Structure and Design Issue 36

Page 45

HERE ARE SOME HANDY HINTS ON CARING FOR YOUR ROOF IN ZIMBABWE CHECK YOUR ROOF OFTEN

Whether your roof is made of thatch, metal, tile or slate, you need to get up there regularly. For shingled, tiled and metal roof, inspections should be done every three years. However, more regular inspections (annually, perhaps) are best. Always wear a helmet and be very careful when climbing up onto a roof.

CLEAN YOUR ROOF

Just cleaning dirt off your roof can help to keep it free from moss and fungus, which can cause erosion and other damage in the long term.

REPAIR CRACKED TILES AND SHINGLES

KEEP THE AREA ABOVE THE ROOF FREE OF BRANCHES Overhanging drop their leaves, which then become wet and soggy in rains and dew, and damage the roof. Falling twigs and branches may also cause other damage to the tiles and shingles, breaking them as they crash down.

BE SEALANT SAVVY

Be very thorough when checking the state of your sealant and replace it wherever necessary.

PAINT YOUR ROOF

Regularly painting your roof is not only for the fresh, clean look and feel; it’s also an important part of protecting it from the hot sun of Zimbabwe.

Cracked and damaged tiles can lead to leaks; which causes damage to the ceiling, introduces mould and mildew to the interior of your Q ÂŽ electrical system, and will compromise the integrity of the roof N " ÂŽ Q N

ADDRESS RUST

Roof repairs in Zimbabwe often involve taking care of rust because of the many metal roofs that are used throughout Zimbabwe. The initial phases of rust can be handled by scrubbing the rusty areas with a wire brush, applying primer, and then painting over the area. This is an easy way to prevent massive erosion, leaks, and eventually replacement of the roof.

UNION HARDWARE

ANNIVERSARY

KEEP YOUR GUTTERS CLEAN

When your gutters get clogged up with leaves and other debris, this spells disaster for your roof. The water that gets caught in the clogged gutters will soon leak into the structure of your roof and cause massive damage.

ISSUE 36

45


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