Pub. 3 2018 Issue 4

10 www.ctaahq.org A ttention Property Managers: If you could add years to your property’s roof life, ultimately saving money, time, and headaches, would you? Your property’s roof is one of the largest maintenance ex- penses you have. If and when your roof does fail, the replace- ment costs, as well as the potential of water damage to occur, are all factors that could lead to major headaches and financial expenses that no property owner wants. A property’s roof performs a critical function in keeping weather elements out and your property safe and dry. Shingles help this function by being flexible and permeable so that they can sustain the daily expansion and contraction from the varying temperatures and elements they are exposed to. Over time there are two critical factors that can reduce your roof ’s performance and longevity. The first is biological decompos- ers, including moss and lichen. These decomposers physically eat and break down your shingle’s protective layer revealing the sun sensitive fiberglass underlayment. The second fac- tor is over time the oil in the shingle dries out which results in shingles becoming brittle and inflexible which results in granule loss and stress cracks due to their lack of flexibility. When this occurs, it provides the weather elements a pathway to seep into the home and cause unnecessary havoc. How can property managers improve their property’s roof performance and longevity? 1) Cleaning (Stopping the Clock) Cleaning involves treating the biological decomposers such as moss and lichen, as well as bacterial black staining with a solution that will eliminate not only the visible fungal infes- tation but also their root system through a process known as Softwashing. These biological decomposers literally eat your roof. By keeping your roof free of this fungal infestation it helps to stop the active degradation of your shingles. 2) Conditioning with Soy Fusion Technology (Turning back the clock) Your roof experiences a variety of temperature changes on a given day. For example, on a hot summer day your roof may reach 140 degrees but after a rain storm it may reach 70 degrees. Soon after the sun appears, your roof may return to 140 degrees again. These repetitive expansion and contraction cycles eventually result in the oil of the shingle drying out, usually after 7-10 years. Your shingles reach a tipping point and the oil content is no longer sufficient to keep the shingle’s original integrity. Granules start to fall off and stress points Roof Preservation Mike Laskowski, American Safe Wash