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A metal roof over your home or commercial establishment will provide decades of service without heavy maintenance. However, you do need to inspect your roof at regular intervals and conduct metal roof repairs in case you notice any issues so as to nip any problem before it results in heavy leakage and huge repair bills.

Even though a roof made of metal is quite sturdy and durable, there are several other factors that can have an adverse effect on its long life. These include the harsh weather conditions of Canada, installation, condition of attached flashings and fasteners, and quality of the metal used to construct your roof.

Common Causes for leaks in roofs made of metal

There are a few common causes that lead to leakages in a roof made out of metal. One common issue is not applying caulking between the roof panel underside and extra trim. Another common problem is not applying any sealant below the screw heads, while another cause is failure to apply sealants inside the length of the cavities in the roofing seam.

Metal panels can corrode quickly in case they have been damaged during severe hailstorms and if their protective coating has been breached. Frequent expansion and contraction can also widen the holes where fasteners have been installed and lead to leakages. Wrongly installed fasteners or fasteners that have broken off due to corrosion can also lead to leakage and damage in case the metal panel becomes loose. Rubber washers can also harden and break off after years of service in severe weather conditions.

Solutions to repair your metal roofing system

If you have the required experience in repairing your roof made of metal then you can attempt to do so by yourself since standing on the steep slope of your home roof itself is a skill that must be mastered before you can proceed. You must examine your metal roof in detail after cleaning it so as to identify corrosion on the panels and fasteners as well as inspect joints at the intersection between your panels and flashings.

Highly corroded panels need to be replaced and necessary sealant should be applied after replacement. Similarly, corroded fasteners should be replaced with corrosion-resistant ones while keeping in mind that the material of the fastener should be compatible to the metal used on your roof. If the corrosion on your metal panel is only on the surface then you can sand down the corroded area and apply a matching primer before painting it with high quality paint that matches the rest of your roof or home.

Cracked panels can be repaired with a matching metal adhesive over a fiber mat or membrane, if required. Once the adhesive has set then you can apply the required primer and paint to complete the job. If the entire roof has acquired light rust then you will need to sand it down and apply a new coat with added rust-and-UV resistant compounds.

If you are unable to inspect or repair your home or office roof all by yourself then it is a good idea to hire an experienced and honest roofing contractor with plenty of experience in metal roof repairs and installation. The contractor should have all required Canadian licenses and permits, and should be able to help you out in case of an insurance claim too. Hiring such a contractor will give your peace of mind and extract years of additional service from your roof.

This post contributed by Lewis Benjamin who works with Precisioncladding metal roof specialists and highlights the reasons why metal roofing is considered as a preferable means of defense against nature. Learn more from Lewis Benjamin by checking out more articles and blogs.