Why Preventive Roof Maintenance Matters
A commercial roof is one of the most significant capital investments in any building. Whether your facility is protected by a single-ply membrane, built-up roofing, modified bitumen, or a metal panel system, that investment requires consistent care to deliver its full service life. Without regular maintenance, minor issues such as small punctures, open seams, clogged drains, and deteriorating sealants gradually escalate into major problems that demand expensive emergency repairs or premature replacement.
Windward Roofing & Construction has been delivering preventive maintenance programs for commercial and industrial facilities since 1984. Our structured approach to roof care is built on more than four decades of field experience and close partnerships with leading manufacturers including Carlisle, Versico, Elevate, Johns Manville, and GAF. We understand what makes commercial roofs fail, and our maintenance programs are specifically designed to address those failure points before they cause damage.
What Our Maintenance Program Includes
Every Windward maintenance program is customized to the specific needs of your building, but all programs share a core set of services that address the most common causes of commercial roof failure.
Comprehensive Roof Inspections
Each maintenance visit begins with a thorough visual inspection of the entire roof surface. Our technicians systematically examine the membrane or surface material for signs of wear, damage, or deterioration. They inspect every flashing detail, penetration boot, pipe collar, and curb flashing. Perimeter edge metal, copings, and counterflashings are checked for secure attachment and proper sealant condition. Expansion joints, pitch pans, and equipment supports receive careful attention as well. The inspection produces a clear picture of current roof condition and identifies any areas that require immediate attention or should be monitored over time.
Drain and Gutter Clearing
Clogged drains are one of the leading causes of commercial roof failure. When interior drains, scuppers, or gutters become blocked by leaves, debris, dirt, or bird nesting materials, water backs up on the roof surface. This ponding water adds significant weight to the structure, accelerates membrane deterioration, and eventually finds its way through even small defects in the roofing system. Every maintenance visit includes complete clearing of all drainage components to ensure water exits the roof quickly and efficiently.
Minor Repairs and Sealing
During each maintenance visit, our technicians address minor issues on the spot. Small punctures are patched, open seams are re-welded or re-adhered, deteriorated sealants are removed and replaced, and loose fasteners are re-secured. By handling these small repairs immediately, we prevent them from growing into larger, more expensive problems. The cost of a minor field repair during a scheduled maintenance visit is a fraction of what an emergency service call would cost for the same issue once it has caused water intrusion.
Detailed Documentation and Reporting
Documentation is a cornerstone of effective roof maintenance. After every visit, Windward provides a comprehensive written report that includes date-stamped photographs of all inspected areas, condition ratings for each major roof component, a detailed record of all work performed during the visit, prioritized recommendations for any additional repairs or monitoring, and comparison notes showing how conditions have changed since the previous visit. This documentation creates an invaluable maintenance history for your building. It supports manufacturer warranty claims by demonstrating proper care, helps facility managers budget for future capital expenditures, and provides evidence of proactive stewardship for property owners and investors.
Custom Programs for Every Facility
No two commercial buildings are identical, and no single maintenance schedule works for every roof. Windward Roofing designs each maintenance program around the specific characteristics of your facility. Factors that influence your custom program include the type and age of your roofing system, the size and complexity of your roof including the number of penetrations, drains, and equipment units, local climate conditions and weather exposure, the sensitivity of your building contents and operations, manufacturer warranty requirements, and your facility management goals and budget.
Most commercial roofs benefit from semi-annual maintenance visits, typically scheduled in spring and fall to address the effects of winter weather and prepare for the next season of storms. Buildings with older roofing systems, heavy rooftop equipment loads, or critical operational requirements may benefit from quarterly visits. Windward works with you to determine the right frequency and scope for your situation.
Extending Roof Life and Reducing Total Cost of Ownership
The financial case for preventive maintenance is compelling. Industry research consistently shows that commercial roofs on a structured maintenance program last significantly longer than neglected systems. A well-maintained single-ply membrane roof, for example, can deliver 25 to 30 years of reliable service, while the same system without maintenance may begin failing in 15 to 18 years. Over the life of a building, the cumulative savings from deferred replacement, avoided emergency repairs, reduced interior damage, and lower energy costs from a properly performing roof far exceed the modest cost of regular maintenance.
Additionally, many roofing manufacturers require documented maintenance as a condition of their warranty coverage. Windward's maintenance reports satisfy these requirements, ensuring that your warranty remains valid throughout its full term. If a warranty claim does arise, our detailed maintenance records provide the documentation needed to support a successful resolution.
Manufacturer-Trained Technicians
Windward Roofing's maintenance crews include technicians certified by leading roofing manufacturers including Carlisle, Versico, Elevate, Johns Manville, ERC Systems, Sika, GAF, Tremco, and IKO. This training ensures that our team understands the specific maintenance requirements and repair techniques for each system type. When our technicians work on your roof, they use manufacturer-approved materials and methods that protect both the system integrity and your warranty coverage.
Get Started with a Maintenance Program
Protecting your commercial roof starts with a single phone call. Contact Windward Roofing & Construction at (844) 880-8844 to schedule an initial roof assessment and learn how a customized maintenance program can extend the life of your roof, reduce your long-term costs, and give you peace of mind knowing that your building is properly protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most commercial roofs should be inspected and maintained at least twice per year, typically in spring and fall. Buildings in severe weather areas or with older roofing systems may benefit from quarterly maintenance visits. Windward Roofing designs custom maintenance schedules based on your roof type, age, and exposure conditions.
Each maintenance visit includes a comprehensive visual inspection of the entire roof surface, clearing of all drains and gutters, sealing of minor cracks and open seams, inspection of flashings and penetrations, evaluation of rooftop equipment supports, and a written condition report with photographs documenting current conditions and any recommended repairs.
Yes. Industry data consistently shows that commercial roofs on a regular maintenance program last 25 to 50 percent longer than neglected systems. By catching and correcting minor issues before they grow, maintenance prevents the cascading failures that lead to premature roof replacement.
Absolutely. Every maintenance visit produces a detailed written report with date-stamped photographs, condition ratings, a record of all work performed, and prioritized recommendations for any additional repairs. These reports create a valuable maintenance history that supports warranty claims and asset management.
Maintenance program costs vary based on roof size, system type, number of visits per year, and facility requirements. Most building owners find that maintenance costs represent a small fraction of what they would spend on emergency repairs or premature replacement. Contact Windward Roofing for a customized maintenance proposal.