Maintenance tips for your roof

Keep your roof safe against trees, harsh weather and dampness!

The roof is one of the most important parts of a building as it acts as a protection medium against all the detriments like sun, rain and so on. A roof is required in various building structures like a home, a building, a stadium a theatre and all other dwelling means. Roofs mostly protect the home from extreme weathers. There are different types of roofs which can be used in a building and a roof can be created from any material. Also a roof is divided in to two parts; i.e. its supporting structure and its outer skin. Most of the times, a damage to a roof is done by harsh weather fluctuations. Since a roof is the major part of a building and is spread over a large area, one has to maintain the roof with careful inspections and techniques. Below are some tips;

Observe the state of your roof:

It is very important that you dedicate some time and observe the state of your roof. See if the trees outside are touching/ scratching the roof, or is your roof covered with black streak or is covered with the mush. These are the signs that your roof needs a maintenance check and repairing. If you find any trees rubbing against your roof, trim them immediately.

Repair it immediately:

If you find a damaged roof or if it needs repairing, it is advisable that you seek professional help and get the roof repaired immediately. If parts of the roof are missing or are torn off they will be vulnerable to water damage and rot. If the roof is weak, there are increased chances for them to fly away or damage further. Also it is always better that you keep your roof clean, away from all the debris.

Check for other roof connected parts:

Ensure that you also pay attention to parts connected to the roof like the chimneys, vents, skylights and other penetrations. Make sure that these connected areas are in a working condition and check for any leakages around them. If you see any of these signs, seek professional help immediately.

Keep it clean:

As mentioned earlier cleaning your roof is one of the important aspects of maintaining your roof. Keep all the gutters and downspouts of the roof clean and free from all the leaves and debris. Also make sure that there is no stagnation of water on the roof. You can also clean the roof by preventing the clogged drains and installing gutter guards. Make sure that all the gutter guards are properly sealed.

Roof safety:

In most cases when the roof is too old, it is advisable that you do not walk on the roof as you can trip and fall due to excess moisture. If you wish to check the roof, you can use a braced ladder which is equipped with rubber safety feet and wear rubber-soled shoes. The ladder will prevent you from falling.

Avoid the growth of algae:

As mentioned earlier, it is advisable that you prevent the stagnation of water on the roof and prevent the growth of algae, moss and mildew. You can prevent this by soaking the affected area with a diluted chlorine bleach solution followed by a pressurised washing. You can also use a pressure washing contractor that specializes in this type of removal.

Regular checks:

It is always better that you follow a regular check of your roof after heavy storms and extreme temperatures as these factors can cause a greater damage to your roof.

Important points to be considered:

• If you have a delicate and temporary roof it is always better that you replace them often.
• Check for holes in the gutter and avoid having too many holes.
• Always keep the roof traffic to the minimum.
• Avoid appointing unqualified personnel to perform repairs to your roof system.
• It is always better to have regular professional roof inspections.
• If your roof has moss growing on it, you can remove it by either sweeping it off while it is wet or by first applying a roof moss killer product and then sweeping it off once the moss has been killed.
• During summers, try to do any roof inspections early in the morning when it is cooler.
• It is advisable that every five years you apply an aluminium-based coating in order to protect the roof from UV degradation.

Things which are required to clean your roof are;

• A ladder and a stand-off.
• Self-protection equipments.
• Mild cleaners like bleach to dissolve the mould and dirt from your roof.
• A Water hose/ power washer.
• A poly tank and a chemical resistant pump.