Staying on top of things

Debris falling from ceiling. Walls and ceilings stained from leaks. Trash cans and buckets strategically positioned to collect liquid dripping from above. Roofs that collapse from heavy snow or storm damage. Students displaced from their classrooms because leaks or other problems had made the spaces unsuitable for instruction. Needed repairs identified but deferred because other more visible facility needs have been given priority.

It’s not too hard to find school facilities that have experienced problems like those listed above. Roofing is one of critical elements in a safe and healthful school facility and is also one of the building features that schools have struggled to maintain and repair.

A frequently cited 2020 study by the Government Accountability Office looked at the condition of K-12 school buildings, and 27% of the districts surveyed said that at least half of their schools needed to have roofs replaced or updated. The report estimated that 28,000 schools nationwide needed to update or replace roofing.

Many schools have been able to address some of their roofing problems with the federal relief funds disbursed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the need for better maintained roofs still is great, and meeting those needs will be more challenging going forward because Covid relief funds no longer are available.

Unchecked problems

Ignoring or deferring roofing maintenance can lead to serious trouble that jeopardizes the health and safety of building occupants and creates or exacerbates building deterioration.

A roof leak can seep into the building interior and damage ceilings, walls, floors, and electrical and mechanical systems. Leaks also can damage building insulation and cause heating and cooling costs to rise because building systems are operating less efficiently.

Moisture that settles unseen behind a building’s walls can create an environment for mold and mildew growth, which can cause significant health problems for staff and students, especially those who have asthma or allergies.

The building deterioration that results from unchecked leaks can cause falling debris, either outside from loose roofing materials or inside from crumbling pieces of a ceiling or wall. Students or staff may be injured, and equipment, books and other materials may be damaged.

Leaking water also can damage electrical wiring and can lead to slippery surfaces and injuries from falls. If leaks and resulting building damage become severe enough, classrooms and other parts of a facility may no longer be suitable for learning, and students may have to be relocated to another part of the building or a different building altogether.

Inspections

As a general rule, schools are advised to carry out inspection of their roofs at least twice a year, typically in spring and fall. Too often, schools find it easier to put off maintenance and repairs on roofs in favor of other facility needs that more immediately affect people in the building.

Regularly scheduled inspections enable workers to detect deterioration or damages early on before leaks and other problems mushroom inside the building and require expensive facility repairs.

At its most basic, an inspection should look for visual evidence of deterioration on roofing surfaces—cracks, blisters, gaps, loose flashings, cracked caulking, standing water. Maintenance staffs should keep thorough records of their inspection so they can track potential problems and take action when repairs are called for.

The Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) in California has a Facility Inspection Tool Guidebook that provides additional tips for school maintenance workers assessing roof conditions:

• Gutter systems, including downspouts, should be intact, anchored to the building, and free of damage that would affect drainage
• Gutter systems should be free of debris
• Classroom ceilings and walls should be free of active roof leaks (i.e. ,dripping and leaks evident on the day of or a day immediately after a rain)
• Check for nests and droppings or foreign substances that would corrode roofing material, sealants, or obstruct gutters and drainpipes or air intakes or exhausts.

CASH also recommends that schools keep good records of maintenance and inspections, and move quickly to deal with small leaks before more serious water damage develops.

When making repairs, workers should make sure that repair materials such as hot pots of tar are kept away from outdoor air intakes to ensure no odors or contaminants get into building. Such repairs also should be carried out if possible when the facility is unoccupied.

Managing better

Schools would see an improvement in roof upkeep if more of them made roofing inspections and assessments a higher priority; putting off routine tasks may be tempting, but a building may end up needing expensive repairs that could have been avoided.

And regular roof inspections will be effective only if schools are able to dedicate more funding to carry out the maintenance, repairs and replacements that those inspections identify as necessary.

Kennedy, AS&U senior editor, can be reached at [email protected]