Roof plans are an invaluable tool when it comes to managing and maintaining roofs. In terms of conveying information that is useful to better managing roofing assets, a detailed roof plan, drawn to scale, falls into the category of "worth a thousand words".

Often times, roof evaluation findings may be accompanied by a simple, not-to-scale outline sketch, showing roof sections and perhaps a table indicating the number of penetrations or condition features found on the roof. While this may serve well for general orientation purposes, it has limited value as a communication tool. By investing the time to accurately survey and record the layout, penetrations and features of a roof, an owner can develop a platform for conveying information important to each phase of the management process.

Photos can effectively convey existing roof conditions. Showing the specific location of photos on a roof plan puts the conditions illustrated into the context of the entire roof. This gives perspective as to the nature and distribution of problem areas, and to the priority of need between roof sections. Marking the appropriate locations of reported roof leaks or past repairs can also create a telling overview that may help direct future remedial work.

For large structures, or buildings with complex geometry or interior layout, translating leak locations from the interior space where the evidence is found to the rooftop can be difficult. Registering or laminating a detailed roof plan over an interior floor plan can create a unique means of "seeing through the roof" to identify the location of the problem and any features in the vicinity that might be contributing to the leak.

By requiring repair crews to record on a copy of the plan the date, location, description of leak source(s) and actions taken each time a leak is responded to, an owner can track performance history. This will in turn provide insight into the effectiveness of repairs, the nature and rate of roof deterioration, and the potential remaining service life of the roof.

When building a base of information for use in managing roofing assets, investing the time and effort to develop and use an accurate roof plan can yield a significant return on investment as an effective planning and communication tool.