For any homeowner, maintaining the maximum performance of their building is a key responsibility. In order to do it effectively, you need to make sure that your building’s structural envelope, which includes the roofing, siding, windows, doors, and wall coverings, does not deteriorate to the point that damage occurs. This is especially important if you happen to live in a coastal environment, says an expert roofing and siding contractor from Monroe Township. If a building is initially damaged through different risk factors such as termite infestations, weather, wood decay, or corrosion, it becomes more highly vulnerable to serious damage that can be caused by natural disasters.
Common Effects on Buildings
According to a Monroe Township roofing and siding contractor, some of the most common effects on buildings include the following:
Termite Infestation
Termite attack is often a serious problem faced by homeowners, especially by those with properties in coastal areas. In order to prevent termite infestation, your building should be made less welcoming to termites and the property must be maintained as dry as possible at all times. Here are some useful tips to prevent termite infestation in your building:
- Repair and maintain downspouts and gutters in good condition and have them positioned to collect water directly and away from the building.
- Always store firewood away from the building.
- Provide sufficient ventilation to crawlspaces in order to avoid dampness.
- Maintain and repair drainpipes, water fixtures, and water pipes to keep them in optimum condition at all times.
- Keep branches and plants trimmed to avoid contact with the building. Do not overwater plants.
Corrosion
Corrosion is a common problem you might face when you have metal roofing and/or siding installed in your building. Effective design and maintenance of your roofing and siding structures is extremely important to extending their life and also to improve the life of the overall building. When structural elements like these get corroded, they can get damaged easily even by the least serious weather incident.
Weathering
Weathering is an effect on buildings that is caused by water and sun combined. This happens especially on wood structures and the symptoms include: fading, loss of thickness of wood, and splitting and checking. Unless and until the roofing and siding materials you choose are protected from weathering or naturally resistant to the effect, the effects can greatly reduce the life of the materials.
Moisture
There are many sources of moisture that affect the exterior of a building. When moisture gets retained, mildew, decay of wood, and many other forms of damages start to occur. In addition to exterior moisture, you should also take into consideration moisture from the interior. Sources of moisture in the interior include clothes dryers, baths, and kitchens. It is important to vent these properly in order to avoid condensation.
Roofing Maintenance
According to an experienced roofing contractor from Monroe Township, your roofing structure is one of the most susceptible elements to degradation. The basic design of your roofing system and even some minor tears or other damage to it can allow penetration of water, and this can cause serious damage to the roofing and also to other elements of your building. To avoid this, here are a few roofing maintenance tips from our expert Monroe Township roofing contractor:
- Inspect the overall condition of the roofing material. If you have installed asphalt shingles as your roofing, loss of granules will be the first sign of deterioration. However, keep in mind that this can happen with new shingles as well.
- If you have metal roofing, clean all corroded areas and apply a coat of sealer or paint recommended by a professional Monroe Township roofing contractor. Also, check for nails, screws, and clips that can be corroded, and have them replaced immediately.
- Clear away leaves, mildew, moss, and dirt from the roofing. If the roofing material is wood, recoat the structure with a good wood preservative.
- Remove all debris from your roofing frequently, and make sure that there is no debris clogging the downspouts, gutters, and drains.
Siding Maintenance
Siding materials, especially wood, are prone to degradation caused by the ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the sun. Over time, this damage will become significant. Therefore, to prevent this, here are a few maintenance tips from a Monroe Township siding contractor:
- Use pigmented finished on wood siding instead of clear finishes to protect them from UV rays.
- Make sure that the siding is always maintained free of mildew and salt. Wash away mildew from the siding surface of your building using a commercial cleaning solution recommended by an expert siding contractor in Monroe Township. When you wash the siding, make sure that the water is directed downward.
- Use a protective sealant, like a paint or stain, to protect the siding.
- When you see nails popping out, re-nail the siding immediately. When doing this, be sure to re-nail in new areas in order to prevent the new nails from getting into the holes of the old nails.
- Caulking joints, seams, and other areas should be renewed at least once in five years. In the case of wood, this should be done at least once a year.
Follow these tips to make sure that your building is maintained in optimum condition at all times.