Roof Maintenance in Pompano Beach, FL

On tile, NRCA says any cracked, broken or missing piece gets repaired or replaced to keep the roof watertight. A slipped tile leaves the underlayment open to sun and rain, and that underlayment is the part that wears out first (see tile roofing). Ask the roofer to walk only where tile can take the weight and to list any broken pieces before swapping them, so you know whether matching tile is still made.

Curling or splitting shingles are NRCA's signs of deterioration, and dislodged tabs should be put back to keep the roof weathertight. On metal, a panel maker's care guide asks for:

• Freshwater rinse with a garden hose two or three times a year
• A 5% solution of non-bleach household detergent with a cloth or soft brush for heavier dirt
• No wire brushes or abrasives on the paint finish
• Metal shavings left from screw work cleaned off, since they stain the panels

Homes near the beach and the Intracoastal collect salt on the panels, so the rinse matters more there. Panel types are on metal roofing.

On a flat roof, start with the drains. NRCA points maintenance visits at valleys, gutters and roof drains, where debris piles up and blocks the flow. On a parapet roof, check that the overflow scuppers are open as well as the main ones; they sit 2 to 4 inches above the low point and are the backup when a drain clogs. Look under air conditioning units for condensate lines dripping onto the membrane, which the HVHZ code doesn't allow. Any patch should leave the roof draining, since the code bars repairs that create new ponding. Bigger membrane problems are on flat roof repair.

The spring check lines up with the start of the season (dates on storm damage roof repair). Cut back fronds and limbs that rub the roof, fasten loose ridge caps and edge metal, and clear gutters so a tropical downpour has somewhere to go. NRCA also recommends a look after any hurricane, even when nothing seems wrong from the ground.