If it’s not broke, don’t fix it?

Let’s face it; the process for managing commercial roofing assets is broken. Run-to-failure? Roof replacement as the only option when a roof is problematic? That’s been somewhat common practice for what seems like forever, but it doesn’t have to be the case anymore.

Changing the thinking behind the procurement process is step one. The current philosophy isn’t resolving the pain points many facility managers face:

• Guesstimating budget figures for roofing expense
• Repeated roof leaks and consequential damage to inventory and the building interior
• Issues with warranty claims and finger-pointing as to who’s responsible
• Not knowing for sure what the best course of action is for your particular roof

It’s time to start thinking of a roof as an asset like we do with equipment. A building’s roof is one of its largest assets, and in many instances it is not being managed to maximize service life. And there’s so much savings to be had just by doing so. Being proactive and spending a little now will help prevent a need for spending a lot more in the future.

“If it’s not broke, fix it anyway” sounds counterintuitive on the surface, but when it comes to managing roofing assets, it’s exactly the prescription for extending its service life, preventing leaks from becoming problematic and being able to make informed decisions about the maintenance budget.