Metal roofing provides various benefits to property owners. The roofing is durable, energy-efficient, and also has recycled steel content. Once properly installed by an expert Huntsville roofing contractor, metal roofs can last for up to 75 years or more.
As with all types of roofing, you need to take proper care and maintenance of the metal roofing. In this blog post, you will learn about five maintenance tips to ensure that the metal roof lasts for a long time.
1. Regular Inspection
You should get your metal roofing inspected at least twice a year, particularly after severe weather. During the inspection, you should check the following to ensure that your metal roofing is in good condition.
- Signs of damage from hail or ice
- Condition of metal fasteners and panels
- Sealants
- Missing or aging fastener gaskets
- Condition of surface coatings
- Corrosion or rust
- Clogs or debris in gutters and grains
Often, the screws holding the panels together become loose. You should have the Huntsville roofing contractor check and tighten the screws, and replace missing screws. Moreover, the sealant of the roof should be inspected and replaced, if required.
2. Repaint Metal Roofing
Corrosion is a serious problem with metal roofing. To prevent corrosion, you should touch up areas of the roof with signs of wear and tear. Moreover, you should repaint the entire roof after every 4 years for protection against corrosion.
The roof needs to be prepared well before painting. A wire and a scraper can be used to remove any rust or lose paint from the roof. Moreover, the roof should be properly cleaned with a tri-sodium phosphate solution to ensure best result.
3. Fix Open Seams and Holes
Opens seams and holes may develop on the metal roofing over time due to exposure to the weather elements. You should fix the holes by patching up with a piece of tin that is slightly larger than the hole.
Consider applying some flux around the hole before patching up. You can use tin snips for cutting out patches of tin. The patches can be secured in place using a soldering iron. You can also use roofing cement for fixing small gaps on the roof. Open seams should be re-caulked using urethane roof cement.
4. Keep Metals Separate
You need to make sure that no other metals touch the metal roofing. For instance, make sure that the copper pipes don’t touch the steel roof. Metals that touch each other break down when they become wet under the electrolytic corrosion process.
5. Clean the Roof Regularly
Regularly cleaning the metal roofing is important to avoid any rusts. Use a clean cloth to gently rub a cleanser on the roofing. You should rinse the roof with clear water after cleaning the surface.
In case corrosion develops due to rusting, you should sand the area lightly to remove any rust from the surface. Moreover, you should apply a metal primer to prevent corrosion in the future.
Another tip to clean metal roofing is to wash it using dish soap. Mix a few drops of soap in water and clean the metal roofing using a clean cloth. In case of scratches on the metal roofing, you should pour mineral spirits onto the cloth and clean the scratched part of the roofing.
Conclusion
Metal roofing is an excellent investment that can provide decades of peace of mind. Some buildings have metal roofs that are more than a century old. The metal roof looks great and increases the home’s value. To ensure that your metal roofing remains in tip-top condition, you should follow the maintenance tips mentioned in this article.
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