Tips on Maintaining your Roof & Gutters

Now back to the more important roofing issues at hand:

How to safely Maintain your Roof & Gutters to give your home the nicest makeover.

Be aware that all roofing and guttering will deteriorate in time.

Pay special attention to metal surfaces. They can deteriorate very quickly if not looked after. A seemingly sound metal roof or gutter can show an advanced state of decay in just six months.

Clear away blockages. Debris in rusting gutters, for example, can accelerate deterioration considerably, particularly where the leaf litter creates an acidic environment, in the case of pine needles.

Cut back overhanging trees. Many modern gutters are designed to shed leaves more effectively.

Catch airblown debris before it can cause blockages. There are various gutter guard systems on the market, from lengths of spiral brush or plastic mes placed within the gutters, to fixed metal mesh covers, all designed to assist in shedding airblown, or tree dropped, debris.

To wrap up the Tips on Maintaining your Gutters & Roofs we look at the final installment to this 3 part series. So without any further mucking around we dive straight into this weeks roofing article.

Don’t forget about hidden layers of debris in gutters. Despite the best of protection, there may be long periods of still and/or dry periods between heavy rainfall which may allow the litter to mulch and sink as soil like particles through the mesh or brush fibres, building up as a solid layer within the gutter. This layer, which will be out of sight, should not be out of mind, as it can cause pre-mature corrosion to the gutters if it is not removed.

Check your roofs and guttering regularly, especially after storms. Deterioration to roofs and gutters can be suddenly accelerated by storm and high winds. While these factors are beyond the means of the home owner to control, Archicentre recommends that all home owners check their roofs and guttering after such events, and on a regular basis. Deterioration faults can then be detected at an early stage so that repairs can be undertaken before more costly damage occurs.

Know what the existing problems are. Remember that the best way of avoiding expensive problems is to be aware of them before you purchase your house. Archicentre has carried out thousands of home inspections for home owners and prospective buyers, to help them make a realistic appraisal of the property before buying, renovating or repairing.