We may get a surprising amount of rain during the summer months here in Southern Nevada, but that’s not to say we should forget that the summer brings some excruciating heat to our part of the world — we are in a desert, after all. That means that while rain can compromise your roof if it’s not properly built or cared for, you should also be aware that desert heat can do just as much damage.
The summer months bring a drastic change in temperature between day and night. When our average temperature soars to 105 degrees F during the day, it often drops by at least 30 degrees after the sun goes down. This creates what we call “thermal shock” in building materials. In high heat, the material that makes up a roof expands. Then, as the temperature goes down at night, the coolness causes changes to the roof. Large expansion and contraction in a short period of time puts physical strain on the roof, causes excessive wear, and decreases its lifespan.
Even though you may not be able to see it or may not feel all its negative effects until your building gets rained on, thermal shock can cause compromising damage to all parts of your roof, from your drain areas to your tilt-up panels. That’s why now is a great time to let a team of experts take a look at the damage our crazy weather might be causing and fix it before something worse happens.
Dri Tech Corp’s yearly maintenance plan is the course of action we recommend to all our clients, no matter how old or new their roofs may be. Whether you need annual or biannual inspections, this plan’s intent is to forecast and eliminate problems before they create a high-cost impact to your building.
There are four reasons I always recommend our yearly plan:
1. Catch problems while they’re small.
Inspections exist to stop problems from becoming bigger and costing more down the road.
2. Protect your roof’s warranty.
Some warranties are 10, 20, or even 30 years in length, and to keep it valid with manufacturers, yearly maintenance is required under the terms of the warranty.
3. Make a course correction.
Regular inspections can see what kind of maintenance or wear and tear you’ve been applying to your roof and help you take action to correct it where needed. For example, if regular access to one part of your roof has compromised it, an inspection can determine how best to resolve that issue and find a safer access point.
4. Avoid losses from secondary damage.
Property managers know how much extensive and unexpected repairs can cost. If there’s a leak or damage to repair, the building closures and downtime of employees alone adds up to thousands of dollars lost. Not to mention, the expense of making the repair itself is high. Regular inspection can save you a lot of headache and money.
It has become one of my many mottos to always say, “The cost of yearly maintenance to your roof is always substantially lower than the cost to repair the damage to the interior of a building.” So don’t let Nevada’s extreme weather get the best of you or your bank account — take the simple step of scheduling your yearly maintenance with Dri Tech Corp, and we’ll show you exactly how we can help you save in the long term.
Blaine DeBrouwer