Don’t wait until it’s too late

Summer is the perfect time for homeowners to give their roof a health check.

No matter what your roof is made from – tin, tiles, iron or Colourbond – a little routine maintenance can save you the heartache of water damage in your home or the expense of replacing rusted gutters.

Safety first

Whenever you go up onto your roof, make sure you are safe – don’t go up on windy days, and always make sure the ladder is stable before you ascend or descend. It’s also a good idea to let someone know you’re going to be working on the roof and how long you expect to be.

Scout for obvious problems

Firstly, once you’re up there, give your roof a quick overview, being careful to step only on well-supported areas. Make a mental note of any trouble spots, so you can move the ladder closer to that area and make repairs easier.

Check on those gutters

Once you’ve done a preliminary overall inspection, it’s time to get to work on the gutters. Lean the ladder up against a stable part of the gutter and work your way around the roof, removing any built-up leaf litter or sticks and other debris.

If you come across any small holes in the gutter, you can repair them using a waterproof sealant, or silicone. Also make sure the joins aren’t rusty, and the downpipes are clear.

If the gutters are so badly rusted that they need replacing, you can buy all the equipment and tools you need from your local hardware store, or call in the professionals.

Get to work

The next step is to clean the roof, if required. A water pressure cleaner is the best way to go about this, but again, make sure you are safe. Always make sure that you walk backwards from where you have cleaned so you avoid standing on a slippery and potentially uneven surface.

If you don’t have a cleaner, you can hire one from a local supplier.

If the roof is really dirty or covered in dark mould or mildew, you may need to call in the professionals for an expert opinion. You can attempt to clean it yourself, but if you’re using chemicals to kill mould, make sure you disconnect any downpipes that lead to water storage tanks first.

Never attempt to clean a steep, pitched roof yourself – that’s a job for the experts.

Always call for professional help if you’re in doubt about getting up onto your roof for any reason. It’s better to pay someone qualified than to injure yourself.

You can easily find roofing experts on the Yellow Pages. Click here to find one in your local area.