When it comes to your roof, cleaning it isn’t always at the front of your mind. However, by giving it a general once-over each year, you will either be able to rest assured that there are no problems occurring up there or jump onto ones that are – of course alerting a professional if needed. Your homes kerb appeal could also skyrocket with that much-wanted algae free roof. Here are some reasons as to why keeping your roof clean is important for your home in the long run.
The roofs of your shed and garage, as well as your home, bare a high level of importance. Whether it be a pitched or a flat roof, there are a few things you should be aware of.
What happens to your roof?
If your home is in a location that doesn’t see much sunlight on a day-to-day basis, your roof will frequently be sitting in the cold, damp and dark of the shade. Algae is a common growth upon a roof but spending the majority of its time in the shade will promote faster growth and expansion, covering a larger surface area. The dangers here are when the moss and mildew start to develop. Each time it rains, water should either be able to run down and off your roof, or dry and evaporate. This is not the case when these moulds take hold. The rainwater will get trapped within them, finding it hard to dry or disappear and resulting in it absorbing into the moulds and sitting heavily on individual shingles. Over time, these factors combined will decrease the lifespan of your roof, causing additional decay each time it rains.
If you have a flat roof, it is particularly important to keep your eye out for developing problems. With winds picking up and depositing debris onto the top of your home, you will want to check that your roof material remains in good condition and hasn’t been grazed or punctured. If a hole appears, the additional weathering will cause further decay and could result in a leak inside the home.
Will garage and shed roofs become affected?
The same goes for roofs of sheds and garages. Shed roofs are typically made from a wooden base, topped with a felt material. If debris swipes this material and causes it to split, rainwater will affect the quality of the wooden base, causing damaging problems in the long run. Garage roof styles can vary, with both flat roofs and pitched roofs layered with shingles. It may be an easier task to get up to the roof of your sheds and garages to look for potential hazards, but if you feel it is unsafe to do so, call for a professional.
What does the mould look like?
Roof mould comes in the form of green, slimy looking algae or a series of uneven black and brown patches. You are also able to identify the fact that it is a growth of mould by the foul smell that it lets off.
How you can deal with this
The majority of mould and debris can be removed from your roof with the use of a pressure washer, but only once you are sure that there are no holes, loose tiles or decay present. Doing this once a year should be enough to prevent any roofing problems, but if a series of bad weather occurs, it may be worth a quick, additional examination. If it appears unsafe to access your roof, or if you find anything which could potentially be damaging, be sure to call for an experienced professional to assess the situation and make any relevant amends.
For more advice on cleaning your roof, or for assistance with an issue that has occurred, give our expert team at Roof Rescue a call on 020 3189 1618 where we will be happy to help.
