HERE’S THE
NITTY GRITTY OF RESTORING OLD TILE ROOFS
Restoring old tile roofs presents an
intricate challenge for any roofing contractor. If not done correctly, newly
restored roof tiles can lose their beauty in just a few short years. Often
times, the reason for this occurring is that the contractor didn’t know how to
deal with older style tiles which need additional preparation and care. An old
tile roof can still be serviceable with a long life ahead. But prior to any
restoration work, it will need correct treatment to protect and prepare it for
a beautiful, long lasting top coat.
When just pressure cleaning won’t cut it
If you’ve got a house with old roof tiles,
even straight after pressure cleaning, you can still feel grittiness. You
mightn’t think it’s a biggie…it’s just a bit of loose grit, right? Let me tell
you, if there is any loose sediment, the surface will move
under the new top-coat, causing it to lift. Your newly restored tiled roof will
look rubbish in a few short years. That IS a biggie!
To prevent this from occurring, a specific
type of primer must always be used to bind any loose sediments down. Not all
roofing contractors are experienced in restoring old tile roofs as it’s a bit
of a specialised area. They may not be aware of which is the right type of
primer to use or the correct preparation steps to take prior to restoration.
HERE IS
SOME HANDY ADVICE TO HELP YOU ADD YEARS OF LIFE TO YOUR ROOF.
RESPRAYING YOUR ROOF
Exposure to UV, pollution and other environmental factors can take
their toll. If you have a concrete tile, composite or metal roof, it will
gradually dull with time. This should be expected, but is also easily fixed
with regular respraying.
EFFLORESCENCE – WAIT, WHAT’S THAT?
Occasionally, natural salts within concrete roof tiles can migrate
to the surface to form a whitish-greyish discolouration. It’s called
efflorescence and it’s just a temporary cosmetic thing. You will find that it
should disappear on its own over time.
MOISTURE MEANS MOSS
Moss and lichen spores are everywhere in the air and they can settle
and grow on most roofing materials. Moss and lichen grow only where there is
sufficient build-up of moisture and dirt particles to support them. Removing
the growth is easy. A quick turn with a low-pressure hose or a chemical
solution will be enough to remove unwanted growth.
CHECK YOUR GUTTERS, DOWNPIPES AND VALLEYS
Uncleared gutters, downpipes and valleys are a common cause of roof
leaks. You should give them an inspection regularly – at least once a year.
PAINTED ROOFS NEED REPAINTING
If you choose to have your concrete roof painted you will need to
respray it again every five years or every so often to retain that fresh-coat
lustre.
TYPES OF
TILE ROOFS:
- Clay-This is by far the most popular and most used type of tile roof.
The clay tiles can be glazed or unglazed.
- Granite-A newcomer to the tile roof, granite tiles are lovely and come in
ivory or black.
- Slate-Slate tiles have been used for over 1000 years and are very durable
and make a beautiful roof.
- Concrete-This medium for roofing tiles has come into its own in the last 100
years.
COMMON PROBLEMS TO WATCH FOR:
Dirt, mold or algae-If any of these are
excessive on your tile roof, it may be best to consult with a tile roofing
contractor. For small amounts, a long brush and a mild cleaner will work
wonders.
Efflorescence-This is a naturally occurring
reaction of rainwater affecting the limestone in the clay. It produces whitish
marks and streaks, but it is not harmful and does not need to be removed. It
will naturally go away with time.
Broken tiles-If you have many broken tiles,
contact a tile roofing contractor. If it is just one or two, you can replace
them yourself. There are many helpful videos available on the internet to
assist you with this.
Roof And Loft Space Ventilation
Attics and loft spaces often get forgotten
about, but it’s just as important to inspect these areas of the home on a
regular basis as it is the surface of the roof itself.
Proper ventilation is essential to help
regulate the temperature difference between the interior and exterior regions
of the roof as such that it helps prevent the build-up of moisture and keeps
humidity to a minimum.
If there’s a lack of ventilation, the
structure of your roof will deteriorate at a much faster rate while also having
a significant impact on your energy bills as well as the comfort of your home.
Roofs are particularly susceptible to
damage in overheated and poorly ventilated homes. Fortunately, such problems
are usually easy to fix, provided you identify them early enough.
When inspecting your attic, be sure to look
out for any mould or mildew, since this indicates a damp problem, either due to
a leaking roof or poor ventilation.
If the area is particularly damp,
especially after rain, then a leaking roof is the most likely culprit. However,
mould doesn’t necessarily need a great deal of moisture to form, in which case
it could be a product of poor ventilation alone.
This is most likely to be the case if the
area is still fairly dry.
Simple Roof
Maintenance Tips to Ensure a Healthy Roof
The cost of replacing or repairing a roof
is an expense most of us can ill afford. Luckily, by spending a few hours
periodically to carry out scheduled maintenance, you can actually catch roof
problems and solve them before they spiral out of control.
Below are seven simple roof maintenance
tips to ensure a healthy roof for as long as possible:
1. Shingles
Keep a close eye to detect any missing or
damaged shingles and/or roof sealant. Simply cleaning shingles and
keeping them free of dirt can also reduce the risk for algae, moss, fungal and
lichen growth that can compromise your roof’s integrity.
If you notice that some shingles on the
roof are worn, damaged or missing, you must act fast. If you feel you can
handle it, replace them yourself, but if not you can engage a professional
contractor. It is critical that you check, since shingle damage is part of
normal roof wear, and shingles alone are simple and cheap to replace.
2. Sealant
Replace the roof sealant as needed. Inspect
every area of the roof where there is sealant and identify any signs of
cracking or wear and tear. If present, you will need to remove the old sealant
completely and apply new sealant in each area
3. Trim Overhanging Branches
As you go about routinely inspecting your
roof, be on the lookout for trees that are growing near your home. If there are
branches hanging too closely to or directly above your roof, they need
trimming. The reason is that falling leaves will collect on the roof, retain
moisture and then start to rot your tiles, making them much weaker. If this
remains unsolved for a long time, it may result in even more damage to the
entire roofing structure.
4. Inspect for Rust
If you constructed your roof using any
metallic parts, then you need to check regularly that there is not
corrosion/rust on the metal parts. If you notice rust developing, it’s
important to wire-brush to remove the rust, prime and finally paint the
affected areas of the metal to retain keep them healthy longer.
5. Clean the Gutters
Gutters that clog up can cause a lot of
damage to your roof. The reason for this is that water accumulating on gutters
can easily make its way underneath your roofing structure. By keeping your
gutters clean and in good repair, you ensure they can serve their intended
purpose, alleviating any immediate dangers to your roof in the process.