Roof maintenance is not an easy task. Whenever you are faced with the reality of maintaining and cleaning up something that you’d utilize for a long time, you are motivated to do so because you know that particular thing or item does wonders for you. In this case, your roof should be one of your top priorities. The thing is, the process of maintaining your roof may vary depending on the current climate and weather. The way you’d maintain your roof whenever it’s the rainy season varies once the humidity kicks in. So for the sake of focusing on the current season, we’d concentrate on the warm (and sometimes unbearable) glare of the summer season.
This may be the most appropriate focus, not only because we are currently experiencing this climate, but also because the Philippines is forever encased in this warm slumber. Even when the rainy and winter season arrives, you cannot ignore the heat from the sun, a certain feature of the Philippines being a tropical country to begin with. So, sit back, relax, and ready your roofing tools, as we are going to present
to you a few valuable tips for maintaining your roof this summer.
1. Cut away your tree branches.
We’re going to cheat a bit here, since this doesn’t directly deal with your roof. Nonetheless, it may also affect your roof when left unchecked. As much as you’d enjoy the shade provided by your surrounding trees and its bountiful leaves, you have to admit that the cleanup process thereafter is a hassle. As with the previous tip, fallen leaves can be a pain in the neck, even literally. So, how do you cut down on the fallen leaves? Why, you cut down the branches, of course. Now, we are not saying that you should cut down the whole tree. No, just focus on the branches. Sometimes, these branches may grow into undesirable lengths, so much that the leaves would just pile up on your roof. Remember, you are trying to avoid any clogging in your gutters, so the less leaf sources there is, the cleaner your roof would be. Now, you shouldn’t overdo do this as well. Most of the time, your roof is protected by your surrounding trees, as the branches extend a few feet away from your roof surface, with the leaves getting a blunt off all the sunlight. In a way, they deflect and lessen the sun’s rays, giving your roof more lifespan than the usual. It’s just a matter of balancing everything.
2.Clean out your gutters.
Believe it or not, the gutter is also a part of your roof. If you happen to have trees planted on your front or backyard, you can very much expect your roof to have dry, fallen leaves on top of them. These fallen leaves wouldn’t really do any damage on your roof, as, of course, something soft and fragile as leaves would be no match against your durable roof type. However, the part where they are blown in would be your main concern. Our roof has gutters around them in order to catch rain water. These rain waters are then guided via pipes towards your drainage system, so as to avoid any water build up on your roof, thus causing any possible long-term damage or wear and tear. Now, the thing about dry, fallen leaves is that they are usually blown into the gutters (washed away with the rainwater whenever it pours). Whenever they accumulate, the gutter may get blocked, thus, the rainwater may not escape towards your drainage, but rather, build up on your roof. If you have a strong, durable roof, this wouldn’t be much of a problem, however, some other roof types may not hold as much, thus, the rain water may find minor cracks and crevices among your roof, which would then seethe through your ceiling. Clear out your gutters before the rain drops. Take a large garbage bag with you and a pair of gloves, pick up the accumulated dry leaves, put them in the bag, drop down and throw it in the trash. You can proceed to do the first step after that for a squeaky-clean roof. 
3.Clean out each panel with a water and a sponge
The thing about roofs is that they are fairly simple to clean. If you happen to have an asphalt, wooden, or roof shingles, you can start by sweeping off dirt and leaves from each panel segments. It would actually be easier to clean a metal roof since the surface area is smoother and washing off the dirt is simple. You don’t actually have to use any special detergents in order to clean your roof, a simple hose of water would be able wash out dirt. Just make sure to adjust the pressure whenever needed, as some dirt build ups are tougher to get rid of. You wouldn’t want to spend a whole day just by focusing on a single panel, you have the overall square area to worry about as well. Use a soft sponge do wipe off the accumulated dirt, be firm, yet slightly gentle, so as to avoid damaging the main aesthetics of your roof. This is evident, especially on metal roofings which are usually colored. You wouldn’t want to make any scratch on the roof. Treat it as if you are cleaning the surface of your car. Have two sponges with you, one for wiping off dirt and one for drying the roof surface.
4.Remove any early offset of rust stains.
It can’t be helped, especially if you aren’t cleaning up your roof on a regular basis. But let’s say that you want to make things right and stop the rust from spreading all over your roof, what do you do? This simple procedure may just help you out:
Materials Needed:
Cleaning Solution: lacquer thinner, water and denatured alcohol
Water (source and hose)
Soft Cloth
Sand Paper (# 200)
a. For Prepainted panels (newly installed and zero rust)
- Clean the surface (removed any dirt or dust particles) by hand washing with soft cloth and cleaning solution. To prepare the cleaning solution: Mixed water with lacquer thinner using 1:1 ratio. Add drops of denatured alcohol until the mixture is miscible to each other. (The thinner and water should not be seen as separated)
b.For Old Prepainted panels (zero rust)
- Clean the surface (removed any dirt or dust particles) by hand washing with soft cloth and cleaning solution.To prepare the cleaning solution: Mixed water with lacquer thinner using 1:1 ratio. Add drops of denatured alcohol until the mixture is miscible to each other. (The thinner and water should not be seen as separated.)
- Normally, for two-year-old (or more) prepainted panels paint disintegration(paint chalking) is observed thus these particles should be thoroughly removed. Removal requires flowing clean water and wiping with soft cloth and use of cleaning solution. After drying, paint cleaned materials immediately to prevent accumulation of dirt.
c..For Old Prepainted panel with rust
- Clean the surface (removed any dirt or dust particles) by hand washing
with soft cloth and cleaning solution. To prepare the cleaning solution: Mixed water with lacquer thinner using 1:1 ratio. Add drops of denatured alcohol until the mixture is miscible to each other. (The thinner and water should not be seen as separated.) - Remove rust by sanding (#200). Any signs of blisters should also be removed. Worst cases may require etching agent like that of 10% Boysen Metal Etching Solution # 71. Diluted acid may serve as alternative. One-is-to-nine ratio with water, wipe with cloth.
- Use of Rust Converters will require thorough cleaning after its application or else residual chemical reaction will take place after repainting.
- Normally, for two-year-old (or more) prepainted panels paint disintegration (paint chalking) is observed thus these particles should be thoroughly removed. Removal requires flowing clean water and wiping with soft cloth and use of cleaning solution. After drying, paint cleaned materials immediately to prevent accumulation of dirt.
Now, if the rust color persists, it may be more than just an aesthetic issue. Contact your authorized roof manufacturer/personnel for assistance
5.With Paint Application
Choosing spray over brush application is dependent on the type of paint to be used and the temperature (i.e. roofing). Specifically, based on experience certain solvent will form bubbles upon brush application in the roof even as early as at 10AM.
Materials Needed:
Paint to be used Thinner to be used
Sample of the panel to be painted Viscometer
Time piece (watch) Cloth as filter (used upon contamination)
Beaker or any volume measurement device Stirrer
Brush for testing only Sprayer (heavy duty
Air compressor and electrical source
Air hose (it will require longer depending on the height of the roof)
a.Apply paint only during favorable weather.
b.For installed panels. Prepare enough ropes and scaffoldings if applicable. Check air direction. And work in favor with it and not against it to minimize overspray. Overspray is discerned by the gloss abnormalities. Spray using the normal right spraying procedures: one-foot distance sprayer and half foot ovelap. Further adjustments on the sprayer distance, paint viscosity and number of wet coats or pass should be done upon seeing any abnormalities with the final appearance like sagging, orange peel, etc.
c.In case of spot (partial) painting, use urethane paints. Acrylic paints fade faster than Polyester paints. In case sealants are required prior to painting, use only paintable sealants (e.g. GE products). You can inquire with “lateros”. All others may be in a case-to-case basis.
Hopefully, these tips would be able to help you out during the summer days. As with our natural climate, the day may start out too hot, followed by a sudden rain in the afternoon, an unpredictable offset of hot and cold. Surely, your roof would take a beating with these weather conditions, that is, if you happen to have a roof made by an unknown or unreliable manufacturer.
This is where Union Galvasteel sets itself apart from the average roof manufacturer. Pioneered under the name Union Steel Plant Division of Bacnotan Cement Industries, Inc. (Bacnotan) back in 1963, Union Galvasteel has taken many innovative strides throughout the decades towards creating a formidable and durable metal roofing type, segregated by their designs and colors. All are galvanized in molten zinc, thus, providing that extra toughness that you’d want for your roof. This would also make it easy to maintain, as its unparalleled durability would not be hindered by any harsh or extreme weather conditions. Don’t believe us? Feel free to check out their full catalogue of roofings at Roofing, Walling and Claddings. Their mantra of “Sa Tibay at Ganda Panalo Ka!” may impress you all throughout.
