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:
Connections
Antennas
Lightning protection systems
Roof covering
Insulation
Chimney
Snow guard grille
Storm hook
Have minor damage repaired immediately
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.
Good to know
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.
Good to know
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.
Tip
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.
Sun protection for hot summer months
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.
Good to know
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..
Roofers install, among other things, external roller shutters that minimise the heat in the attic or loft.
When does the roof need to be covered again?
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:
Repairs to age-related weak points such as dilapidated tiles or roof stones accumulate towards the end of the roof's service life and cost more in total than a roof renovation.
You renovate the insulation, façade and windows and increase the value of the house with these energy measures. It is worthwhile to have the roof redone at the same time.
As soon as rain or condensation water penetrates the wooden roof truss or the masonry, you must act immediately, otherwise the moisture damage to the building fabric will be expensive.
Good to know
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.
Roof renovation in summer: advantages and disadvantages
Many home owners plan to renovate their roofs in the summer. This has advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages: The summer months are usually very warm and dry for a longer period of time. In addition, the sun rises earlier and sets later. That's why the roofers can work longer in the best conditions and daylight. If the weather cooperates, they should finish earlier and you will have peace and quiet from the construction noise of the craftsmen sooner.
Disadvantages: Working on the roof and roof trusses can be exhausting and dangerous, especially in temperatures above 40 degrees. That is why professional roofers prefer to take one break too many rather than one too few in midsummer because of their work safety. In addition, they have to secure the construction site even better than usual because of possible summer thunderstorms.
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:
The carpenter plans and builds the roof truss, the basic framework of the roof, according to the laws of statics. The wooden construction is made individually for each house. As soon as the roof truss is finished, the topping-out ceremony is celebrated and then the roof is covered.
The roofer, as the name suggests, covers the roof. For example, with roof tiles, metal, slate or clay tiles. He also installs skylights, insulates roof trusses, installs photovoltaic systems and lays solar tiles.
The tinsmith does all metal work. In particular, edgings of chimneys and hatchways, (decorated) details such as eaves or verges and lightning conductors. Some of this work can also be done by roofers or carpenters.
Answers to five important questions about the roof
How much maintenance does my house roof need? Roofs are easy to maintain. Nevertheless, it is worth having the roof checked once a year. The best time is in late autumn or before summer, when you want to take advantage of the good weather for major work. The most important things are the tightness, insulation and guttering.
Where can humidity penetrate all over? The connections and terminations of windows, vents and chimneys are particularly vulnerable. Here, work must be done very precisely so that no humidity can penetrate. During his annual roof inspection, the roofer should carefully check all connections and terminations.
How do I detect damage to the insulation? In summer, damp spots or puddles in the attic or roof truss reveal leaks in the insulation. In winter, you can recognise damage when the roof is completely snowed in and snow-free spots form. Heat escapes from these spots, which is why the snow melts.
What are the consequences of damage to the insulation? In summer, heat penetrates, so the cooling does not work as desired. In winter, heat escapes, so you have to heat more. In addition, humidity penetrates through leaky insulation and can form mould or damage the masonry.
Should I check my roof after every storm? No. Only after a violent storm, gale or hailstorm. Check the tiles to see if they are broken or loose and look in the attic for puddles and discolouration on the wall that indicate a leak in the roof.
Have your roof checked by a professional roofer now. If he discovers damage that should be repaired, you are still early enough to book an appointment in the summer. In our partner network, you will find tested experts from your region who we recommend to you with a clear conscience. With just a few clicks, you can request up to three quotes.
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