When you live near the ocean, it's so nice to step outside and take a deep breath, enjoying that salty, seaside air. But that same air that's so nice to surround yourself with can be a downside for your roof. The salt will accumulate on your roof over time, which is not good for any metal roofing components. Your flashing, in particular, is likely to be damaged by the salty air. Here's a closer look at this problem.
How do you know if your flashing is damaged?
You can generally tell whether your flashing is corroded just by looking at it. You may be able to see some of the flashing from the ground. However, if you feel safe doing so, climbing up on a ladder will allow you to get a closer look. Look over the metal flashing to see whether there are areas where it looks discolored or dented. These are spots of corrosion. Are any of the rivets that are meant to attach the flashing popped off or a strange color? That's also a sign of corrosion.
What should you do about corroded flashing?
If you believe the salty ocean air has caused your flashing to corrode, contact a roofer. This is a problem that needs to be repaired, and ideally, it should be repaired sooner rather than later. Otherwise, your roof is likely to start leaking around the damaged flashing, and then you will also have water damage to address.
A roofer will probably remove the damaged flashing and replace it. They will generally recommend coated flashing, as it is less prone to corrosion than standard aluminum flashing.
How do you protect your new flashing?
Once your roofer does replace the old, damaged flashing, you will want to take better care of your new flashing so it does not suffer the same fate. The best and easiest way to do this is to rinse your roof. You can do this yourself if you're comfortable on a ladder. Or, you can hire a roofing or home maintenance company to do it for you. Rinsing the flashing with fresh water will flush away the salty water, reducing the rate of corrosion.
As lovely as it can be to live on the coast, you do need to be aware of the shortcomings of this environment. The salty air can be tough on roof flashing. Luckily, rinsing your roof flashing can go a long way toward preventing this issue.
For more information, contact a local roofing company, such as Sweers Eavestrough and Roofing Co, Inc.
Very few roofers would say their job is easy. In fact, many describe the work as downright tough! But that does not mean that roofers do not enjoy or value the work that they do. Many workers get satisfaction from working with their hands, and they really enjoy creating a roof from simple materials. They also like the logistical challenges, such as figuring out how to get shingles up on a tall roof, or how to most safely repair a damage gutter. If you'd like to learn more about roofing as a profession, then you've arrived at the right blog.