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But while you may assume the only difference is in the appearance, you will soon see that flat roof maintenance is arguably even more important than maintenance on a sloping roof.
What makes a flat roof unique
A flat roof is truly unique because it does not provide a way for the water or snow to run off it. Snow may settle on a normal roof, but not to the same extent that it will on a flat roof.
If six inches of snow come down, you will see six inches of snow sitting on your flat roof. In contrast a normal roof will only have a relatively small amount.
Because of this aspect, flat roof maintenance is extremely important. When the weather is bad a flat roof can be worn down more quickly than a normal roof.
When you consider the difference in the materials used for the job you will see how true this is.
A standard roof may use terracotta tiles for example, whereas a flat roof will use roofing felt or something similar. As you can imagine, felt wears through far quicker than a roofing tile!
This means that a regular inspection of your flat roof should form a key part of your flat roof maintenance. You can do a lot yourself simply by keeping an eye on the condition of your flat roof from outside your home.
If you have a view of it from an upstairs window this is ideal. If not, climb up a ladder to take a quick look for any trouble spots.
You should also look at the ceiling inside the room which has the flat roof, to see if there are any signs of leaking.
Proper flat roof maintenance will make the roof last longer.
A good roofing contractor will be able to maintain it for you, but you should make sure you only take on someone who is properly qualified.
Look for the Technician Seal of Safety; this means the person has been professionally trained and has been subjected to a background check and drugs test.
Eventually your flat roof will no doubt need replacing. But taking good care of it before that point will prolong its life.
When you do need to opt for a replacement rather than a repair, you should ask how much work will be involved.
For example if the roof is very badly damaged the underlying joists may have been damaged too. In contrast you may only need to have the roofing material taken up and replaced.
A good roofing contractor will be able to tell you what is required and how long the job will take. This will lead to a brand new flat roof that should last for years to come.
But don’t forget that even when you have to replace your flat roof you shouldn’t negate the need to continue with your flat roof maintenance.
A regular inspection will mean you can make it last as long as possible.
This article about Flat Roof Maintenance was brought to you by Kanga Roof
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