Timely care of the roof keeps the roof in excellent condition and significantly extends the life of many roofing materials. The roofing company always recommend conducting annual preventive inspection and cleaning of roofs, especially in the spring and autumn. The constant monitoring of your roofs status will help to identify the minor issues and you can easily solve them.
What kind of care do all the types of roofs need?
Polymer-coated steel roof care
The steel roof made of metal or corrugated board is a very durable and functional one. The outer polymer layer protects the roof from corrosion. The constant influence of precipitation and increased UV radiation and the accumulation of dirt leads to polymer disruption. Therefore, cleaning roofs with a metal roof is one of the best ways to extend its service life.
Fallen leaves and dirt is washed off with a soft, fluffy brush and ordinary water. You can use special tools for cleaning polymer coatings. Experts strongly advise against using aggressive chemicals that can damage the protective layer. Removing dirt on the roof and in the gutters is carried out by a stream of water under pressure by directing it from the ridge to the cornice. So cleaning the roofs will be more effective.
Observations show that snow rarely lingers on a polymer-coated roof, especially if it is glossy. But the frosted outer layer of the roof can accumulate snow for a long time. Cleaning the snow-filled roof is carried out using safe tools that cannot damage the roofing material. Most often, a wooden scraper is used for these purposes.
Steel roofs can be maintained by regular painting (at least once every 3 years). If a fresh scratch or dent is found, then it should be painted immediately, because the delay will lead to corrosion and subsequent more expensive repairs.
Soft Roof Care
Soft roofs like bituminous materials are subjected to the same harmful effects as other types of roofing materials undergo. Unfortunately, even quality roofing will not be able to prevent possible problems in the future.
You can also take preventive measures and they can reveal damage to the roofing carpet, clogged gutters, poor waterproofing at joints and junctions.
Even on a pitched roof, dirt and foliage can accumulate in the valleys, junctions, and drains. Roofing specialists advise to remove them with a jet of water and soft brushes. Sometimes the roof grows moss and lichen. They can also accumulate and retain moisture and a long and targeted effect leads to leaks. Therefore, seasonal cleaning of the roofs is necessary.
In winter, it is necessary to clear the roof covered with snow, especially if there is no anti-icing heating system in your roof. Snow should be cleaned with a wooden or plastic shovel since metal shovels can damage your roof. Timely cleaning of the roof from snow will help you to avoid its avalanche-like convergence and spring leaks.
Tile Care
At first glance, the roof of natural tiles does not require regular maintenance. But this reliable material cannot last a guaranteed 50 years without a proper commercial roof maintenance. As mentioned in soft roof care, during the winter, while you clean the snow settled on your roof you must use soft brooms since shovels and scrapers can displace and damage the tiles. It is advisable to do this on time in order to avoid the appearance of ice.
A seasonal inspection of the tile roofs includes checking for the presence of cracks and leaks, the condition of the mortar in the areas where the joints are smeared and adjoined. Roof care is carried out in soft rubber shoes, in order to avoid external damage. Once in every 4-5 years, the roofs made of tiles must be washed with water under pressure. Old paint is refreshed with special compounds, and for a long-lasting effect, painting is carried out at a temperature of 15-20° C.
