Your home’s roof provides vital protection to the inner building construction, so proper roof maintenance is clearly important. An inspection should be carried out at least twice a year, from the outside, using binoculars, or the upstairs bedroom of a neighbour’s property, and from the inside using your loft. In this article, we share some roof maintenance and roof painting tips.

Roof inspection

If, when you’re standing in the loft, you can see daylight, then some roof tiles may be missing. Replace these asap. If you spot any water stains, this is a clear warning sign of a leaking roof problem. Check the flashing, the gutters and the chimney to see if there are any problems.

If climbing on ladders up into the loft and on the roof is not for you, it pays to hire a property maintenance company like MC Property Maintenance to do the inspection for you.

Flat roofs

Flat roofs come with a bad reputation, mainly because of poor support, which can lead to leaks and water build-up. Because there’s little or no gradient flat roofs tend to sag, which allows rainwater to pool and eventually seep into the rooms below. The roof covering can also get damaged and bubble up, so keep an eye on it.

Other roof maintenance tips

1. Broken slates, tiles or shingles on the ground indicate a problem.
2. Clear away moss and other debris like leaves and branches from the gutters, as all of these prevent water from running off the roof.
3. If the pointing is in bad condition, hips, ridges and flashings can come adrift in windy weather. Look closely in the gutters and gullies for any signs of pieces of loose mortar.
4. Check any chimneys and chimney pots that are leaning awkwardly, as these may need to be repaired.
5. Where wood fires or wood burners are used in the house, check that no smoke is exiting through the chimney brickwork or at base of pots. If there is, you may need to repoint.
6. Roof coverings such as lead or thatch require specialist advice from roofing companies.

Painting tips

No matter if you have a tiled or corrugated iron roof, painting it is a great way to add value and make your property look spick and span. But to do the good job well, you need to prepare properly and use the right equipment.

• Clean the roof surface

To begin with, you need to give the roof a good clean. The best and quickest way to clean a tiled and a corrugated iron roof, is to use a high-pressure washer, or a garden hose and a hard-bristled broom. With a corrugated roof, you should first clean using a degreaser, and with a tiled roof use some chemicals to remove any lichen.

• Prepare the roof surface

For tiled roofs, replace any cracked or broken tiles and repoint any damaged or missing mortar around the ridge capping. To do this first remove the capping, carefully apply the new mortar and then replace the capping. It’s important not to start painting until the mortar is completely dry.

If you have a corrugated roof that’s never been painted, it will need a coat of primer. When the primer’s dry you can start to paint.

• Painting the roof

Calculate the area of your roof and make sure you buy enough paint so that you can apply at least two coats. Your paint supplier can advise you on the most suitable, long-lasting paint and the best brushes, rollers, and spray guns to use.

It’s quicker and easier to use an airless spray gun to apply paint on a tiled roof, but you could also use a brush. If the colour has faded badly, you should first apply a thick coating of sealer. Once this is properly dry you can start to paint.

There are roof paints specifically manufactured for corrugated iron roofs. These adhere better to metal surfaces and hold up well against the elements. Airless spraying is the best and quickest way to paint, but you can also use paint rollers that are shaped like corrugated iron. A brush is best for the corners and ridge caps.

o Work in an orderly fashion so you can get off the roof without having to walk on wet paint.
o Only use a spray gun when there’s no wind.
o Make sure your ladders are in good condition and are positioned on hard, level ground.
o For safety’s sake it’s a good idea not to work on your own.