How To Maintain Your Colorbond Roof in Melbourne

So you’ve just got a brand new Colorbond roof installed. Or maybe you have moved into a new home and it’s your first time owning a tin roof. Either way, you’ve likely got tons of questions about Colorbond roof maintenance, and we’ve got answers.

Vivify Roofing has put together this how-to guide for homeowners who want to get the longest life possible out of their Colorbond roof. We’ve been in the roofing business for fifteen years. That means we have seen our fair share of tin roofs that have been well taken care of—and plenty that haven’t!

Your roof should be standing strong after fifty years or more. And in this guide, we’ll show you how to make it happen.

 

Contents:

• Establishing a Maintenance Routine
• How Often Should I Clean My Colorbond Roof?
• Where Do I Need To Wash?
• Cleaning Colorbond With Water
• What To Do About Tough Stains
• Tips To Make Maintenance Easier
• Reach Out To Vivify Roofing For All Your Colorbond Roof Maintenance Needs

 

 

Establishing a Maintenance Routine

Keeping your Colorbond roof well-maintained requires you to make it a priority. Just like any part of your home, little problems can grow into big ones if you let them fester. Make a habit of visually inspecting your roof at least once a season.

 

You can download Bluescope’s technical bulletin here.

 

What to Look For

• Debris such as fallen branches or gathered leaves can promote unwanted growth of mould and mildew. This presents a threat to the outer finish of your roof, which could lead to premature corrosion.
• Fasteners that are loose, detached or missing altogether need to be replaced as soon as possible. They invite leaks and rusting, and may hinder the structural stability of your roof.
• Condensation on the bottom of roof panels can lead to mouldy insulation, among other issues. It’s especially a problem in humid regions, and likely requires professional service to mitigate.
• Dents, holes and scratches can sometimes be caused by falling debris during storms. They can be a source of leaks or corrosion if not mended promptly.

Remember that the key to a healthy roof is not letting issues like these linger. Getting a long life out of your roof requires regular preventative maintenance to stop big problems before they start.

 

Simple maintenance of COLORBOND® steel by regular washing with clean, fresh water will not only prolong its life but also maintain its attractiveness for longer periods thus protecting your asset. – Colorbond

 

Is Professional Roof Inspection Worth It?

When it comes to Colorbond roof maintenance, you have to consider the value of your investment. Metal roofs are not cheap, and they can live longer than you if well taken care of. So, if you know that you aren’t good at keeping up routines, you may want to outsource your roof inspection to a professional Melbourne roofer.

Even if you are diligent about inspecting your roof regularly, we still recommend having a pro take a look at it every year or two. Getting an expert opinion is just a safe way to ensure that you aren’t missing anything that an untrained eye wouldn’t recognize.

For example, you might not think that a tiny dent is a big deal. But if that dent goes beyond the surface level of your metal roof sheet, it could be more than just an aesthetic issue. Once the protective outer layers of Colorbond are breached, rust can follow.

 

 

How Often Should I Clean My Colorbond Roof?

BlueScope Steel, the company that manufactures Colorbond roofing, recommends that you wash your roof at least every six months. However, if your routine roof inspection discovers dirt or debris building up, it is okay to wash more frequently.

Furthermore, BlueScope recommends a more frequent washing of every three months in the following situations:

• Coastal homes with regular exposure to salt spray
• Homes in industrial areas, such as near factories or railways, which are a common source of industrial fallout
• Homes in regions exposed to high amounts of dirt or dust in the air, such as if there is a lot of construction in your neighborhood

Where Do I Need To Wash?

One of the wonders of Colorbond steel is that most of the surface will be cleaned well-enough by rainfall. The areas you need to focus on keeping clean are what we call the “unwashed areas”. These are the parts of your home that don’t get full exposure to the rain.

Unwashed areas may include:

• Garage doors
• Fascia
• Underside of gutters
• Cladding beneath eaves
• Any parts of your roof that are concealed by trees or other objects

 

 

Never use abrasive or solvent type cleaners (turps, petrol,kerosene, paint thinners) on COLORBOND® steel and ZINCALUME® steel. – Bluescopesteel

 

Obviously, even surfaces that regularly receive rainfall may require cleaning from time to time. That’s why you inspect it regularly. If your visual inspection of the roof turns up spots that have collected dirt or are starting to grow mildew, those will require washing too.

Cleaning Colorbond With Water

Once you have identified the areas of your Colorbond steel that require washing, here is a process you can follow for regular cleaning.

1. Check your local council about water use regulations. If there are limits in place, you can always be strategic about your water use, such as by timing your roof cleaning with your garden watering or window washing.
2. Use proper safety equipment. If you are cleaning any surfaces that can’t be reached from ground level, be safe. Wear shoes with good traction so that you don’t slip, and consider a safety harness to prevent falls. If cleaning requires you to actually climb on to the roof, you should strongly consider hiring a professional.
3. Clear surfaces to be cleaned. Use a broom, leaf blower or other non-abrasive tool in order to remove any debris (such as leaves or branches) that are in the way.
4. Apply fresh water straight from the hose. Colorbond roof cleaning generally only needs to mimic rainfall. This means there isn’t usually any need for pressure washing or special tools. Just use your everyday garden hose to spray down the areas that need washing.

 

 

What To Do About Tough Stains

Most of the time, cleaning with just water is enough. However, if you’ve neglected roof cleaning for a while, you might have some stains that require a little more care. After following the steps above, use this method for any remaining stains:

1. Mix a cleaning solution. Fill a bucket with warm water and add in a mild dish detergent. You want to aim for a roughly 1:16 ratio of soap to water.
2. Scrub the dirty surfaces. Use a non-abrasive cloth, sponge or soft brush. You want to apply as gentle a touch as possible to avoid damaging the surface of your Colorbond. We recommend you start scrubbing lightly and gradually increase pressure until you are able to lift the stains.
3. Rinse thoroughly. Use your hose to rinse off all of the areas you just cleaned. You don’t want any lingering suds or soap particles to sit long on your Colorbond steel.

If you follow these steps and stains still remain, you should consider professional roof cleaning. The roof may require stronger cleaners or tools that are not recommended for home use because of damage that may occur from amateur application.

Avoid Abrasive Cleaners and Tools

BlueScope Steel does not recommend the use of abrasive cleaning chemicals, such as turpentine or paint thinners, due to the potential of permanent damage to your Colorbond. Likewise, avoid the use of steel wool or similar abrasive scours. Tools like these may scratch the roof surface and do more harm than good.

 

 

Tips To Make Maintenance Easier

Take Care of Your Trees

Keeping your trees trimmed back can go a long way towards ensuring a long roof life. An obvious advantage is that you don’t have to worry about branches breaking loose in the wind and putting dents and dings in your Colorbond.

But there’s a more subtle benefit that you may not have considered. Less tree growth near your home means less pollen, dirt and leaves that gather on your roof. As we mentioned earlier, any foreign objects piling up on a roof’s surface can invite unwanted growth and corrosion. So entrusting your tree care to a professional every spring or summer will help maintain your greenery and your roof.

Keep Your Gutters Clean

Colorbond is highly water-resistant. The sleek coating is designed to send rainwater sliding smoothly off of your roof. However, it’s your gutters that give the water somewhere to go.

If they get backed up with leaves, twigs and moss, the water is going to linger on your roof longer and may even start seeping into your home. Likewise, that debris clogging up your gutters is eventually going to make contact with the roof and invite all sorts of nasty growth with it.

 

Unfortunately, you might find that the lichen has secreted destructive acids causing damage to roof materials. This might appear as a discolouration even after the lichen is removed. – Bunnings

 

Consider Professional Roof Care

Colorbond roofs were built to be long lasting and easy to maintain. But still, some homeowners might just not be comfortable with all of the little things involved.

Maybe you can’t tell corrosion from rust from mildew. Maybe you don’t trust yourself to identify broken roof fasteners. Or maybe you just don’t have the free time to add another menial task to your to-do list. Of all the household chores to outsource, roof maintenance might be one of the most ideal because of how infrequently it is required.

Reach Out To Vivify Roofing For All Your Colorbond Roof Maintenance Needs

You know how valuable your roof is to you. And, now you know the importance of keeping it well-maintained to preserve that value for as long as possible.

Even if you do all the regular inspections and cleaning on your own, Vivify is here when you need us. Especially when you discover minor repairs that you aren’t comfortable making on your own, contact the pros at Vivify.