Keeping your roof moss free

Whatever the age of the roof on a property keeping the moss at bay is a major concern. Leaving the moss in place can cause the roof tiles to deteriorate and ultimately to become brittle and either crack or become loose. This in turn can result in a leaky roof and make costly repairs necessary.

Removing the moss from a roof can be a simple task if the property is a bungalow as a ladder can be used to access the roof. A jet washer can be used to blast the moss off the roof and a stiff broom can remove any stubborn moss that remains. However, if the property is a house then working from a ladder can be dangerous and certainly climbing on the roof should not be attempted.

Employing a company to remove the moss from a property roof is probably the best option if you are in any doubt. Searching online for a reputable company to undertake the work is a good first step. It is important to read any impartial reviews that are published about the company before you commit to any work commencing and always agree a price beforehand and get it in writing if possible. Although the cost of having the moss removed may seem a lot, having this job done every three or four years may result in fewer problems with the roof in the future.

Should you opt for a thatched roof?

Thatched roofs are a very traditional roofing material that was first used over 1400 hundred years ago! This makes it one of the oldest trades that are still used today. I would imagine that the thatched roofs back then may of looked a little different but in the 7th and 8th century they were probably quite common.

 Thatched roofs are only really used on older cottage style buildings now. You may find lots of them in little quaint villages such as in the Cotswolds. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of s thatched roof? They provide excellent insulation which is very important especially at the moment with energy prices so high. They retain the heat in the home meaning you don’t have to keep reheating it. Thatched roofs often last a long time. With the right care and maintenance, you can expect to get 60 years out of your roof. Lots of people are concerned about the environment and the impact we are having on the planet. The material used to build a thatched roof are some of the most natural you can find.

There are lots of positives but you do need to consider a few other points. They are a fire hazard. you need to follow the advice regarding chimneys to ensure that you are being safe. Also, for this reason your insurance is likely to be higher. 

Domestic and Commercial Roofers in Solihull

Many roofing companies will provide only domestic or only commercial roofing solutions. However, some of the best roofers in Solihull will offer both domestic and commercial services, showing their expertise across the board and demonstrating their flexibility. These can be some of the best roofing companies to know about in the Solihull area, simply because they will be able to do everything you need for either a roof on a home, or a roof on a large commercial property such as a warehouse.

As trends and property uses change over time, more and more people are choosing flat roofs for a number of reasons. They are more convenient, they can be easier to maintain, they are often significantly cheaper and they can be fitted with skylights to make buildings brighter. They can also be used to house things like air conditioning units and other essential components, which would not be possible with a pitched roof. For these reasons amongst others, the use of flat roofs is increasing. In Solihull, as with anywhere else in the UK, reliable, well trained roofing professionals and not always easy to come by. Installing or repairing a roof is a big job and not necessarily one for any contractor.

The first question to ask that is an essential starting point is: what is the roofing contractor’s specialism? Is it flat roofs? Is it domestic roofs? Is it large commercial roofing installations? The fact is, multi-skilled roofers can tackle both if people are properly trained and have the right background. Once this has been established, the next thing to work out is whether or not to choose a roofing repair or replacement because this will affect the length of the project, the complexity and the amount of work that is involved.

Choosing to have a roof repair in Solihull can often be the best value, especially where the damage or wear and tear is not significant. There may be different amounts of work needed depending on what is wrong, such as fixing a hole in GRP roofing or applying a patch to a bitumen roof; an expert roofer can advise on the best and most cost effective approach which is one of the major benefits of choosing a professional.

When a roofer is a specialist in what they are doing, they will be happy to help you save money and find the best solution. Sometimes what this means is replacing the roof in full, where repairs would be too difficult or too extensive and would actually end up costing more in the long run. Sometimes when a roof is very old or very damaged, repairs would not last long and this is another circumstance in which a full roof replacement might be recommended instead. Identifying the ideal roofer in Solihull to provide advice and give full quotes so you know what you are dealing with is essential. Getting advice is the ideal starting point for any roofing project in Solihull, giving you the tools to make a decision about how to proceed with a domestic or commercial roof.

Look after your roof and it will look after you

Although it may be the most important part of any building many people do not pay much attention to the roof of their property until it starts developing problems and begins to let rainwater in. At this stage there is already a high probability that internal damage has been done so a rapid response is needed to prevent further issues but what can be done to avoid roofing problems in the first place?

The majority of roofs will become covered in moss and removing this is essential to keeping the roof in good repair. Regular jet washing of the roof can remove most if not all of the moss but if the job is too difficult there are professional companies that can be employed to do the job.

Another extremely important issue when thinking about looking after the roof on a property is to replace any broken or missing tiles as soon as possible. Windy weather can easily loosen tiles so it is wise to check the roof to make sure no tiles have blown off or slipped out of place so that repairs can be carried out. The ridge tiles at the top of the roof are usually fixed in place with cement but this can deteriorate over time leading to movement of the tiles, so it is essential that they are regularly checked to ensure they are still in good repair and that they are not going to let rainwater into the loft of the property.

Different types of roof construction

There are many different roof structures to choose from when designing a building some are easier and cheaper to construct than others. In days gone by there was a standard roof construction that was used but now there are many choices.

The pitch of the roof is particularly important and varies from country-to-country dependent upon the weather and rainfall in that country for instance in the UK where we experience a lot of rain the roof needs to have a certain pitch to enable the rainwater to flow away adequately whereas in Mediterranean countries with little rainfall the pitch of the roof does not need to be as steep. Trussed roofs are designed with an appropriate pitch but although a common roof structure does not give much internal loft space.

Flat roofs have traditionally been used for extensions mainly because they are cheaper and easier to install however the life of a traditional felted flat roof is only about ten to fifteen years so it will need regularly replacing.

A relatively new roof design that is proving popular in modern builds is the curved roof. These are constructed from metal such as copper and are mainly used to give a striking appearance to a property.