These roof maintenance tips can help you save money now and in the long run.
Your home’s roofing protects you from different harsh environment conditions like heavy rains, strong winds, and extreme heat of the sun. Regardless of the season, your roof is exposed to extreme hazards that may cause damage if it’s not given the proper maintenance it needs. Neglecting these roof hazards may result in:
Corrosion
Denting
Scratching
Leaking
If not mitigated, you will be left with no other option but to replace your roof.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to maintain your roof without the cost and hazards. After all, hiring a roofer can result in exorbitant fees, and it might not be the safest right now given the COVID-19 pandemic. If you can take care of these issues yourself, you can avoid putting your roof and yourself in a dicey situation.
Here are some basic roof maintenance tips to keep in mind. Just a caution: always take appropriate safety measures in whatever you do! If in doubt, have a licensed roofing specialist do it for you.
Regular Roof Inspection
A regular roof inspection can be quite helpful in knowing the status of your roof and the potential problems that might eventuate. The roof’s surface can be damaged by several factors, such as exposure to the extreme heat of the sun, presence of water, and accumulation of debris falling from nearby trees.
It is imperative to check the gutters for shingle granules as these are an indication that your roof is starting to wear and needs extra care. You also need to check the roof for the presence of algae or fungi, which could cause damage to the roof if they remain overlooked.
A study on roof weathering revealed that algae commonly grows on the surfaces of roof materials, which include asphalt shingles, concrete and clay roof tiles, and even slate. Moss, lichens, and algae can all build up on a roof.
Metal roofs, on the other hand, are prone to rusting due to harsh weather conditions and the presence of elements like iron oxide. Rust may result in corrosion and can cause leaks that are detrimental to your home.
Washing Off the Damage-Causing Elements
Clearing off hazardous elements from your roof will surely extend its life. Common elements that find their way on to your roof include dirt, leaves and twigs, water, acid rain, and mould. These elements should be eliminated as soon as possible before they cause damage to your roof.
· Using water
You can use plain water to get rid of the accumulated dirt on your roof. You may use a bucket to splash water and wash off the dirt, or you can take advantage of your hose to make it easier for you. Using a hose can be awkward, but it is much more effective because the water pressure is stronger and controllable.
· Using detergents
Most people prefer using detergents on their roof because these materials are readily available in their homes. You can use mild laundry detergents and dish soap or other commercial detergents like those for cars. Just make sure they are mild as there are detergent types that can damage to your metal roof.
· Using solvents
Sometimes, water may not be enough to eliminate the hazards that accumulate on your roof. For tougher elements like oil, grease, tar, and rust, you can use solvents. But bear in mind that solvents should only be used to clean a portion of the roof. Avoid applying them to the whole roof as their strong chemical content could be dangerous to living things. Also, to protect yourself from harmful chemicals that come with these solvents, you must wear eye protection such as safety glasses.
Brushing the Gutters
Gutters are usually where debris like leaves, twigs, and algae accumulate. You have to regularly check the gutters to prevent them from clogging. Cleaning the gutters is something you can do yourself if you have the right tools.
Necessary tools like a brush and a ladder should be available at the hardware. Just place the ladder on one spot at a time, so you can start clearing the gutters of any debris.
Debris like twigs and leaves that collect in the gutter can block the waterway and prevent the water from going to the downspout. A high volume of water build-up could overflow on the gutter or come back up the shingles and down your house. It’s something you want to avoid.
Monitoring the Pipe Jacks
You have to pay close attention to your pipe jacks. A pipe jack is simply a flashing that sits at the base of any pipe that comes out of the roof. The flashing may start degrading over time due to harsh conditions. When broken, this can cause water leaks to enter through your roof.
Moreover, the rubber on the base of the pipe may start to contract and pull away from the pipe, which will cause leakage inside your house. It’s best to keep an eye on your pipe jacks to prevent further damage.
Check for Exposed Nail Heads
Nailheads are usually visible on your roof, especially on the flashings, at the bottom of the pipe jacks, or the ridges. Your roof is going to have exposed nails, especially on the flashings. These nail heads should not be exposed and should be sealed to prevent water from entering the shingles to the wood decking and your attic.
Use silicon coverage products to seal off these nail heads. You can find these products in hardware stores.
Keep Valleys Clean
A valley is where two downward-sloping roof pitches intersect. Although most modern houses do not have exposed valleys, some still do. Open valleys can accumulate twigs and debris that may cause clogging and rusting, so it is important that you clear out the valleys from time to time.
Check the Flashing and Seals on Skylights
Some houses have skylights that give natural light to a room. This part of the roof, however, is not immune to the accumulation of dirt and debris and also needs special attention. A skylight will have a flashing at the top and the bottom.
For the bottom part, you should check out the exposed nails and make sure that they are properly sealed off. The flashing along the side and the top of the skylight should be maintained well because this is where dirt and debris collects.
The seal between the frame of the skylight and the glass can degrade over time, which may cause water to enter through the roof. Check your skylight from time to time as you might need to have it resealed if the initial seal has degraded.
Get the best roofing materials from Sydney Roof and Building Supplies.
Your roofing serves as your protection from the effects of global warming — the extreme weather conditions and high temperatures, among others. That is why it’s important to keep it well-maintained. A lot of hardware stores offer roofing materials, but for some of the best for maintaining your roof, Sydney Roof and Building Supplies is your one-stop-shop!
SRBS has a wide array of roofing supplies for all your roofing needs. We stock high-quality roof materials that have been tested and proven to be quite effective by Sydneysiders. From cowls, fixings and fasteners, flashing, paints, gutter to hand tools and workwear, we have them all for you! Call us on 02-8090-3483 or email us at mark@srbs.com.au or at marie@srbs.com.au to enquire about our products and services.
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