How to treat Rotting Roof Structures

While the best roofs are designed to last for a long time, they are still prone to be damaged. One of the commonest problems is rot, which will affect certain sections of the roof. It may be the fascia, gutter, truss, or any other places. As you probably know, the rot will weaken the roof and making it prone to sagging or even caving in. Sadly, many people seem to overlook the rot and it’s only after a catastrophe that they seek the necessary repair. This should never be the case since you are putting your life and that of others at risk.

Steps to Dealing with Rotting Roof Structures

1. Examination

The first step to treating a rotting roof structure is assessing the damage. How bad is it? Which areas have been affected? What sections are the most badly hit? These are some of the questions that should guide you in the examination. The damage usually isn’t uniform since some areas are more exposed. For instance, the areas that are near a water source or are in the path of water such as the downspouts or gutters are more affected.

The assessment also helps to estimate for how long this has been happening. Poor checking may fail to unearth some hidden zones, which in future will become worse. You don’t want this to happen after a repair.

2. Root Cause Analysis

Generally, for the rot to take place, three things are necessary: warmth, moisture, and a suitable material such as wood. Poor ventilation is also a contributor. Wood is the most prone to rot in comparison to other materials like tiles. Fascias or zones near the downspout or beams next to a water storage tanks are more exposed.

While symptoms such as flaking paint, discoloration, warping and split wood or soft timber help in the assessment, it’s more critical to know the source of the problem. Is it a leaking water tank, gaps and cracks in the roofing that are letting in rainwater, or water splashing from the gutter to the fascias? This will help to not only deal with the problem but also prevent it from occurring in the near future.

3. Corrective Measures

The next step is coming up with the best plan of action. How you deal with a rotting fascia or soffit may not necessarily be the same as fixing a rot in the roof truss. In the former case, it’s much easier to remove parts of the fascia or soffit. You probably will not need to remove the roofing cover. In the latter case, however, it may mean removing the tiles, slates, or iron sheets to have a better understanding.

If the rot affects a small section, then you may need to only replace the area. This means removing a few planks, boards, or tiles. However, if a large section of the roof is damaged, it makes it likely that the entire roof can collapse due to the weakened structure. In such a situation, you are probably looking at overhauling the entire roof.

4. Preventing Future Rot

After dealing with both the symptoms and root causes, you now need to prevent the rot from happening again. To do this, you need to fully eradicate the causes and then come up with preventive measures. For instance, if the fascias or soffit was rotting because of rainwater splashing from the gutter, you may need to overhaul the gutter system. If the leak was occurring because of leaking water pipes or tank inside the roof, you need to fix this and put a waterproof insulation in the surrounding area.

For an attic or loft that has rotting beams, improving the air circulation helps to easily dissipate the humidity. Installing waterproof or moisture absorbent materials is also a worthy move.

NB: It is helpful to have the roof inspected at least once a year by a professional roofer. This should happen whether there is rot or not. By arresting the problem early, you will be able it stop it from spreading and will keep the cost of repair low.

Conclusion

You shouldn’t take roof rot lightly. It doesn’t matter if it only affects a small section. While repairing the roof may seem an economic approach, there are high chances of making a mistake or even getting injured in the process. You may step on a rotten section and fall through; inhale toxic fumes that come from the rot, or are infected by the bacteria or mold.

The best approach is talking to a reputable roofer like Birmingham Roofers. Such a company will first evaluate the situation to ascertain the extent of the damage. Thereafter they will draft the best solution to the problem. To learn more about how to treat rotting roof structures and other roofing services visit http://bmroofers.co.uk or call via 01214 050961. Talking to a reputable roofer will help you deal with any rot on the roof.