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How often should a building's roof be inspected?
Your roofing system should be inspected
twice a year. If there are heavy storms, you
should call for an inspection to ensure that
your roof has not been damaged.
What
is the best method to inspect a building's roof?
The best method to use to inspect a building's
roof is to partner a roofing specialist. Experienced
roofing professionals are trained to identify
problematic areas. Experts recommend that a
company should partner a qualified roofing specialist
to inspect a roof twice a year. In between inspections,
a building owner can look for potential problems
such as ponding and interior seepage after a
storm.
How
long should a building's roof last?
A life of a building's roof depends on
several contributing factors including the quality
of the materials, the quality of installation,
and preventative maintenance to spot problems
before they become large ones. Some roofs are
designed for a life expectancy of 30-plus years
while other roofs have a life expectancy of
10 years or less. Research proves that the number
one reason why roofs do not survive their anticipated
life cycles is the neglect of maintenance.
What
causes a roof to wear out?
Roofs wear out due
to a variety of contributing factors that may
combine to affect and accelerate roof deterioration.
These may include ultraviolet radiation from
the sun, temperature extremes, exposure to wind,
rain, ice and snow and foot traffic on the roof.
How
long does it take to replace a roof?
Replacing a roof, whether on
a commercial or residential building, is a labor-intensive
project and, depending on the type of roof,
could take anywhere from a few days to 2 or
more weeks. The time involved is substantially
affected by the weather, as well. Wind, snow,
rain, or even just the threat of one of these
and will slow the process considerably.
Careful planning and close
project management can reduce some of the delays
caused by bad weather.
Can I replace missing and damaged tiles or shingles
without calling a roofing contractor?
It is always recommended that
you use a professional, but in case of an emergency,
it is possible for you to replace the shingle
or broken tile yourself.
Composition shingles:
For composition shingles, roofing
cement can be used to repair torn or curled
shingles. Stabilize repaired shingles with nails
or a heavy board until the cement has dried.To
replace a composition, carefully lift the shingle
above the missing shingle, then trim and place
the new shingle underneath so that it doesn't
catch on any edges (it may be necessary to remove
excess staples or nails). Carefully nail the
new shingle into place.
Wood shingles or shakes:
For wood shingles, repairs
are best done with an aluminum piece that can
be slid under the shingle. This should protect
the exposed area, while not being visible from
below.
To replace a wood shingle requires
a special tool, a shingle ripper, to slip under
the shingle and hook and cut the nail. The nail
can also be cut with a hacksaw, but is difficult
to do. Slip the new shingle into position, but
leave it ¼ inch longer than the other
shingles. Then nail it into place right below
the end of the overlapping shingle above. Finally,
with a block of wood against the shingle butt,
drive it up the last ¼ inch to bend the
nails under the shingle above.
Tiles:
To replace a tile, remove all
of the broken pieces, then gently lift the tiles
and slide the new tile into place until it hooks
over the batten.
What is an ice dam?
Ice dams occur when snow melts
near the ridge lines of warm roofs (roofs without
adequate ventilation). As the water runs down
the roof to the overhang, it cools and freezes.
If the snow continues this melt and freeze process,
an ice dam can form that can seep under the
shingles, through the decking and into the house.
This, of course, can cause serious roof leaks--even
in freezing temperatures.
The best prevention to ice
dams is a well-ventilated (cool) roof. Additional
protection for your roof can be applied with
an impermeable ice and water membrane. The membrane
is installed on top of the decking, under the
roofing material.
Temporary prevention of ice
dams can also be done through the use of electric
cables along the eaves of the roof (where the
dams usually form). However, new ice dams can
form above the cables and still cause extensive
damage. Another emergency solution to ice dams
is to fill a sock or nylon with calcium chloride.
Lay the stocking vertically across the ice dam.
The calcium chloride will melt the ice and release
the water so that it can drain outside, and
not inside your roof.
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