roof inspect the coping and ensure the caps are in good condition. If the coping brick or sandstone ensure the tuckpointing has not deteriorated. If metal, ensure it is properly attached to the parapet wall. On a gable or hip roof this is a great time to check the tuckpointing and caps on any chimneys on the apartment building.
- Inspect the roof for deterioration, cracks in a rubberized membrane, seams that have come loose missing shingles or popped nails. Have these items repaired by a roofing professional to maximize the life of the roof and prevent interior damage to the apartment building.
As varied as apartment buildings are throughout northeast Ohio so too are their roofs. But one thing they all need is a preventive maintenance program. To assist you in creating a personalized insurance and roof maintenance program contact your Trusted Choice Insurance Agents at Richey-Barrett Insurance.
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