| Many home and business owners neglect roof | | | | and most often permeable by moisture. |
| maintenance until a leak is encountered. The problem | | | | When this happens, the protective mineral barrier on |
| with this is that by the time a leak is apparent, the | | | | the top layer starts to come off. Once the asphalt is |
| damage is much more difficult and costly to repair. | | | | exposed, it is subject to deterioration from UV rays, |
| Therefore, knowing a little about what causes leaks | | | | weathering elements and rapid out-gassing. |
| to develop can be a real help in stopping the issue | | | | Weathering elements such as rain, hail, snow, dust |
| before it becomes serious, and can save property | | | | and, most commonly wind, promote the breakdown |
| owners a lot of money in the long-run. | | | | of built-up asphalt roofs. It is around this time that |
| The first step in learning about roof leaks is to know | | | | property owners will start to notice that their roof is |
| a little about roofs themselves, with the built up | | | | not as it should be. |
| asphalt roof being a good example as it is the most | | | | So, what can home and business owners do to |
| common type of roof. The built up asphalt roof is | | | | prevent their roof getting in this state? Firstly, it is |
| made up of 3-4 layers of asphalt sheeting bonded | | | | advisable for them to perform an annual inspection of |
| together with hot mopped tar that ideally form a | | | | the roof and coating. Lots of information regarding |
| waterproof barrier. The cover sheet, or top roof | | | | where to look and what to look for can be found |
| layer, of most built-up asphalt roofs is covered with a | | | | online. Secondly, they should regularly (every 12-18 |
| fine mineral granule that is embedded into the asphalt | | | | months) apply a non-petroleum based protective |
| during the manufacturing process. This colored mineral | | | | treatment, which will prevent the need for any wide |
| serves as a protective barrier between the cover | | | | reaching repairs suddenly arising. As for which type of |
| sheet asphalt and the weather. | | | | treatment is best, employees at local DIY stores |
| The service life of a typical built-up asphalt roof is | | | | should be able to recommend a suitable brand. |
| about 8 to 10 years. Regular maintenance is required | | | | If a roof leak should have already developed, and a |
| during this time, as areas such as roof vents, vent | | | | property owner is faced with expensive repairs, the |
| pipes and skylights are susceptible to becoming | | | | it may be worth their while to change their roof |
| un-sealed. The normal maintenance for these areas | | | | coating system to a solar reflective one. This may be |
| involves the application of plasticized cold asphalt. The | | | | slightly more expensive than going through with the |
| problem with these treatments, along with other | | | | repairs, but in the long term money will be saved as |
| petroleum based roofing products, is that they rapidly | | | | the roof will be more durable and will require less |
| out-gas into the atmosphere over the course of a | | | | maintenance. |
| few years. What is left behind is brittle, non-flexible | | | | |