Scheduled Roof Maintenance in Philadelphia
Most roofs that fail early were never looked at between leaks. A short visit once or twice a year catches the cracked sealant, clogged scupper and lifted seam while they are still small repairs.
Roof maintenance in Philadelphia is a scheduled visit, usually once a year in the fall and again after major storms, to clear drains and gutters, reseal flashing and penetrations, touch up coatings, and repair small defects before they leak. It matters most on flat rowhome roofs, where one blocked scupper or open seam can put water through a ceiling in a single storm.
Why Small Roof Problems Grow
Roofs rarely fail all at once. A sealant bead dries out and cracks, a scupper collects leaves, a seam lifts a little in a cold snap. Each is a small repair. Left alone through a winter of freeze and thaw, each becomes a leak, wet insulation and a bigger bill.
A maintenance visit is where those small things get done. It also leaves you with a record of the roof's condition year to year, which helps when planning a replacement and when selling.
What a Maintenance Visit Includes
Every visit covers the same list, so nothing gets skipped.
- Surface walked and photographed
- Seams and laps checked and repaired
- Blisters and splits marked and fixed
- Flashing and sealant resealed where cracked
- Pipe boots and penetrations checked
- Drains, scuppers and gutters cleared
- Coating wear noted and touched up
- Parapets and coping checked
- Written notes for your records
How a Maintenance Visit Runs
- 1
Schedule the visit
Usually fall, plus after major storms.
- 2
Walk and photograph
The whole roof, not just problem spots.
- 3
Clear the outlets
Drains, scuppers and gutters cleaned.
- 4
Fix small defects
Sealant, seams and loose flashing.
- 5
Note larger issues
Priced separately with photos.
- 6
Report
Condition notes kept for next year's comparison.
Flat Roof Maintenance Visits
On a flat roof, the visit covers the whole surface: seams and laps probed for lifting, blisters marked and repaired, ponding spots noted, parapet flashing and coping checked, and the coating looked at for wear. Small defects such as a lifted lap or a split in the coating are fixed on the spot during the same visit. We photograph the roof so each year's condition can be compared with the last, which shows whether a roof is aging normally or heading toward replacement sooner than expected.
Sealant and Flashing Touch-Ups
Sealant around pipe boots, counterflashing, skylights and rooftop equipment dries out in sun and cracks in cold, and it is one of the most common sources of small leaks. We cut out failed sealant, clean the joint and reseal it with a product compatible with the roof, and refasten any flashing that has worked loose over the season. Where flashing itself has failed, rather than just the sealant, we note it and price a proper repair instead of hiding it under another bead.
Drain and Scupper Clearing
Drains, scuppers and the downspouts behind them clog with leaves, grit and debris from the roof and nearby trees. A blocked outlet can put inches of water on a flat roof in one storm. We clear each outlet, check that strainers and collector boxes are intact, flush the downspouts, and look for the stains and ponding that show water has been backing up between visits. Fall visits catch the leaves before winter freezes them solidly in place inside the outlets.
What We See on Philadelphia Roofs
Philadelphia's severe thunderstorms bring winds of 58 mph or more and hail an inch or larger, and a roof with a lifted seam or clogged drain is the one that leaks first when they arrive. The small, simple flat roofs on the late-1950s rows of Morrell Park are quick to maintain, which makes a yearly visit one of the cheapest ways to get the full life out of them.
Roof not been looked at in years?
Call and we schedule a maintenance visit this season.
What Sets the Price of Maintenance
- Roof sizeLarger roofs take longer to walk and service.
- Roof typeFlat roofs need more seam and drain work.
- Repairs foundSmall fixes on the visit versus larger priced repairs.
- Visits per yearAnnual or twice-yearly schedules.
- AccessHatches, ladders and height.
Maintenance is priced by the roof and the visit schedule you choose, with any larger repairs quoted separately.
Roof Maintenance Questions
At least once a year, ideally in the fall, and after major storms.
Less often, but flashing, boots and gutters still benefit from a check every few years.
It can stretch the last years of a roof and help you plan the replacement.
Yes. We service any flat or pitched roof in good enough shape to be worth maintaining.
A record of regular care reassures buyers and inspectors.
More Inspection & Maintenance Work in Philadelphia
From our guides: Roof Certification When Selling a Philadelphia Home
Catch Small Problems While They Are Small
Call to set up a maintenance visit. We keep the roof working and keep a record of it.