As temperatures continue to drop throughout fall, it’s hard not to think about winter on its way. Facility managers know that a fall preventative maintenance plan can save you from unnecessary equipment repairs or replacement and help to manage your assets for spring budgets.

Your roof should be part of your proactive approach. Often not top of mind until it leaks, assessing the condition of your roof can save you money from costly repairs and interior damage.

There are three types of basic diagnostic tools for a preliminary look at your roof:

Visual inspection

This type of inspection means heading up to your roof to look for anything that doesn’t belong. You might see drain debris or missing drain screens which could allow water to accumulate during winter’s freeze-thaw cycle.

Pavers are often used to create pathways to your HVAC system, protecting your roof from foot traffic. Look for displaced pavers where your roof may be exposed to weather and put those on your list for replacement. You can also clean out any leaves in your gutters, making room for ice and snow when winter comes.

Destructive testing

Do you already have a leak or are you concerned about a particular area of your roof? Don’t wait until spring to address this. Despite its name, destructive testing does not actually cause damage. In this case, a professional will cut a part of your roof, called a “core cut” to see if the insulation is wet in that area and assess your risk for more damage. The cut is then filled and sealed, restoring your roof to its watertight condition.

This allows you to get an idea of existing damage in specific areas, but it also confirms the components within your roof so you can start budgeting for when the time comes for roof replacement.

Diagnostic assessment

If you are concerned about your roof’s age or condition, an infrared scan will give you the big picture. Conducted at night, the camera uses temperature differential to determine areas of possible wet insulation, based on heat retention.

While this type of testing is best conducted in warmer weather, there is still a window of availability through the fall. If you don’t have a pressing concern about an existing leak and just want to get ahead of the game, schedule this to be conducted as part of your summer maintenance plan.

Taking a proactive approach and including a roof assessment in your fall maintenance plan can help you keep the need for replacement at bay, plan for costly repairs, and avoid interior damage to your building.