Every owner of a new or old house knows exactly what are the important points and vital parts of his precious home. Of course, solid construction is important, then installations for electricity, water and heating, well-positioned and quality windows and doors… All these factors are of great importance for the longevity of the house and the quality of life in ostrich. However, the roof and everything related to the problem of the roof is one of the most important items in the construction and further maintenance of the house. The roof protects from the weather, then retains heat and is a very unpleasant surprise if it suddenly starts to leak.
It may be superfluous to mention, so something should be understood, that even during construction, it is necessary that the roof is well constructed, adequate to the building itself, made of quality beams, tiles and well insulated. Anything you miss or save by using a cheaper and lower quality version of beams, tiles and insulation materials can cost you dearly later. Therefore, do not save on the roof. When the house is finished, it is necessary to regularly check the condition of the roof, especially before winter and spring.
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Make a plan
It is always good to prevent damage or notice it while it is still minor. That is why it is wise to make a plan that will include a detailed inspection of the roof, preferably twice a year, unless there was a particularly strong storm, wind, rain or hail … so it is necessary to determine whether there is new damage. The roof should be inspected in detail in the spring, to check how it withstood the winter conditions and in the fall, to ensure it well before winter.
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Visual inspection of the roof
You can repeat this item often, it doesn’t cost you anything, and it can be very important. If you have binoculars, that’s another thing of great help. Carefully inspect the tiles, see any damage from the outside, cracks, holes from the city, whether any tile has moved or fallen. Check the gutters for branches or leaves that block the flow of water, and determine if the gutters are in place or may have been moved by wind or a branch if a tree is nearby.
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Inside view
If you have inspected the roof from the outside, climbing the ladder and using binoculars, it is time to go to the attic and start a detailed inspection from the inside. Carefully observe the tiles, whether light is visible through them, whether they are stacked properly, if there is insulation of styrofoam or stone wool, check it too. Go to every corner, see if everything is in place and if there are any traces of rain or snow leaks. Sometimes you notice that there is a leak, but you can’t locate exactly where the water is coming from. This is not uncommon, as water can always find its way, so there may be a hole in another part of the roof and you can never find it. In that case, we suggest you to visit hawaii-roofing.com and find out more about roof leak detection.
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Wash the roof
If you have determined that there is no damage you can start washing the roof. This is best done with nozzles and under pressure. Carefully wash and scrape off moss, lichens, traces and leaves. Hold the hose at an angle of 30 degrees, and start washing from the top of the roof, so that there are no leaks inside. Never use any detergents, mold and stain removers, or any chemicals. Just wash with plain water, under a strong jet and leave to dry. There is also a professional roof washing, which is done once every ten years. It is very efficient and the roofs are washed under high pressure of about 350-400 bar, unless the tiles are older. Then the pressure is reduced to 250 bar. Generally, no chemicals are used, but natural-based products are available if the dirt is stubborn. About 100 square meters of the roof can be washed in an hour.
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Cut the branches
In case the house is surrounded by trees or there is only one, right next to it, try to shorten the branches so that it cannot reach the roof. This is very important because stronger winds or storms can cause the branches to break the tiles or the branch to break and damage the roof. So regularly inspect and trim the branches that are near your roof. Also, if you may have ivy on the facade, be sure to check that it has not crept between the tiles. It is very decorative, but it penetrates into the structure of the building, both facades and tiles, so it is necessary to control its growth and spread.
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Roof drainage
Although we have already mentioned gutters, it is still necessary to return to them once again. Gutters must be properly installed so that they drain water and snow from the roof in the best way. They should be made of quality materials to last longer. Pay attention to whether they are clean and completely passable. You don’t know what the wind brought and whether something got stuck inside. A clogged gutter could cause major problems in the event of heavy rain or sudden snowmelt. You would be in danger of leaking or even spilling large amounts of water on the facade.
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Protect the roof and attic from mold
Regardless of the quality workmanship and insulation, it often happens that there is still a certain amount of mold on the roof or attic. Fortunately, nowadays there are a number of products that are effective against mold. They eliminate it and dry the place, thus preventing new formation, in the same place. Make sure you ventilate the attic space from time to time, so it is the best weapon against all molds, fungi and lichens.
Conclusion
Each roof is very functional, but also an aesthetic component of our house. It is necessary to develop the habit of constant monitoring and controlling the condition of our roof. Not only will we prevent leaks and damage to our house and belongings, soiling walls and soaking up moisture. We will save ourselves from annoying ourselves and save our budget. It is always better to react earlier and act on time than to wait for unwanted events. Every true host knows that it is not easy to take care of the house, but that timely attention and care always pays off and that it makes you a respectable and proud owner of the house.
