Did you know? An unattended roof leads to expensive repairs. As the topmost part of a building, the roof is a complete protection system in itself. It shelters your establishment against strong winds, dust, rain, snow, etc. and helps maintain the interior temperature. Regular roof inspections can ward off expensive repairs and the risk of collapse. It also enhances the longevity of your roofs.

Here are the preliminary signs of roof damage that you need to watch out for while conducting an inspection.

  • Blistering, curling, or buckling in singles
  • Broken or missing      tiles 
  • Worn-out rubber boots and cracks in vent pipes
  • Rust spots or cracked caulks on flashing
  • Black algae stains, lichen, or moss growth on the surface
  • Cracks in the roofing tiles or sheets, vents, and other installations
  • Water logging in gutters
  • Loosely attached downspouts
  • Wet spots and water stains in the attic walls and ceiling that result from roof leakages.

When To Conduct A Roof Inspection?

The best way to maintain a roof is to inspect it at the right time. Here's when you need to conduct a roof inspection.

1) New Purchase

It's important to check if the roof is up-to-date and doesn't require any immediate repairs before shifting into a new property.

2) After The Storm

The golden rule is to conduct a roof inspection following a thunderstorm or hailstorm because they can cause serious roof damage. If your roof is insured against storm damage, you can even claim the amount for repair.

3) Before And After The Monsoon 

Make sure that you thoroughly inspect the roof before the onset of the monsoon to prevent unexpected roof leakages

4) Periodic Roof Inspections

If you live in an area that doesn't witness extreme climatic conditions or receive heavy rainfall and snowfall, it's best that you thoroughly monitor your roof at least once a year to look for the above mentioned signs of damage.

How To Inspect A Roof?

  1. Walk around the house to evaluate the external signs of roof damage (like aging, sagging, chipped surfaces, or discoloration).
     
  2. If you've got a tree looming over your establishment, it's important that you watch out for leaf piles, as they cause clogging in the vents.
     
  3. Another thing to check is granule loss on the shingle texture. It shows that the shingles have aged or worn out due to extreme weather conditions. Shingles without textures require immediate replacement.
     
  4. You must thoroughly check the regions around gutters, skylights, flashing, soil stacks, and chimneys. There are high chances of dust and water accumulation in these areas. Skylights generally need to be replaced every 15-20 years, whereas soil stacks could last up to 30 years. You must be familiar with the lifespan of different roofing materials to know when to replace them.
     
  5. Clean the roof surface and gullies to prevent dust accumulation.

How To Fix Roof Damages Caused By Moisture

Following the inspection, if you suspect roof leakage, you must seek an immediate solution to repair the damage. Water is one of the most detrimental agents of roof damage. It can cause decay, mold growth, rotting in sheathing and framing, corrosion of metallic structures, poor insulation, and chipped ceilings. Damp roofs and walls may also cause health issues for the residents. Using a waterproof, self-adhesive tape can keep moisture under control. The tape effectively seals valley gutters, cracks, holes, gaps, joints, projections, etc., and prevents unexpected leakages.

Onduline offers the best roof leakage solutions for buildings. Some of their most commonly sought-after products include:

  • Onduband

It's a bitumen-made, self-adhesive tape that reliably seals glass, wood, plaster, metal, concrete, masonry, and plastic structures. Made of high-quality resins, strong silicone-coated aluminum foil, and PET film, it offers extremely high resistance against UV light, water, and daily wear & tear. The tape is easy to use, sticks securely to the surface, and comes in attractive shades of red, terracotta, green, and black. You can use it to keep roof damage under control.

  • Flashing Band

It's a self-adhesive aluminum band used for sealing roof coverings, wall abutments, and chimneys. Made of a UV-stabilized aluminum coating and butyl-based gluing features, it is highly flexible, 25% more stretchable, and offers high resistance against all weather conditions. It is available in four shades (red, terracotta, brown, and black) and is cold-applied (best suited for temperatures above 5 °C).

  • ISOLINE

It's a great product for keeping roof tiles safe during the monsoons. ISOLINE, a complete moisture-proof system, prevents roof leakage while preserving the original appearance of the roof. It extends the life of your roof tiles through humidity-reducing ventilation. You could use it with any type of roof tile (be it clay, cement, or synthetic). It is fixed to wooden or metallic battens with a drilling machine or hammer and appropriate fixing material by roofing contractors. Roofs secured with ISOLINE last for a long time! It's lightweight, eco-friendly, and can fit all roofing underlays, regardless of their pitch and shape.

Is it time for your annual roof inspection, repair, or replacement? An 80-year-old name in the industry, Onduline is the leading provider of eco-friendly, innovative, and sustainable roofing products and repair solutions across countries. Get in touch with experts at ONDULINE to find the best roof leakage solutions.

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