Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. Actually, your home is about 30% roof – no wonder it’s so important.
The roof not only protects the structure of your house and the inside of your home from being damaged by the weather, but it also protects you and your family as well.
When your roof is in great working condition, it is pretty easy to forget about – which is why many people end up actually neglecting their home’s roof. Just like every other part of your home, your roof needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly to ensure that it lasts the long haul.
However, because people often forget about this, as well as the fact it is exposed and working 24/7, there are a number of common issues that can affect your roof.
Today, we’re going to tell you about some of these common issues that affect your roof, and how they are most likely going to be fixed.
So, if your home has a roof, keep reading to learn more.
Damaged or missing roof tiles
Roof tiles are made from a variety of different materials, including concrete, stone, and terracotta. They are made to add protection to the structure, insulation, and interior ceiling of your home. While they are extremely durable materials, even they are susceptible to a bit of damage.
Damage to your roof tiles can happen for all sorts of reasons – storm damage, exposure to severe heat, debris, or just general wear and tear.
If your home’s roof tiles come off during an extreme storm, or from old age, it is imperative that you have them refastened or replaced. If the tile is just a little lose, you will likely be able to just affix it so that it fits firmly. If it has come off completely or had some thing heavy fall on it, it’s likely that it will be damaged, which usually means that it should be replaced with a new one.
Luckily, a roofing professional can easily replace or repair roof tiles!
Asbestos in the roof
Asbestos is a natural material that was commonly used in the building and construction industry in Australia from around 1940 to the 1990s. It is a mineral that is made of millions of tiny asbestos fibres that are flexible, light, and super strong.
It was used so much in building homes and buildings around Australia, and the rest of the world, because it has insulative properties, it’s lightweight and it’s so durable. It was used in all sorts of ways, including loose fibres being used as insulation, and these loose fibres being mixed in with adhesive materials, like cement.
These asbestos cement products were formed into many different things around the home including fibrous asbestos cement sheeting that was used for roofing.
While asbestos is long lasting, it has also been proven to be a major health risk when it is disturbed. While it might last a long time, if the asbestos fibres become lose, they can be inhaled and lead to a few incurable illnesses, like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
If your roof is made of asbestos cement sheeting, it is recommended to have this replaced with an asbestos-free replacement. Especially if it is quite old or you’re planning renovations around your home. You want to remove any chance of exposure to asbestos fibres.
To get asbestos materials removed, it has to be done by a licensed professional, so no one is accidentally exposed to the asbestos fibres. If you need asbestos removal in Melbourne, we recommend working with a team like Asbestos Australia, who specialise in asbestos removals in Melbourne and the rest of Victoria too.
Damaged or broken gutters
Just like your roof, gutters are all too often neglected. That’s because when they are working well, it is just so easy to forget about them. If your home’s roof has been damaged by a storm or is starting to wear out from old age, it is certainly likely that your gutters might be feeling some pain too. Your roof and gutters rely on each other and when one isn’t working the other tends to suffer.
Some of the common issues that can happen to gutters is that they become loose from old, loose, or missing fasteners, they can get rusty and split, they may sag because of a blockage in them, and they may fall off entirely – which usually only happens after extreme weather or severe neglect.
A roofing and gutter specialist will be able to replace missing or worn-out fasteners, gutters and ensure that everything is working as it should be.
Look after your home’s roof
When it comes to your home’s roof, it’s best to work with a professional, so whether you have repairs that need attention or asbestos that needs to be removed, make sure you choose to work with experienced and qualified experts – and make sure you don’t neglect your roof!
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