Case 2

Maintenance and Diagnostics

Given the relatively high initial cost of installing a new membrane roof, it pays to inspect its overall condition annually and after several rainfall. For safety reasons, it is recommended that building owners and maintenance personnel carry out roof surveys from the ground using binoculars or from a cherry picker.

Cracked, broken, misaligned, damaged membrane and the degree to which delamination has occurred should be noted, along with failed flashings (pin holes, open seams, loose and misaligned elements, etc.) and broken or clogged downspouts.

A roof plan or sketch and a camera can aid in recording problems and discussing them with contractors. In the attic, wood rafters and sheathing should be checked for water stains and rot. Critical areas are typically near the ant edges and at the intersection of roof planes, such as at valleys and hips. Regular maintenance should include cleaning gutters at least twice during the fall and once in early spring, and replacing damaged membrane promptly.

Every five to seven years inspections should be conducted by professionals experienced in roofing. Good record keeping, in the form of a log book and the systematic filing of all bills and samples, can help in piecing together a roof’s repair history and is an important part of maintenance.

As part of regular maintenance, an attempt should be made to keep foot traffic off the roof. If maintenance personnel, it is recommended that the workmen is best to wear soft soled shoes.

Diagnostics of Defect

Thermography

Thermography can be used to identify the position of water leakages. The method is based on the characteristics of heat flow phenomenon, in a conductive medium of specific geometry, which is intended to model predetermined boundary conditions. Thermo tracer is a advanced equipment used in thermography technology.

Infrared (thermographic) inspections

Infrared thermographic surveys can be undertaken to identify moisture build up within your building’s structures. Moisture within a building’s envelope will have a significant impact on its overall performance and infra-red thermography can be utilised to identify any such performance failures. Thermographic imaging is particularly useful in flat roof assemblies where moisture within the building’s structure can be very readily established.

Exposed waterproofing membranes will deteriorate (unless properly protected), by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), causing the membrane to degrade and lose its integrity creating pathways for water to enter into the building concerned.

Leakages can be detected using infrared thermography the areas of entrapped water within a roof construction allowing targeted and effective repairs. In using such investigative techniques, it can produce a definitive visual image of the water ingress or insight into missing insulation layering can be obtained. Providing you with a complete assessment of your buildings performance combined with the information of how best to resolve the problem area.