While metal roofs are extremely durable, you still need to have them inspected by a roofing service occasionally. The metal panels resist rust and can stand up to high winds, but some of the other components of a metal roof like the rubber boots used around roofing penetrations and the fasteners used to attach the roof to your home are not as durable. Those are the areas where leaks are likely to start on your metal roof, and inspecting them regularly will help make sure they're still in good condition. To learn what a roofing service looks at when they're inspecting a metal roof, read on.
Roofing Penetrations
Roofing penetrations are a common source of leaks on a metal roof, so it's important to have them regularly inspected. The vent pipe for your home's plumbing system, for example, goes through the top of your home's roof through a metal panel. In order to prevent leaks around the pipe, a roofer places a rubber boot around it, attaches it to the roofing panel using tape, and then caulks any gaps around the pipe. The rubber boot, tape, and caulk can all be broken down by ultraviolet light from the sun, and your roof may leak if any of them fail.
A roofing service will inspect all the roofing penetrations and ensure that the components used to prevent leaks are still in good condition. If they're deteriorating due to sunlight exposure, the roofer will replace them in order to prevent a potential leak from springing up in your roof.
Fasteners
If you have a metal roof with exposed fasteners, it's important to have a roofing service inspect them periodically. Fasteners are what attach the metal panels to your roof decking, and water can leak around the edges of the fastener if they shift out of position. Metal roof panels undergo thermal expansion and contraction throughout the day, and this can cause fasteners to back out of the roof decking, allowing water to leak into the hole and into your attic. High winds can pull these fasteners out of the roof entirely, leaving a hole that allows water directly into your home.
During an inspection, a roofing service will examine all of the fasteners on the metal roof. Any that have shifted out of position will be moved back to prevent leaks from occurring, and any missing fasteners will be replaced.
Panel Seams
Metal roof panels lock together at their seams, which prevents water from leaking between adjacent panels. Locking panels together also improves the roof's ability to withstand high winds. Sometimes thermal expansion and contraction can cause panels to come apart from one another at the seams, which exposes your roof to leaks.
Since unlocked panels open your roof up to leaks and decrease its wind resistance, it's important to have them inspected by a roofing service. Any panels that have come apart from one another will be locked together again, creating a continuous surface across your entire roof.
Rust
Finally, a roofing service will inspect your metal roof for rust. Modern metal roof panels are extremely resistant to corrosion since they're protected in multiple ways. Most panels have the steel core coated in rust-resistant zinc, and there's a layer of paint on top of the zinc that provides additional protection against corrosion. However, debris that falls on your roof can scratch through the protective layers, which can cause the panel to start rusting.
Fixing rusted areas of the roof is important because it will begin to spread if left alone. A roofing service will examine your entire roof for signs of rust, find out what components are rusting, and replace them in order to avoid the spread of rust on your roof.
If your metal roof hasn't been inspected recently, call a roofing service and arrange to have it checked. An inspection gives you the chance to prevent leaks before they occur by replacing backed-out fasteners or deteriorated sealant around roofing penetrations, and it's much easier to prevent leaks than it is to repair water damage in your home after one has occurred.
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