Springer Roofing LLC

How to Maintain Roofs

Once you know what types of roofs there are, which one you have installed in your home, or which one you want to install, let’s see how each one is maintained.

Maintenance for metal tile roofs

The regular maintenance of the metal tiles will guarantee the correct functioning of these. Here is a short list of recommendations to prolong their useful life.

Every four months, or after a storm, inspect the condition of the roof. Observe if a tile is missing and replace it. If there is a breakdown in the vertices, flashing or attics immediately call a professional to avoid leaks.

Keep the roof free of leaves and water stagnation. You can do this more often during the rainy season or if you live in a wooded area.

Clean the drainage channels, because if they are clogged the water will not circulate. This could cause it to freeze between the tiles.

It is important to note that if you live near the coast, you may notice that your metal tile roof has black spots. These are algae that are growing on it. To avoid this inconvenience, it is wise to buy algae-resistant shingles, waterproof switch panel .

Keep Your Wood Roof in Good Condition

Wood is the most delicate building material. It is susceptible to the intensity of the sun, humidity, and insects. To prevent these factors from damaging your wood shingles it will be necessary to cure each tile before installation. Periodically maintain your roof.

It is recommended that after each season you do maintenance to the wooden roofs. But, if the climate of your locality is very changeable, the best thing is that every time that you consider it necessary it makes an inspection on the state of the tiles. So that attack immediately reverses any damage.

For this operation to be successful, you must have carpenters who are experts in this type of reform. But, if you know some carpentry and know how to walk on the tiles, remember to have at hand the following materials: brushes, thick bristle brushes, spatula, the sandpaper of different grains, special putty for wood. And don’t forget to protect yourself with gloves, goggles, and masks.

How to do it?

For regular maintenance, follow these steps.

1. Clean the roof with a brush, to remove dirt or debris that may have accumulated.
2. Sand the tiles in the direction of the lines of the wood. Use first coarse sandpaper, then fine sandpaper and once the surface has been matched, remove the dust with a brush or brush.
3. Make sure there are no insects in each fold of tile. In case you detect them, spray a pesticide or termite-protective treatment.
4. If you see cracks, fill those spaces with putty. Let dry before continuing.
5. Use soft sandpaper to even out any lumps that may have been left by the putty.
6. Finally cover with varnish, wood wax or paint.
7. Cleaning of pitched roofs
8. Cleaning this type of roof is quite easy, even if it is exhausting. As we already know, these are very inclined, so almost no garbage accumulates. However, as they are typical of regions where it often snows, it will be necessary after each storm to remove the snow that may have adhered.

These roofs can be made of concrete or ceramics, metal sheets, asphalt or wood. Depending on what they are made will be the special maintenance that will be done from time to time.

Concrete pitched roofs are durable, resistant, acoustic and basically do not require special maintenance. But if you detect a crack, repair it immediately with more concrete.

If they are made of metal sheets and you notice any damage, it is best to replace the part. On the other hand, wood requires special treatments, which do not differ from those applied to the type of wood shingles. While asphalt is the least used because of its little flexibility for styles and little contribution to the environment.

General Tips on Roof Conservation

If you have detected a leak, immediately call a professional who can properly repair the problem.

Don’t try to repair the roof yourself unless you know how to do it professionally.

Avoid repairing the roof during the winter, as it can risk the life of the person doing the work. And your home could suffer greater damage.

Keep gutters clear, so that when it rains the water will flow and not pool on the roof.

Watch out for changes in your house’s internal roof, which can signal a deterioration of the external roof.

How Often you Should do Roof Inspections?

Cold, heat, humidity and strong winds can all damage the roof of your home. That’s why it’s wise to thoroughly check your home’s coverage after each season. Above all, before and after the start of summer and winter, as these are the most intense seasons.

Temperature changes on the same day also affect the appearance and functionality of roofs. If during the day it is very hot and at night the temperature drops, this could accelerate the damage.

Regular maintenance of roofs will save you headaches because you will take care of any imperfections in time. Include this part of the house in your annual cleaning plan If you want a professional to be in charge of reviewing the cover of your house, please contact us, we have the best specialists in reforms.

Whether you’re roofing a new home or your current home needs renovation, there are many materials available. But no matter what style of roof you have, metal roofs can be an attractive option because of their longevity, minimal maintenance and efficiency. And you can choose between tin, zinc, aluminum, copper or galvanized steel – just make sure the roof material is UL, FM Global or equivalent tested and labeled and check with your local building department for any code requirements.