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How To Clean Algae Off Roof Shingles

Stains and dirt on asphalt shingles can only make your entire house look shabby which can go a long way to hide away the true value of your building. In some cases, dirts and stains on asphalt roofing shingles are nothing more than a cosmetic issue. However, there are also times in which it goes far beyond this - when the stains are indicators of a problem that if ignored, can result in a serious roof damage and ultimately, roof failure. In most cases, it’s usually hard to distinguish these stains and hence, the more reason why your asphalt roofing shingles should be regularly cleaned and maintained. In this article, we’re going to look at how you can get rid of algae of your roof shingles.

Algae growth on roof usually have either blue, green or black stains. They normally begin with little spots which will develop into streaks overtime. These stains are mostly mistaken for moss or mildew and aren’t harmful to any other thing than the roof shingles. However, the look it gives the entire house is something nobody enjoys.

It should be noted that this is a task that deals with working at height and requires skills and confidence to pull off. If you lack any of these qualities, simply reach out to a professional for help.

✓ Safety first. Put on protective clothing.

✓ Apply a bleach solution with a garden sprayer and let it sit for up to 20 minutes

✓ Rinse the roof thereafter with the stream from the hose (do not use a pressure washer as it can damage the roof shingles)

✓ If there are still algae left after rinsing with water, you can make use of a brush with medium-stiff bristles to gently scrub the stains off. If some stains are still left, simply let the roof dry before repeating the process again.

Velux windows, or roof windows, are very easy to clean. Regular cleaning helps to keep them looking bright and shiny for years to come. So how should you clean Velux windows?

If you want to clean the air filter, you can remove it and wash it with your normal household cleaners. Velux windows have a cleaning position, so rotate and secure it into this position then remove the filter. You should be able to buy new filters from the manufacturer of your roof window.

To clean the outer pane, there’s no need to lean out of the window and risk falling out. Simply rotate the sash (the opening part) 180 degrees and secure it into position. Then you can clean the pane with a soft, lint-free cloth, sponge or squeegee and clean water. If you live in a hard water area, add some detergent to the water and wipe the window dry when you’re finished. You can also use normal non-abrasive household cleaners.

It’s recommended that you clean the flashing around your roof window at least once a year. You can use a brush to do this. This will allow rainwater to flow freely and stop any leaves from collecting.

If you’re in any doubt about using certain cleaners on your Velux windows, get in touch with the manufacturer who should be able to help. You can also do a patch test on an inconspicuous area if you’re unsure.

How long it takes to fix a roofing sheet on a commercial property will depend on the size of your roof and how difficult access is. Corrugated iron roofing sheets are much easier to fit than other roofing materials such as clay tiles or EDPM rubber, so that will work in your favour.

The size of the team of the roofing company you engage will also make a difference. If they have a lot of tradespeople working on your roof with lots of experience, it will take less time, while if there are only a couple of people it will take longer.

Another thing to bear in mind when considering how long it will take to fix a roofing sheet is the weather. If it starts to rain, the contractors will probably have to stop and wait, as the roof will be too slippery to work on.

In general, it should take between 1 and 3 days to fit roofing sheets on a commercial property. If you’re not having a full roof replacement, it may only take one day, whereas a completely new metal roof could take up to 3 days.

How to repair your flat garage roof will depend on what it’s made from. Lots of flat garage roofs are made from EDPM rubber, asphalt or felt. We’ll explain how to carry out repairs on your garage roof here. EDPM rubber flat roof repair EDPM rubber is an excellent choice for a flat garage roof and should need little maintenance. But if you do need to repair it, there are a few easy fixes. If it’s a small crack or tear, apply some lap sealant to the area, but don’t use too much. If you go for a more professional repair later, the sealant will need to be scraped off, so if there’s too much it might cost you more in labour. If you need to repair the flashing, buy some malleable flashing tape so you can form it into the right shape. Clean and dry the area that needs repairing, then apply an EDPM primer. When that’s touch dry, stick the patch of flashing tape down from the centre outwards with a roller. Repairing an asphalt flat garage roof Asphalt is also very hard-wearing, and when it does need fixing, the fixes often last a long time. So if you do get cracks or blisters, you can use a paint-on fix from a tin as a temporary repair. When it’s time for a more permanent fix, you can add a small patch of torched-on roofing felt or use a liquid system, but the high-quality ones are often only available to trade customers. How to repair a felt flat garage roof Felt can be repaired in a similar way to asphalt flat garage roofs. For small cracks or a temporary fix, try a paint-on treatment from a tin. But for something more permanent, use a patch of torched-on roofing felt or a liquid system. If these don’t stick, unfortunately it means it’s time for a new felt garage roof. If you do need a new flat garage roof, leave it to the professionals who will ensure that your new roof will last for years.

How Much Is It To Replace A Garage Roof?

The size of your garage will be the main determinant of the cost of a new garage roof. However, the present condition of your roof structure as well as the type of roof covering preferred are also huge factors. In the UK, the cost of a garage roof replacement will be within the range of £700 to £3600.

The first step a pro will take is to remove the existing roofing while also making sure that the timber structure is in a good condition. In the event whereby the timber is rotten, it will need to be replaced before the installation of a new roof. If the garage roof sheets needs a replacement, you’ll have to spend about £30 to £50 per each garage roof sheets. Individual plywood sheet has around 2.4m x 1.2m in measurement and whose price should also be included in the final cost.

The above information applies only to standard roofing for garage roofs with flat roofs being made of bitumen felt and asphalt. In recent times, this is no longer the case with several more options available. Today, EPDM and GRP fibreglass have rapidly become very popular amongst several homeowners in the country. It’s also important to note that modern roofing has greatly advanced over the years even though both EPDM garage roofs and GRP fibreglass garage roofs are way better and of more quality when compared to felt and asphalt roofs. And thanks to modern technology, modern garage roofing possesses a longer life expectancy and as result, are a lot costlier than the conventional ones.

For a medium size single garage (2.7m x 5.5m), the cost for a felt roof per square metre is between £40 to £70, while that of a fiberglass roof and an EPDM rubber roof is between £90 to £110 and £70 to £100 respectively.

How To Clean And Maintain Metal Roofs

If you already have a metal roof or just planning to get one, you’d probably be interested in knowing the cleaning and maintenance procedures. Although, metal roof are widely known to be very easy to clean and maintain and also very durable and long lasting, it’s still strongly recommended that homeowners should do all in their power clean and to take care of their metal roof in order to ensure it they live up to their potentials. Cleaning your metal roofs regularly helps to minimize damaging element such as airborne dirt, pollen, organic material debris, pollution, mildew and lots more. If left unattended to, these unwanted elements can result in several negative issues over time as such as chalking. Due to fact that metal roofs normally features special coatings as well as paint, cleaning the roof is both easy and environmentally friendly, which removes the need to use toxic chemicals. With just plain water, you can effectively wash down dirt, dust and other debris from your metal roof.

While the cleaning process is quite simple, working at height can be incredibly dangerous. It requires skills and confidence, so if you lack either of these qualities, it’s advisable to call in a professional roof cleaning contractor for help. Below is a simple cleaning solution usful for most metal roofs.

✓ In the event whereby water alone isn’t enough, make a cleaning solution using a quarter cup detergent ( which should include car washing soap, mild laundry detergent, mild dish soap) for each gallon of water.

✓ Apply the mixture to the surface of the roof with a wash cloth and ensure to the application gently.

✓ After application, allow it sit for up to 15mins.

✓ Rinse the roof surface with plain water.

How To Replace A Broken Roof Tile?

If you have a broken roof tile on your property, the next logical step to take is having it replaced as soon as you can. However, this is not the simplest of tasks so you might need some guidance if you wish to do it yourself. If you lack the confidence needed to pull this off as it involves working at height, then we’d strongly recommend you hire the services of a reliable roofing contractor or company who can guarantee the best results for help. In this guide, we’re going to walk you through the processes involved in the replacement of broken tiles. Let’s have a look!

✓ Match your roof tiles perfectly. The most frequently used roof tiles are concrete and terracotta. They may look all similar but they can actually vary in shapes, length as well as thickness. To replace a broken tile, you must first make sure that it’s the same type of tile so it doesn’t interfere with the flow of your roof which can lead to further damage.

✓ Climb on to the roof. Make use of a strong and stable ladder to do this. If you’re not comfortable with heights, simply call in a professional. Falling of the roof would be more expensive.

✓ Remove the broken tile. Lift up the overlapping tile next to the broken tile in such a way to enable an easy removal of the broken one. If you’re not able to life them, then they probably have nails securing them in place. Remove these nails to proceed.

✓ Replace the broken tile with the new one. To do this, simply lift up the bottom tiles from the above row and then slide the new tile back in place. If the tiles have been nailed, make sure you also drive a nail through the hole in the new tile into the timber roof batten.

How To Replace A Flat Roof

Is it high time you replaced your flat roof with a new one? If it’s time, then you probably shouldn’t waste another minute! Flat roofs come with multiple upsides and happens to be a lot more affordable than many other options (especially for starters). Not only do they add to your home’s curb appeal and requires a relatively low labour costs as there are minimal risks involved, but they’re also more accessible for maintenance purposes and aren’t as exposed to damage as a pitched roof. However, we’re not here to discuss the various benefits of installing a flat roof, but rather tell you how to install one. If you lack proper training and experience, we’d recommend you hire a trustworthy professional that can guarantee the best results.

• Wipe the entire roof system clean.

• Detach and replace rotted roof sheathings.

• Detach and replace rotted fascia

• Hire a qualified air conditioning professional to disconnect the existing AC units.

• Introduce new aluminium air conditioning stands and secure against the deck.

• Let you qualified air conditioning professional reconnect the existing AC units.

• Put in place the new air conditioning quick disconnects.

• Attach EPS fanfold insulation in such a way to cover the surface of the entire roof and secure it firmly in place.

• Attach the tie-in roof materials where necessary.

• Attach roofing membrane to cover the entire area of the roofing.

• Attach membrane to the entire roof’s perimeter.

• Attach new perimeter flashings (fascia bar, fascia cap and drip edge), secured on the centre at 6. Make use of a good sealant to secure the fascia bar or fascia cap’s top flange.

• Attach boots on plumbing seal and stacks.

• Identify the existing vent stacks and seal, and put curbs

• Put safety walk pad network from the access point of the roof to the air conditioning units.

• Attach rooftop signs for roof traffic personnel

• Tidy up and clear out the debris