Your roof is constantly being exposed to the elements, so it is amazing that it lasts as long as it does. However, no roof lasts forever. Eventually, you are going to have to replace or repair your roof. When this happens, arm yourself with the information in this article so you can have the job done right.
When taking on a roofing job, make sure that you understand what you are doing, before starting the project. Taking a class at your local hardware store can prepare you for the job. Not understanding what you are doing can result in the job costing more than you ever intended.
If you have a leaky roof, make sure that your gutters are clear. If there is no way for water to drain, then the gutters can accumulate rainwater and cause leaks in the roof. Install ridge and soffit vents so you can prevent any dry rot from developing on your roof.
When working on your roof, be sure to wear rubber sole shoes. Even if it is a sunny day outside, there could still be water or ice leftover from previous storms. If you are not wearing rubber sole shoes, you could end up slipping and falling, which of course, leads to disastrous consequences.
When doing work on your roof always do it with a buddy. Roofing can get dangerous and it is important for your safety to have someone with you. Working with someone else will help you should you slip or fall or get hurt in any way. This will assure you are as safe as possible.
Take the roofer's credentials into consideration during the hiring process. Although credentials do not give you a guarantee that you will get quality work, they do show you how involved the person is with your local community. It also says a little something about their character as well, which is valuable information.
Ask for copies of the roofing company's liability coverage before letting them work on your roof. If they are an experienced and professional company, then they should have these papers with them when they meet with you. Any company that doesn't carry or outright refuses to provide copies of their insurance and papers detailing worker's compensation should be avoided.
While you should leave heavy duty work up to professionals, there's lots of preventative maintenance you can do to keep your roof in great shape. Keep an eye out for shingles that need to be repaired or replaced, and make sure your flashing and underlining are in good condition. With a little effort, you can avoid big repair jobs altogether.
When your roof nears the time of needing a replacement, it is important to consider all of your options. Are there any repairs that can be done to postpone the replacement? If there are cheap repairs that can be done to prolong this, it may be worth it. This way you don't have to spend a large amount of money quite yet.
If you are tackling a roofing project on your own you should lay out your plan before you act. This should include the tools that you will need, the cost that you can afford and the materials that you will need. The worst circumstance is not having what you need when the time comes.
As was mentioned in the beginning of this article, your roof is essential to keeping your house protected. This is why proper roof maintenance should never be ignored. Use the tips and tricks mentioned above so that your roof remains in good shape throughout the year. It will save you more info from more costly repairs in the future.
Supplemental Reading - Browse The Text Below
New cool roof technologies adapt to the weather
Dive Brief:
- Recent heatwaves affecting much of the U.S. and Europe this summer are only the beginning of what is predicted to be continued above-record temperatures for decades to come, writes Architect magazine. To address this problem in the built environment, architects, builders and developers are increasingly turning to cool-roof technologies that reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof.
- A drawback of this approach is that in cold and moderate regions, traditional cool roofs reflect sunlight during wintertime rather than absorb it, resulting in colder interiors and higher heating bills.
- A new generation of these systems address that problem by using materials that can change their reflectance and thermal emittance properties seasonally. These products use technologies such as phase change material (PCM) and smart coatings and surfaces to keep buildings cool in summer and warm in winter.
Dive Insight:
Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Nearly any type of building in any locale can benefit from a cool roof, but builders and designers must consider the climate and other factors before deciding to install one, according to the Department of Energy.
Standard or dark roofs can reach temperatures of 150 degrees F or more in the summer sun. A cool roof under the same conditions could stay more than 50 degrees F cooler and save energy and money by using less air conditioning, the DOE says.
As the need for more climate-resilient building products increases, scientists around the world are studying new cool roof products that can change with the seasons. They include:
- A system that encapsulates an inorganic PCM between reflective aluminum foil sheets. Researchers found that PCMs employed in this way reduce summer cooling loads without impairing winter thermal performance.
- Smart coatings that may be applied directly to roofing materials to selectively reflect and absorb heat. One of these, United Environment & Energy's bio-based thermochromic material, is made of waste cooking oil.
- A surface technology that “sweats†like human skin to cool buildings. Designed by scientists in Switzerland, the system incorporates a thermo-responsive hydrogel that releases stored water when the air temperature exceeds 90 degrees F. As this water evaporates, it provides a cooler surface temperature for about three hours, researchers found.
- Smart ceramic roof tiles with a surface coating of tungsten trioxide that allow infrared light to pass through at temperatures below 120 degrees F but block rays above that threshold.
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