Many homeowners report unexpected leaks every year during rainfall periods. This generally occurs due to neglecting something you believe to be working properly, such as your roof. Studies show that this is one of the least tended spots in almost every household, the consequences of which can be devastating to the ceiling and upper walls, electrical installations, and insulation.
In order to prevent this from happening, yearly roof maintenance is something you should definitely consider, at least before prolonged rainfall periods. Although it may seem somewhat complicated, it’s actually quite simple.
We’ve composed this guide so as to help you put your roof in optimal condition before the dangerous weather strikes. By following these steps, you most certainly won’t be underestimating possible leakage threats.
The Basics of Roof Restoration
First of all, you need to know whether anything is actually wrong with your roof, which means you need to book a roof inspection. There are various handymen in your area for hire that can aid you with this specific task, most of whom offer their services at low costs.
This is relevant to keep in mind because it’s much safer and thorough to hire a specialist than to do it yourself. They will check every little corner and crease between your tiles and tell you if there is anything that might be out of order. There is usually nothing to worry about if your home is relatively new, but better safe than sorry.
Based on how old your house is and what kind of quality your roof is in, you may encounter one of the following problems:
Displaced or cracked tiles
This is the most common issue in a faulty roof. Depending on the amount of bad weather it has survived, especially the number of yearly hail storms because of their significant impact potential, some of your roof tiles may need to be replaced.
Keep in mind that cracks aren’t always obvious, which is exactly why it’s better to hire an expert.
Faulty sarking
This uncommon word refers to the waterproof insulation membrane located inside your roof space, right under your roof tiles. The tiles may be intact, but that still won’t save you from violent rainfall.
The sarking is crucial to the dryness of everything underneath your roof, and over time it tends to suffer certain damage, which makes it worth taking a look at.
Dirt build-up
As the wind blows every single day, it carries a certain amount of dust. Your roof is like a shelf for these things since it’s always motionless and there’s nothing to clean it off. Yes, rain does wash most of the dirt away, but the tiny space under your tiles may be stuffed with all sorts of dirt in spite of this.
As it piles up, it creates a mass under your roof tiles, which eventually starts blocking your drainage system and causes the water stuck there to become stagnant, thus gradually corroding the inside of your roof.
Drainage issues
There are numerous things that can cause a build-up and eventual complete block of your drainage system. Anything from branches to even dust may become a serious issue.
Once the pipes are congested, the water that has nowhere to flow will eventually flood the inside of your roof and cause considerable damage to your property. These are often tricky to find, so your servicer may even need to take apart your entire drainage system to pinpoint to the exact location of the problem.
Leaf overload
Rain is the most common occurrence in autumn, which is followed by a lot of falling leaves. Some will fall from the tree right above your roof and some will be taken there by the wind, which eventually creates a pile large enough to block the gutters in a heavy storm.
Most of these leaves end up in the valleys of your roof before becoming an issue, so you should occasionally check and clean the leaf build-up on your roof. This is something you can easily do on your own – all it takes is a ladder and some time.
Expired insurance policy
Depending on the construction company that took care of your roof, it may or may not be insured at the time when you need it cleaned. If your roof is properly insured, you’ll have a safety net in case of major issues, but if not, you may have to dish out some serious cash.
Be sure to know the exact expiration date, and have your roof checked and serviced before expiry if you don’t plan on renewing it somehow.
These useful tips cover all the main points of roof restoration, by explaining the possible issues that have extremely simple solutions. A roof may be one of the most important parts of any home, but they aren’t nearly as complicated to fix.
With an easy and short inspection, you can prevent the devastating side-effects that rainy weather has on constructions. Regularly book a check-up of your roof before the beginning of autumn, and you will have nothing to worry about.