How strong is your school’s roof? A checklist to help prevent costly repairs

Use this roof assessment checklist to help ensure your building has a strong defense against environmental elements.

As the seasons change, new risks will soon be making their way on to your property—and if you haven’t done a thorough inspection of your school’s roof(s) this year, now is the time.

Aging, neglect and many environmental factors and elements, like storms involving rain, wind, snow, ice and hail, can result in costly property damage and can even close your doors until roof repairs are completed. This was the unfortunate reality for some schools recently:

• Suncrest Middle School – Morgantown, WV: Due to roofing leaks and significant damage that had been taking place over an extended period of time, Suncrest Middle School had to find a new, temporary home for it’s 6^th graders when the 2024-2025 school year kicked off.
  
  
• Shelby High School – Shelby, MT: Severe weather conditions and high winds caused a portion of the school’s waterproofing system to detach. Because the roof was still structurally sound aside from the waterproof portion that came off, school resumed as normal the following day with the auditorium, main office and library being closed due to water damage.
  
  
• Portland Public Schools – Portland, OR: Robert Gray Middle School and Markham Elementary School had to close their doors for the remainder of their school year and have students attend class at other schools following winter storms in 2024. For Robert Gray Middle School in particular, the roof was a major challenge due to it already being in poor shape before the winter storm made the damage worse.
  

Your roof should be designed, constructed and maintained to defend against environmental conditions specific to your area. While there may be some elements that can be difficult to protect your roof from, like a tornado wreaking havoc through your district, conducting routine inspections can help you control some of that risk and prevent property damage by ensuring that material is properly in place, flashing is adequate and drains are clear of debris.

Matt Olphin, Glatfelter Public Entities’ Director of Client Risk Solutions, states, “Failing to budget for routine preventative maintenance and roof replacement is setting your school up for failure in the form of roof damage, claims, interruptions to the school day, and potential injury or illness to students and staff.” From an insurability perspective, he goes on to say, “At a minimum, insurance companies want to see a proactive roof program that involves not only budgeting for repairs and replacement, but also in-house self-inspections, and routine inspections done by qualified roofing professionals.”

Inspections should be completed at least annually and after major storms—and safety should be prioritized while doing so. If preferred, roof contractors who have the proper equipment and experience can be considered. If you and your facilities team will be completing the assessment, our checklist can be helpful with documenting your roof condition and actions needed to maintain it.

Never underestimate the crucial role of preventative roof maintenance. When facility managers prioritize inspections and act on potential risks before they become critical, future headaches and costly repairs can be avoided.