Flat Roof Maintenance Question

The asphalt roof was installed on my rowhouse around 10/11 years ago. 4 years ago, I had fascia board and aluminum casing placed over the asphalt roof to extend the life of the roof. What type of maintenance can be expected on this type of roof (frequency/ tasks)?

Thanks.

Frank

frankt

in General Discussion 1 month ago

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Brownstone Home Inspection | 5 days ago

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I meant “not only a matter of installing it properly….

Brownstone Home Inspection | 5 days ago

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@joshua:

you mean painted with aluminum paint?

it is not a matter of installing it properly but a matter of maintaining it properly. and that means applying that paint like every five years. we are in our house 19 years now. Our roof membrane is probably 40 years old. because i maintain it (and that includes silver roof paint), i expect this roof to last at least another decade. Homeowners roofs fail because they fail to inspect an maintain them.

homeowners do not realize, they can do a lot of this on their own. i am the only person to have gone on my roof in 20 years.

joshuaneuman | 5 days ago

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If the roof is pitched and aluminum it will likely last over 20 years if installed properly.

Brownstone Home Inspection | 1 month ago

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First, these must be inspected twice a year; spring and fall. issues must be addressed as they are appearing or before they become problems (and this is more true with modern insulated roofs; once the insulation gets wet, the problem is that much more expensive).

I can simply tell you to paint your roof and that is your maintenance. But why not learn what to look for and what options are available when a roof needs more than a coat of paint and how to do this yourself. i go on roofs every month where homeowners let “roofers” tell them what the roof needed and they either sold them on work that did not have to be done or they completely missed areas that were very close to failing (and now need immediate help).

i am a former building manager and have been inspecting roofs since 1995 though i managed a large reroofing project as far back as 1991.

See reviews on me here. see the testimonials on my website from my customers, including one person who told me to become a home inspector because i found a leak on her house that the roofer could not locate – after two attempts.

i also do leak investigations and each roof inspection carries some leak investigation anyway. I also do thermal imaging.

Steve
brownstonehomeinspection.com

frankt | 1 month ago

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Note: 4 years ago I also had new reinforced asphalt base flashings installed around rooftop HVAC system, vents, etc.