Tips for Maintaining and Extending Your Flat Roof Lifespan

Does your manufacturer warranty indicate that your flat roof will last around 10 to 15 years? Depending on the quality of the materials and workmanship, it’s possible that your flat roof could actually last up to 50 years. 

No matter how good those original materials are, however, you’ll still need to perform some regular maintenance to extend the lifespan of your flat roof. This includes regular inspections, material upgrades, and more.

At Florida Speciality Roofing, we know that flat roofs are a great choice for many homeowners thanks to their unique function and design. They also require specialized care that pitched roofs may not.

Read on to learn the best tips for maintaining and extending your flat roof lifespan. 

Get Regular Inspections

If you’re new to owning a home with a flat roof, you may be surprised by the number of times you’ll want to have that flat roof inspected. In fact, we recommend having flat roofs inspected twice a year: once in the summer and once in the winter. Because flat roofs are easy to walk on, you can perform at least one of these inspections yourself, but don’t underestimate the importance of a professional inspection.

Why get flat roof inspections so often? The design of a flat roof makes it more susceptible to buckling and water damage. By inspecting for warning signs before and after hurricane season, you can make sure that everything is in order and fix problems before they get worse.

Clear Out Gutters

Even if you’ve installed equipment like leaf guards along your gutters, you’ll want to get up there and check out your gutters on a regular basis. This is especially important if you have tall trees or other plants on your property that tend to drop a lot of foliage. Despite your leaf guards, debris can still get trapped in your gutters and prevent proper drainage during heavy rainfall.

Clogged gutters pose a problem for your yard and foundation because they disrupt the flow of draining water. With a flat roof, they also increase the chances of pooling and water damage. Though flat roofs do have an imperceptible pitch to prevent pooling, clear gutters are still crucial to proper roof drainage. 

Prioritize Roof Cleaning

Most homeowners know that debris can get trapped in their gutters. What you may not realize is that when you have a flat roof, debris can also hang around on your roof. It may not seem like a big deal to have some stray limbs or foliage piling up on your roof, but you’re going to want to clear it off with regularity.

When debris piles up on a flat roof, it invites a host of problems. For example, all that debris off the beaten path can encourage pests like birds, squirrels, and wasps to settle in. Plus, plant life can hold onto moisture, causing patches of mold or mildew to grow.

Some homeowners have even discovered that saplings have taken root in their gutters or in unswept debris on their flat roof. By getting up there with a broom a few times a year, you can keep your roof clear of all sorts of unwanted guests.

Don’t Ignore Signs of Water Damage

Homeowners and building designers gravitate toward flat roofs because they’re considered easy to maintain. While there is some truth to this, it’s important to remember that water damage on a flat roof is a serious concern. What starts as minor roof damage can lead to over $5,000 in water damage if left unattended. 

Though a flat roof does have that slight pitch we mentioned earlier, it’s still much easier for water to get trapped on flat roofs and cause the roof to start buckling or cracking. Cracks can also form in response to extreme temperatures and sun exposure, something your Florida roof will inevitably encounter. As soon as you notice any potential signs of current or future water damage, address them right away by clearing off the roof, patching any cracks, and consulting a professional. 

Invest in High-Quality Materials

As we mentioned in the beginning, your roof lifespan is impacted by the quality of the materials you use to build it. Regular maintenance is a must, but without high-quality materials, your flat roof won’t last longer than about ten years. In the long run, higher quality roofing materials have the better return on investment because of their long lifespan. 

At Florida Specialty Roofing, we use only the highest quality roofing materials. Materials like Brava roof tile and Brava cedar shake may work well for your flat roof while adding a touch of class and style to the aesthetic of your home. If you decide that you’re ready for a pitched roof, we also offer options like Brava Spanish barrel tile and DaVinci roof tile. 

After having new roofing materials installed on your flat roof, make sure to apply a strong coat of waterproof sealant. This can help to seal off porous surfaces like roofing tiles. It can also help to prevent pooling by encouraging water to slide away, rather than cling to the roof. 

Come to Florida Specialty Roofing for Flat Roof Upgrades

Flat roof maintenance is an important part of any long-lasting roof. A flat roof requires specialized care and the highest quality materials if you want it to last more than a decade or so. At Florida Specialty Roofing, we provide the materials and workmanship to ensure a long roof lifespan.

Ready to upgrade your flat roof or build something entirely new? Contact Florida Specialty Roofing today to find out more about how we can help, the products we offer, and more. We’ll provide a free quote so that you can make an informed decision before signing any paperwork.