After the long and hard winter, roofers are in high season in summer because the weather is usually stable. Therefore, they can work without interruptions and without longer breaks. If you have your roof checked now, you can still book an appointment for urgent or major repairs or even renovations during the summer months, if necessary. During a regular roof inspection, the roofer must take a thorough look at the following parts:
Loose tiles, cracks in the chimney or leaking connections should be repaired immediately. A loose tile can fall from the roof and injure someone or damage something. A crack in the chimney or a leaking connection can allow water to enter the insulation or the roof truss and cause humidity damage, which turn out to be quite expensive. In addition, broken roof tiles, snow guards or storm hooks should generally be replaced for safety reasons.
If, for example, a brick falls on a car, you are liable as the home or condominium owner. However, usually the building liability insurance covers the damage.
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Just as important as the roof inspection is the cleaning of the gutter. It drains the roof of the house and protects all walls and floors from mould or water damage. As soon as branches, leaves or moss accumulate on the roof and clog the gutter, it overflows. Then the rainwater runs down the wall of the house. This can lead to mould growth and, in the worst case, even damage the fabric of the building. Cleaning the gutter is easy, cleaning the downpipe is time-consuming. That's why it's worth having the roof cleaned with a broom or high-pressure cleaner and the gutter with special tools at least once a year. Or more often, for example, if the house is on a plot with many deciduous trees in the neighbourhood.
Moss is not pretty, but it is harmless. The roof tiles or bricks can withstand more. If the greenish or brownish coating bothers you, the roofer can easily remove it.
You can clean the gutter yourself. For this you need a lifting platform or ladder and someone to hold it. Better play it safe and leave the work to a professional.
On sunny days, the temperature on the roof surface rises up to 90 degrees. In addition, the heat is stored for a long time under the roof and remains stubbornly even at night, even when it cools down outside. This is why it is unbearably hot in many attics or lofts with skylights in summer. Roofers also install, mount or repair external sun protection measures, such as external roller shutters, window shutters, venetian blinds or awnings. Such measures reduce the heat in the attic or loft by up to 90 percent.
You can integrate more and more blinds, awnings or shutters into a smart home system and programme them with scenarios (for example from sunrise to sunset) or network them with sensors. Then, for example, they go up when it rains or storms..
In the article «8 Tips for the Summer: When It Gets Too Hot in the Attic» you may read what you can do if it is too hot under the roof despite sun protection. Including an emergency tip.
If you own or want to buy an older house or a flat in an older house, you should think about the roof. Solidly built and professionally tiled roofs have an average lifespan of 40 to 60 years (flat roof) or 50 years (pitched roof); roof tiles last 40 to 60 years. There are three reasons to have your roof retiled:
Humidity damage after a summer thunderstorm or storm is no reason to cover the entire roof again. It is usually sufficient to replace the broken tiles or roof stones.
Many home owners plan to renovate their roofs in the summer. This has advantages and disadvantages:
A lot of heat escapes through the roof and attic. With roof and attic insulation, you can minimise energy losses and make use of a energy saving potential of 10 to 20 per cent. In the article "How much does a roof renovation cost?" you learn more about the costs and subsidies.
Provide enough chilled drinks and offer the roofers a shady place for their breaks, for example in the cool cellar or under a tree or tent in the garden.
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Various experts are working on the roof and roof truss:
