Whether it is your first home or 10th, buying or building a new home is quite exciting. However, the joy of your new acquisition should never make you forget that as you prepare to settle in, there is a maintenance list that will, eventually, need to be tackled.
Your roof is the primary barrier to all that Mother Nature throws at you; and will often take the biggest hit. It is only right that before you sign that final document to acquire your new home, you take the ladder out and get your new or not so new roof inspected.
Remember that only a professional roofing company with the relevant insurance and trained technicians should carry out this assignment.
As we go up the roof, here are a few important points you need to know when inspecting your roof:
Your Roof Will Not Last Forever
It has been said that all good things come to an end, and so will your roof. Although many roofs have lasted for over decades, most, depending on the roofing products used, will require replacement after 10-50 years. This is why it is important for you to know the age of your roof, any repairs it has undergone and the type of roofing products used as well as the country of origin.
This information might not be readily available from the sales person but a qualified roof contractor should be able to gather this information for you.
Your Roof Needs Roof Gutters
Water harvesting gutters are thought to only be a means of collecting rain water from roofs, but they also protect your home from wind driven rains that can damage your eaves and also prevent water finding its way into your ceiling.
If your roof has no gutters, we strongly recommend that you get a reputable company to install them. On the other hand, if gutters do exist, they will need to be thoroughly inspected for leakages, twigs and leaves that might clog the down-pipes, and cleaned to allow free water movement from your roof to the storage tanks.
At REXE , we recommend UPVC roof gutters which are rust free – unlike the traditional metal roof gutters – and are also maintenance free. Although PVC gutters exist in the market, they should not be confused with uPVC gutters as they are not the same. The main difference between uPVC and PVC roof gutters is that, even though both are plastics, The uPVC or PVCu material is a harder and less flexible plastic which is resistant to UV rays penetration. uPVC material is also more resistant to cracks making it ideal for use for water harvesting gutters, pipes and window frames.
Leaks Are Not Gaping Holes
When inspecting your roof, you may be tempted to look up the ceiling and try to spot gaping holes that may cause leaks; unfortunately, leaking points tend to “play hide and seek”. While your ceiling may look completely sealed and without gaping holes, your walls or the ceiling could discolor, or you may find signs of dampness and mold in your attic. These are the most evident signs that there is a leak somewhere.
Call a reputable roofing company who will be in a position to identify the cause and point of leakage.
Re-roofing is Cheaper Than Patch-work
Inexperienced roof contractors will not tell you this, but depending on the age of your roof, re-roofing can save you money in the long run and is the most guaranteed option when maintaining old roofs.
Water flows from one point to another, this means that, the spot where you see signs of a leakage may not necessarily be the point that the water is penetrating through. Hence, without a credible roofing contractor, there are high chances that you will spend money and time working on the wrong spots.
If your roof is “not so new”, engaging in roof repairs will be an endless process as new areas will keep showing up with different issues. You should always check your options with your roofing contractor before making such decisions.
Roofing Products Come With Guarantees
All reputable roofing companies offer and stand by their product warranties and workmanship guarantees. These warranties and guarantees can be valid for decades depending on the roofing product used. This is a good way of saving your hard earned money since a valid guarantee means your roof is repaired or even replaced for free. Always check with your roofing contractor if any such guarantees exist for your roofing products or roof installation, and if it does, what are the limitations?
Conclusion
We strongly recommend using a professional roofing contractor to install, repair, maintain and inspect your roof. REXE Roofing Products LTD is your one-stop-shop for all your roofing and waterproofing solutions.
We supply quality roofing and waterproofing solutions which include: Cambridge Xpress roofing Shingles, Stone Coated Roofing Tiles, APP and liquid waterproofing solutions, Roof underlays, OSB 3 Boards among other roofing materials. We Deliver Our Roofing Products Countrywide.
Our services include roof installation and re-roofing old roofs.
Do you need any of our products or services? Request for a FREE Quotation, and upload your roof plan. We will get back to you in less than 48 working hours with a full quotation with a Bill of Materials.
Roofing 1 on 1
Would you like to know more about installing a perfect shingles roof using Cambridge Xpress roof shingles? We conduct a FREE program ‘’Roofing 1on1’’ at our REXE Showroom on Menelik Court, off Menelik Road and we would love it if you could pay us a visit. Feel free to Get in Touch with us for more information on our Roofing materials and products which include supply and installation of APP Waterproofing membrane, Roofing Shingles and Stone Coated Roofing Tiles among other Roofing Boards and accessories
