| Defects |
Likely Causes |
Repair and Maintenance Tips |
| Leaks due to cracked, loose clay tiles on pitch roof |
- Mechanical damage due to objects dropped on tile surface
- Improper installation of tiles onto roof
- Tiles dislodged by strong winds
- Corroded wire used to tie tiles to battens
|
- Conduct regular inspection
- Replace damaged or loose tiles
|
| Stained clay tiles on pitch roof |
|
- Engage specialist to jet wash the roof surface
- Spray anti-fungal solution on roof surface
|
| Rotting supporting timber rafters, purlins or battens |
- Termite-infestation
- Decay of timber in contact with damp brickwork
|
- Remove and replace all affected timber units
- Apply anti-termite treatment under base slab
- Apply anti-termite treatment to wood
- Use properly seasoned wood
- Apply remedial treatment to wood, eg. drying out, application of wood preservatives
|
| Leaks at roof gutter |
- Choked roof gutter due to fallen leaves and branches
- Undersized or blocked rainwater outlet
- Cracked gutter due to wear and tear
- Insufficient fall in gutter
|
- Cover gutter with appropriately sized wire mesh
- Regular
inspection of gutters and gutter supports, once a week, especially if
there are trees in the vicinity, to clear away leaves which prevent
water from draining away
- Remove debris from all gutters
- Check that drainpipes are draining properly by water testing them
- Paint roof gutters with insecticide paint to prevent mosquito breeding
|
| Rusting
and corrosion in ferrous metal roofing (especially in profiled steel
sheeting used to line soffit of projecting eaves and underside of
projecting canopies) |
- Local tropical conditions of constant high humidity and heavy rainfall
- Deposits of wind-borne salts and atmospheric sulphur particles and other pollutants
|
- Apply protective metallic coatings or paints to steel sheeting
- Consult specialist for repairs
|
| Ponding in sheet metal roofing |
- Inappropriate gradient (fall) of roofing profile, preventing speedy drainage of rainwater to gutter and rainwater drainpipes
|
- Ensure appropriate gradient in metal roofing, according to system selected
|
