Summer time in Brisbane can be a hard time for your home. It’s known for being outrageously hot, humid, plenty of intense UV ratings and intense summer storms. This year has been incredibly wet, with most of South-East QLD experiencing an unexpectedly high number of storms and rain. But, it’s also been incredibly hot. These rapidly changing hot and cold temperatures can damage your roof, so it’s important to ensure it’s in great condition and ready to weather the rest of this intense Brisbane summer.
Below are a few tips to ensure your roof is ready to handle the rest of the Brisbane Summer:
1. Inspect Your Roof
A roof inspection is the best way to check on your roof and know if it’s up to the task of keeping you and your home safe, or if it needs a bit of work. An inspection will help to be aware of any problems or potential issues with your roof. You may want to do this yourself, but we highly recommend engaging a roofing professional to perform a roof inspection. Their training and years of experience allow them to safely work at heights, traverse your roof without damaging it, know exactly what to look for and provide advice to ensure your roof is in great condition.
When performing a roof inspection, a professional will:
- Inspect the roof surface:
We look for any visible damage to the tiles, metal or colorbond, such as cracks, missing pieces, or curling edges, sagging or uneven areas. - Check the flashing:
Review the flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights for signs of damage or wear. - Check the gutters:
Check the gutters for debris buildup, which can cause water to back up and damage your roof. Make sure that the gutters are securely attached to the roof and that there are no visible signs of damage. - Take photos:
Take photos of any visible damage or areas of concern. - Provide advice:
They will provide advice on what you should do and quote work for you if required to ensure your roof is in good order.
You can learn more about roof inspections by reading the Roof Inspections page on our website.
2. Prepare for Brisbane Summer Storms
Summer storms can quickly cause massive damage to your roof if not prepared properly. Below are a few simple ways you can ensure your home and roof are ready for the rest of the wet season. However, If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide on how to prepare your roof for storms, you can read our blog titled How To Prepare Your Roof For Severe Weather In Queensland.
To ensure your howe is ready for summer storms you should:
- Secure Roof Fixtures:
Check and secure any rooftop fixtures such as satellite dishes and antennas. Reinforce HVAC units and other equipment mounted on the roof. - Gutter Maintenance:
Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent clogs and ensure proper water drainage. - Trim Trees and Branches:
Trim branches that could potentially fall onto your roof during a storm. Remove dead or weakened trees that pose a risk of falling. - Secure Outdoor Items:
Store or secure outdoor furniture, decorations, and other loose items. Ensure that tools and equipment are properly stored in a secure location. - Emergency Preparedness:
Create an emergency kit with essentials like flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies, and important documents. Develop a family emergency plan, including evacuation routes and designated meeting points.
3. Check For Leaks
Roof leaks can quickly lead to damage, not just in your roof but your whole home. Mould and other nasties that are usually caused by roof leaks can eat away at structural material and easily cause tens of thousands in damages if left unchecked (not to mention the health impact of some moulds). For a comprehensive list of what to do when your roof starts leaking, checkout our blog below titled What To Do If Your Roof Starts Leaking. If you happen to find mould, you should read our blog titled How To Remove Mould From The Roof Of Your Home.
4. Replace Broken or Missing Tiles
Sometimes your roof can sustain damage such as chipped roof tiles or tiles that may have fallen off in severe storms or harsh weather. Making sure your roof has all of its tiles intact ensures that no water or debris can enter your home beneath your roof and also make sure that no pests or animals can find their way into your home. To learn more about broken or missing roof tiles, you can read our blog titled What to Do if You Have Cracked Or Broken Roof Tiles.
5. Clean Your Roof
A roof that hasn’t been cleaned in some time is almost certainly going to cause damage at some point. Be it the heat from the hot summers that causes dirt, animal dropping or other debris to bake in the sun and cause damage to the coatings, build up of leaves, moss and algae build ups and more, a dirty roof can lead to expensive repairs. We talk about this oin our blog titled Is it necessary to clean your roof?, but we highly recommend you have your roof cleaned once every year to ensure it’s in good order. And no – storms don’t count as cleaning your roof. In fact, storms can deposit debris and cause mould growth!
However cleaning your roof can be a dangerous task and easily damage your roof if done incorrectly! We always recommend a roofing professional clean your roof. They will also be able to examine your roof while they’re up there and provide advice on further work to be completed.
Ready to get prepared for summer?
Keeping on top of your roof is an important part of ensuring you, your family and your home are kept safe during this hot and wet Brisbane summer. If you’d like one of the qualified team at Right Roofing to take a look at your roof, give us a call on 0431 962 819 and relax knowing you’re covered this summer.
