Caring for your roof

When was the last time you checked your roof? Often, we don’t think about our roof until something goes wrong. By then, we could find the damage has already been done, which unfortunately means it’s likely to cost more money. That’s why it’s important to inspect your roof on a regular basis. In this blog, we will talk about regular roof inspections and what’s involved in maintenance.

Maintenance

Metrotile and other pressed metal roofing tiles require minor maintenance to ensure the continued performance of the roof over its life. Where possible a visual ground inspection of your roof should be performed every year, or after any significant storm, for the following items.

Maintenance or repairs to the following items should help prevent any major problems occurring:
• Damaged or displaced tiles or flashings.
• Blocked valleys, spouting or downpipes with debris such as leaves, other plant matter or
foreign objects such as toys.
• Wash down any roof areas not effected by rain washing (see Cleaning below).

In certain environmental conditions moss, mould or lichen may present itself on areas of the roof. To maintain the integrity of the coating and for aesthetic reasons this can easily be removed with a generic roof wash treatment, such as Mossboss, applied by low pressure spraying. When the roof is used for collection of potable water, ensure that the downpipes are disconnected for the period stated in the spraying instructions. Failure to maintain the roof in this manner will void the coating warranty.

When repairs or maintenance are needed we recommend that you consult a metal tile roofing specialist, as additional damage to the roof tiles can be caused by inexperienced foot traffic (If you must access the roof follow these instructions, to avoid denting or damaging the roof tiles, you should wear soft sole shoes and place your foot on the lowest point of the tile and at the front edge of the tile). Also, house holders unfamiliar with working at height pose considerable risk of injury to themselves by falling from ladders or the roof

Cleaning

Metrotile roofs must be washed down regularly with fresh water in all areas not washed by rain, such as those areas sheltered by the eaves overhang of a higher roof. In areas near the sea, where salt deposition is noticeable on windows and similar surfaces, or near areas of industrial pollution, washing down should be carried out every 2-3 months. In other areas, washing down every 6 months should suffice. Lichen and mould growth must be removed with chemical cleaners. We recommend to chemically clean the roof once every 2-4 years to maintain a good appearance and prevent the growth of algae, moss and lichen. Failure to carry out this maintenance program may void the coating warranty.