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What You Can Expect From A Roof
There is no such thing as a roof that does not need service from time to time. Unfortunately, many roofs are neglected, all year round – year after year. It is strange really, as a roof is probably the one part of any building which is most exposed to the elements. Every day, all year, a roof has to stand up to rain, snow, wind, the rays of the sun and many other challenges – and we expect it to take it without a hitch.

Most traditional and modern roofing constructions are very hardy, but the one thing they all have in common, is the need for inspection and roofing service with regular intervals. Case in point: My own house. It is roofed with clay tiles which are more than fifty years old. Clay tile roofs can last over a hundred years – that is – the tiles themselves can last practically forever. But there is good chance that they won’t lie completely still over fifty years. Some will be blown off during storms, others may not have been properly secured to begin with and will slide out of place, while a few will decompose due to internal imperfections in the tile. I just bought the house and expect the roof as a whole to last another 5-10 years, before replacing the tiles. If the trusses still look good at that point, I will leave them there.

However, If I don’t bother to replace the few tiles currently broken or out of place, I will not get another 5 years out of that roof. Existing leaks will let too much water in, which will damage the trusses. Holes will only get bigger and bigger, as tiles fall off and take others with them, and the resulting damage will multiply – getting worse and worse. Then in 5 years, I will have to replace not only the tiles, but also the trusses, and perhaps also other woodwork attacked by mold and mildew. The expenses will be huge at that point, but if I act to prevent that now, there will be no problem at all. Due dilligence means everything here – and in our case that means regularly scheduled inspections and maintenance.

Warranty And Insurance
What if your roof comes with a warranty of 10 or 15 years? Many modern roofing systems come with warranties, but what they all have in common is the fact that you only get full coverage under certain circumstances – usually meaning: if you have performed proper maintenance at the prescribed intervals. If you ignore your roof for 14 years, don’t expect any help from the manufacturer of the roofing material or the roofing service which installed it, when your roof fails completely. You are ultimately responsible yourself. Also be careful putting your faith in your home insurance policy, as similar conditions very likely apply.

Taking Action
So how do you avoid the calamities involved with having a roof in poor condition? Well – first things first. You will have to learn something about preventive maintenance. Gutter cleaning is a must, so is a bit of inspection work. The best way to keep repair costs down, is to discover leaks and other problems as soon as possible – and the only way to discover anything in this world, is to look for it from time to time. Make a habit of checking your roof after storms or heavy rain. Also, unless you are an experienced roofer yourself, you may find invaluable help in consulting an experienced and reputable roofing service near where you live. In fact, if you have just had a new roof built, it could be a good idea to be sure to hire the same contractor for future inspections and repairs (if you trust them and liked their work, of course). Better yet; tell your contractor that you intend for him to look after your new roof for many years – even before your new roof is built. Not many roofing services will build a junk roof – not if they know they are going to be fixing it for years to come.

There is much more to be said about the importance of maintenance and roofing services, and more will be covered in future articles on this site. Stay tuned!

Category: Roofing Service

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