Roof maintenance for the rainy season

WITHOUT proper and constant care roof maintenance may turn out to be more costly. SINO CRUZ

HOUSES PROVIDE comfort and security for its tenants but making sure these are always at their optimum condition is a must, especially this rainy season.

However, one section of the house that is most often overlooked is the roof, which should be surprising considering how crucial it is in preserving the condition and integrity of your house.

Unfortunately, it is only when the roof starts to show signs of problems do we give it the attention that it needs. Little do homeowners realize that when the roof starts to leak, it can destroy interiors and details, leading to bigger structural damage.

Frankie Sy, vice president for operations of Globe International Distributor Center Inc., a growing distributor of hardware and construction products, noted that roof maintenance is as important as maintaining any part of the house. Even more so because a good roof solidly protects the entire house structure from sun, rain and other external hazards.

Sy told Inquirer Property that to many homeowners, roof maintenance is simply repainting the roofs every three years, applying sealants whenever and wherever there are leaks and replacing damaged parts when needed.

This approach however can be very expensive because often homeowners find the damages beyond patch repairs, he noted.

“Roof maintenance should not be costly. However, because most homeowners overlook proper and constant roof maintenance, it becomes costly in the long run,” Sy explained.

He enumerated seven tips for easier and more practical ways to maintain your roofs:

1Make sure that you have your roof checked and cleaned at least once a year. This is practically DIY (do it yourself) as all you need to do is inspect if there are any holes, loose tex screws and nails, paint or sealant that has been damaged or if there are already rust formations.

2Check if the gutters are clean, free from deposits of leaves, soil, old rags etc. which will be very heavy and will cause the gutter to collapse eventually. It is also important to remove any overhanging branches to keep critters and rats off your roof.

3Always check the roof after a major storm because there might have been external objects such as stones, other roofs, debris etc. that winds can pick up, which can do great damage to it, such as scratches and holes, even the minute ones.

4From the inside, be alert for dark areas on the ceilings, peeling paints, damp spots etc. which may be signs of early roof leaks.

5For old roofs, repainting them (after steps 1-4) at least once every two to three years is essential. Repainting prevents rust from forming and maintains proper protection from heat, wind and rain.

6Make sure to use the right products for roof holes and leaks. Elastomeric sealants, such as Primero Elastomeric Sealants, are perfect for such types of repairs because they are elastic and do not crack or melt and they can withstand extreme UV rays of the sun.

7For new roofs, seal roof nails before painting. This ensures that point of entries for water is sealed. Roof nails and joints are critical areas since these are the usual entry points of water where rust forms first and this is where water seeps in that can damage ceilings, walls and furniture.

Sy added, “maintain your roof regularly and properly and keep your roofing repair costs to a minimum. A roof that is properly maintained can last a lifetime.”

Primero Multiseal Elastomeric Sealant is a water-based, especially formulated sealant that is exceptionally flexible, sealing leaks and cracks and filling holes and gaps. It comes in gray, green, red and clear colors and in 200-g and 600-g plastic tub and 4-kg packaging. A 200-g tub is enough to seal close to 100 roof nails.