You’ve installed a standing seam metal roof. It looks great. However, you’re wondering: what type of maintenance does this thing require?
Fortunately, we can help you with that. Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about standing seam roofing maintenance.
Cleaning Responsibilities
As with every roofing material, standing seam roofing requires regular cleaning in order to maintain its optimal state. There are a few cleaning responsibilities that you’ll need to tend to. They include the following.
Clearing Debris
Regardless of where your house is located, its roof is bound to take on debris over time. This debris will run the gamut from branches to leaves to floating garbage and otherwise. Its existence on your roof is detrimental not only because it impairs the roof’s look, but because it has the potential to trap water, leading to premature deterioration.
To remove debris, you have two options. One option is to literally get up on the roof and remove the debris by hand. The other option is to use a power washer. Note, while power washers are generally quite effective, they might not do as thorough a job as one would with the use of his or her hands.
At a minimum, you should facilitate roof clearings every year. However, ideally, you’ll do it every 4 to 6 months. The more frequently you clean your roof, the longer it will maintain its shape over time.
Removing Algae
In some cases, algae will grow on the top of a standing seam roof. Over time, this can result in serious aesthetic and functional impairment (it traps water, leading to early deterioration). As such, when algae arrive, you’re advised to remove it sooner rather than later (never let it linger longer than 6 months).
In many cases, the removal of algae requires intensive scrubbing. In other words, a power washer likely won’t get the job done.
It’s recommended that you bring a professional in to clean the roof for you. Doing it yourself can be dangerous, particularly if you don’t have the appropriate safety equipment.
That said, if you insist on doing it on your own, you’ll need a few things. One of these is an algae cleaning solution. Another is a hard-thistle brush. Of course, you’ll need a ladder to help you get up on the roof as well.
Then, it’s as simple as applying the solution and scrubbing it in. This will break up the algae, making quick work of the entire process.
Note, you should never use bleach when cleaning a standing seam roof. Bleach is corrosive in nature and can wear away the protective coating on the roof. This can lead to an impaired aesthetic and a shortened lifespan.
Other Forms of Standing Seam Roofing Maintenance
Cleaning and clearing will comprise almost all of the maintenance needed for your standing seam roof. The only other maintenance that might be needed repairs. For instance, if a panel is crushed by a particularly large branch, it might need to be replaced with a fresh panel. That’s about it as far as supplemental maintenance goes.
Interested in Buying Standing Seam Roofing in Chicago?
Now that you know how to maintain it, you might be interested in buying standing seam roofing in Chicago. If so, you needn’t look much further. We here at Chicago Metal Supply are the people to see.
We have a wide variety of standing seam roofing to choose from. Regardless of your aesthetic preferences, we can accommodate you.
Contact us now to start the purchase process!