True Value helps homeowners with rainy day woes

True value in Power Plant Mall is the place to go to for your home improvement needs.

The onset of the rainy season will send most homeowners scrambling to the nearest hardware and home improvement centers in search for materials they can use to weatherproof their houses.

Unfortunately, some would end up buying more than what is needed for lack of adequate and proper assistance, which could have been provided by these stores.

Aware of such scenario, home improvement center True Value Philippines shared with Inquirer Property some tips on how homeowners can preserve, maintain or repair one of the more critical parts of a house, without the unnecessary expenses and purchases.

The roof, according to True Value, is in fact one of the most important structures in a house as this part is often at the receiving end of a typhoon’s fury—constantly battered by the strong, howling winds and the splattering of rains. If the roof leaks, major damages often ensue, eventually causing the deterioration of the whole house.

Here are some of reminders and do-it-yourself tips offered by True Value:

1 Metal roofing becomes susceptible to water damage over time.

Metal can be a durable roofing material. However, over time water will damage metal roofs and find ways between seams and other potential openings. To prevent these problems, protect the roof by sealing the metal and repelling water.

To do this, one must scrape off the old sealant and then scrub the roof with soap and water to remove dirt buildup. Rinse thoroughly and allow it to dry. Brush on a new elastomeric roofing coating meant specifically for metal roofs, using long, even brush strokes. Get all crevices and seams between pieces of metal sheeting. Just be mindful if that specific coating can be used for your metal roof. Note that there are specific coatings for various types of metal such as tin, steel or aluminum.

ROOF maintenance and repair is crucial especially at the onset of the rainy season.

For minor roof rust problems, use a heavy power washer or sandpaper to remove loose, flaking metal roof rust. For stubborn metal roof rust that somehow survives a power blasting, try trisodium phosphate (TSP).

Wash and rinse the roof thoroughly and let it dry before painting with a zinc primer, which can help prevent metal roof rust. Use X-O Rust Paint and Primer In One for top coat. Still, you may need to repaint the roof every few years to prevent the revenge of the metal roof rust. The other option is an acrylic paint.

For major rust roof problems, the entire roof should be replaced.

2 If roof shingles are loose, missing, rotten or damaged, they must be replaced.

One helpful tip: If you’ll be replacing entire rows of shingles, you’ll only need to round the back corners of the shingles in the top row to better fit the row above.

3 Use elastomeric paint and sealant, silicon sealant and acrylic waterproofing membrane paints to better preserve your roof.

Elastomeric paints and sealant are thick, high-grade elastomeric coatings that can seal roof leaks as well as save and extend the life of old roofs, thus making such coating an excellent choice for repair. Elastomeric roof coating, which is applied thicker than paint, usually has high temperature resistance that will stretch during summer due to intense heat but can return to its original shape without damage. It also contains polymeric materials, which make them opaque and reflective.

Meanwhile, silicon sealant (such as Selleys Silicon Sealant, Bostik Clear Seal and Pioneer Mighty Seal) is a flexible and waterproof substance normally used for sealing joints around baths, sinks or other plumbing fixtures. It can act as a very effective mosaic adhesive, particularly when both surfaces are not porous.

4 Always ensure that roofs are waterproof. To make sure your roofs are ready for the heavy rains, True Value offers a way to do so, particularly for the standard slanted roof with tar shingles (which is common in the Philippines).

First, determine the direction from which the strong typhoon winds are expected to come. Examine the roof from the direction where the worst winds are expected to come from. Identify any dips or rises in the surface. Any point that will provide a place where water can run uphill and/or slip under the shingles must be addressed. Shingles that are buckled or have warped must be replaced.

Seal the shingles around the three open sides in the areas of concern, using a can of silicone sealant in a caulking gun. Make sure that the sealant makes good contact with the buckled shingles to ensure that all gaps are sealed to prevent water from seeping.

Look at the flashing that is used around vents and chimneys to determine if there is bent or poorly sealed sections where wind and rain can run around or through. Poorly sealed areas can also cause damages that will eventually require the whole roof to be replaced. Use silicone to seal it tightly to prevent leakage.

True Value stressed that armed with the proper knowledge and right tools that you can get at True Value Home Center, it is indeed possible and practical to do your own repairs.

“For all of your home improvement project needs, head to True Value Home Center for the products and expert advice you need to start right. Visit True Value Home Center at the Concourse Level, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City,” it added.