Welcome to my blog, my name is Daisy. A few years ago, my husband and I purchased an old house which required a lot of work. We spent many weeks gutting the place and installing new flooring, painting the walls and clearing the garage space of junk. However, my favourite part of renovating the house was the roof. I loved climbing onto the roof to inspect the tiles, removing and recycling the broken ones and replacing the gaps with new tiles. I also learnt how to waterproof and maintain our roof so that we can avoid problems in the future. I started this blog to help others who are interested in carrying out restoration or repair work on the roof of their home.
Sky High: Repairing and Restoring Your Roof
Roof Components That May Require Repair
Hunter Prescott
The cladding, such as the tiles or metal sheets, is the most visible roof element. However, the whole structure consists of various parts that combine to create a secure barrier against the elements. To help you better understand the roof and what problems can arise, consider the following outline.
Roof Cladding
As mentioned, the roof cladding is the material that you choose to cover the top of your house with, be it tiles or metal sheets. Tiles can use slate, terracotta, or concrete, while a metal roof can use steel, aluminium, and other substances. Roof cladding can degrade because of constant exposure or a particular event, such as a storm or blizzard. For example, a tree branch could drop on the house and fracture tiles, or gale-force winds could cast metal sheets into the air.
The cladding can also wear down gradually. For example, metal sheets tend to decay at the point where they overlap and catch moisture. Of course, holes and gaps in the roof let rain flow into the crawl space to cause moisture damage, mould, and mildew. Thus, you'll need roof repairs at various times to repair or replace the cladding.
Flashing
Your roof probably has elements that jut out, such as a chimney, vents, or a skylight. These components need to fit within a slot in the roof precisely to prevent rainwater trickling down the sides and into the roof cavity. Preventing this, flashing melds around the joins between the two surfaces. This flashing might consist of aluminium or metal sheets. Unfortunately, these vulnerable materials can sometimes rust and require fixing.
Roof Skeleton
The roof cladding sits atop a supporting framework that's typically made from timber beams. These wood beams, battens, and rafters form the roof shape. If the cladding allows water to trickle inside, the timber can warp or rot as a result. If a house has leaky cladding over an extended time, the underlying roof framework is at risk.
Guttering and Downpipes
A major scourge for a building is rainwater. While it can be a godsend to farmers, water can wreak havoc if it flows where it shouldn't. One problem is gutters that fill with leaves and debris, causing rain to spill over the side and down the external walls. Water exposure can result in mould, mildew, and rotting window frames. Thus, your gutters may require cleaning. Another crucial element is the downpipes, the vertical tubes that carry the water to the ground. These pipes often consist of connected sections, which can become loose or rusty.
Contact roof repair contractors to learn more.
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