How Do You Maintain A Metal Roof

On metal roofs it s a must to wear rubber soled shoes.

How do you maintain a metal roof.

Walk up or down a slightly inclined roof by walking as you would on the ground but slowly. Metal roofs are relatively easy to clean with patience. Remove all the rust possible and then rinse with clear water from a garden hose. In very humid areas mildew may in areas of a metal roof despite the high mildew resistance of quality paints and protective coatings.

2 3 cup trisodium phosphate tsp 1 quart of common chlorine bleach 5 sodium hypochlorite solution. These areas can expose your metal roofing to chemicals that will break down the paint system and can corrode the metal. Metal roofs are thinner than other roofing materials and prone to getting bent or even punctured when you walk or stand on them. In addition metal roofs don t need the periodic costly maintenance that other roofing materials often require.

Look for loose flashings roof sheets fasteners or punctures from falling objects. The best shoes boots for metal roofs are the soft soled shoes usually made of a light pliable rubber. Inspect areas around chimneys heat vents oil condensers above cooking areas and air conditioners. Traditionally we ve insulated the roof panel to try and keep the temperature on the panel from reaching the dew point.

In most cases all you need is pressurized water but sometimes you may need a chemical cleaner for especially tough spots. Flashing is metal trim that fits over joints where two sections of roof meet. Most important though is to take some safety precautions before attempting to clean to reduce the chance of injury. Add a preinstalled membrane to absorb and release the condensation as it forms with the natural weather cycle.

Do not scrape the rust with a wire brush. It helps direct water away from the meeting points and keeps the roofing dry. The flashing should overlap the edge of the roof by one inch to help direct water. Metal roofs reflect solar radiant heat which can reduce cooling costs by 10 25.

Metal roofs will not spark and ignite into flames during a wildfire or lightning strike. Walk up a roof and lean your body over towards the roof to help maintain your balance. Bend the flashing into a v shape to fit over the top roof ridge and the corners where the panels meet. Insulate and try to keep from reaching the dew point.

The steeper the metal roof the more you ll need to lean over. You should have the feeling that your shoes are sticking to the metal. Refer to our glossary. If the rust has caused corrosion sand it lightly to remove the rust completely and then apply a metal primer to protect the roof from future rust.

However they should be inspected periodically to make sure no repairs are required. If you do find mildew has developed washing with a solution such as this should remove it. Tip 1 avoid walking on the roof. Crouch down slightly to walk down a metal roof safely.

The following tips apply to most metal roofs whether exposed fastener standing seam or architecturally inspired types that look like slate cedar shakes or ceramic tile. Not sure what those objects are.