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Roof Repair Advice

If your roof is in need of urgent repair, you have come to the right place. I am not a roofing contractor, but I have just finished replacing the roof on my home when the old one failed. The contractor I called in helped me to assess the condition of my old roof and to choose the right type of material to replace it with. He carried out the work quickly and kept me informed about what he was doing. I have learnt so much from the experience that I wanted to share my new found knowledge with the rest of the world.

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Issues That Homeowners Face with Flat Roofing That Will Need the Attention of a Roofer

by Krin Rodriguez

The residential roofing industry has noticed a surge in demand for flat roofs since they offer a variety of advantages. Firstly, a flat roof provides your residence with additional space at the top of your house, and you can make use of this extra room in whichever way you want. For some people, this means placing their outdoor AC unit on the roof, more so if they do not have sufficient space in the backyard. Additionally, the installation of solar panels and skylight windows on a flat roof is much more affordable than on a pitched roof since the contractors have better accessibility to the site. Nonetheless, flat roofs have their drawbacks. And knowing them beforehand helps in ensuring you provide your flat roof with the maintenance that it requires. Below are some of the typical issues that homeowners face with flat roofing that will need the attention of a roofer.

Water pooling on the flat roof

When newly installed, a flat roof is supposed to have an even surface that is coated with a membrane that works to redirect water off it. However, since this structure is not pitched, it can have a tough time redirecting moisture effectively the older it gets. In addition to this, when the surface succumbs to ageing, it develops concave sections that are perfect for water to collect in. The more uneven the flat roof is, the more water that pools on the surface and this poses several risks. Firstly, the excessive water will damage the protective membrane on the flat roof and this exposes the underlying structure to moisture damage. Moreover, since the water has nowhere to go, it stagnates and becomes a breeding ground for mozzies, algae and other microorganisms. When you notice that your roof is perpetually wet, it is time to call in a roofing contractor to stretch the aforementioned membrane and this restores its ability to discard the moisture.

Rubble collecting on the flat roof

Although pitched roofs do have to contend with their fair share of debris, their inherent slope makes it easy for lightweight organic matters such as twigs and leaves to easily slip off. This is not the case with flat roofs. Granted, flat roofs are designed with guttering systems that work to wash away organic matter that may collect on the surface and be discarded by the roofing membrane along with precipitation. However, if the debris collecting on the flat roof is heavy, it will have nowhere to go. Tree branches, for instance, that fall off due to strong winds will simply accumulate on the surface of the flat roof, and this increases the chances of premature damage to the roofing membrane. Further, the more rubble that is collecting on the surface, the heavier the load placed on your flat roof and this could compromise its structural integrity. Hence, it is advisable to have roofing contractors come and clean the flat roof regularly.

Reach out to a local roofing contractor to learn more.

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