Being exposed to the different outdoor elements, your roof needs to be maintained to fulfill its role correctly. With a simple cleaning or specific treatments, find out how to ensure the durability of your roof.
Cleaning a Roof
Cleaning is an essential process in maintaining a roof, knowing that its objective is to eliminate the various deposits that can degrade your roof. Indeed, rust, mold, infiltration, etc., are all caused by the accumulation of elements on the roof’s surface.
If you want to do the cleaning yourself:
Make sure you are healthy enough to get on the roof. If you are, start by removing the debris accumulated in your gutters.
Take the opportunity to inspect them. If they show signs of leakage, seal them with mastic.
Proceed with the cleaning of your roof.
High-Pressure Cleaning
To perform a high-pressure cleaning, you’ll need the proper equipment. The principle is to spray water all over your roof. Be aware that materials such as slate and tile require special attention. Indeed, it is necessary to measure the pressure well at the risk of deteriorating your covering and encouraging infiltration. On the other hand, this is the best cleaning technique for metal roofs.
Brush Cleaning
This technique is best suited to sloping roofs with delicate coverings. The principle is to brush the top and clean the tiles one by one. To do this, use a cleaning product, such as a detergent. Bleach should be avoided because of its aggressiveness.
When cleaning your roof, remember to take precautions to avoid falling. Moreover, it is not recommended to clean a roof when it is windy or rainy.
Roof Defoaming
Moss removal is a cleaning process reserved for slate and tile roofs. As the name suggests, it involves removing moss that has developed on the roof covering. As it is a more in-depth process, it is advisable to entrust the task to professionals. Indeed, it is the guarantee of a correctly done job.
Once a year, the process starts with the unclogging of the gutters. Then, the roof can be cleaned with a stiff brush or an anti-foam product. Since cleaning with a brush is a slow and tedious operation, most craftsmen opt for the second option. The principle is to apply the anti-foam product and rinse it with water. However, there are slow-acting products. In this case, no rinsing is necessary; the product will be eliminated by the rain later.
To prevent the appearance of new moss, it is possible to use copper wire installed at the top of the roof. In contact with the rain, it will oxidize, which will prevent the proliferation of plants.
Waterproofing Treatment
The waterproofing treatment is done after the cleaning. A film-forming product, generally resin-based, will be sprayed on your roof during this operation. The objective is to cover the roofing with a protective layer to waterproof it and thus prevent infiltrations. Moreover, if your roof has already lost its shine, you can use a waterproofing pearl, which will be able to revive the color of your roof. However, if you notice any cracks, you must repair them first. Otherwise, the product will be of no use.
In general, waterproofing is reserved for roofing craftsmen. Indeed, they will be able to apply the product correctly to reach all the corners of your roof.