A beautiful and functioning deck or pergola provides an outside recreation center while also adding value to your property. A pergola is an excellent addition to any property. It provides shade and can be a lovely area to relax or entertain friends. Because these structures are exposed to the elements all year, it is critical to maintaining them to ensure they continue to look nice, are safe to use, and last for years to come.
Checking the roof for damage is one of the greatest ways to ensure your pergola is well-maintained. A good roof has numerous advantages, ranging from cost savings on maintenance to protection from the elements. It is a simple method to boost the value of your property or get more use out of your outside spaces. This is why it’s critical to keep a close check on your roof and inspect it on a regular basis for signs of breakdown. Here are six major signs that indicate that it is time to replace your roof.
Poor Energy Efficiency
There is much more to a roof than its exterior. Beyond the shingles and the underlying roofing material, there is an intricate system at work that should be constructed not just for safety and protection, but also for moisture resistance and energy savings.
If you discover that your energy costs are increasing, the first thing we recommend is that you inspect your roof. Heat gain can be caused by inadequate insulation. During the hot summers, the sun heats the roof, which absorbs some of the heat. Poor insulation may let heat gain into the house, especially if you have a covered deck. This makes your home’s air conditioning system work harder to keep you comfortable.
While the air conditioner works harder than necessary throughout the summer, it results in higher energy costs, especially during the hotter and colder seasons.
Age of the Roof
The age of your roof is another indicator that it needs to be replaced. Typically, roofs that are more than 20 years old must be replaced. The shelf life of various roof materials varies.
Asphalt shingles have a lifespan of roughly twenty years, although slate, copper, and concrete roofs can survive for more than fifty years. Wood shake roofs can also survive for roughly 30 years.
So, depending on the material of your roof and its shelf life, keep track of the last time it was replaced and replace it once the shelf life has passed.
Water Damage Causing Leaks
Damaged roofs, such as holes or rust, can all result in costly leaks in your pergola roof. Hence, you need to pay attention to these issues because once ignored, water damage can result in bigger damage by further deteriorating the roofing structure.
When your roof starts leaking, do well to replace it immediately with polycarbonate roofing panels from a reputable professional
Wind Damage
Roofs are extremely vulnerable to wind damage, owing to the fact that severe winds do not strike roofs equally. It, however, destroys the edges of the roof or parts of the roof that are already loose.
Because winds can rip loose shingles, initiating a chain reaction, these loose areas make it easy. Continuous wind damage can cause the roof to leak or rot due to water exposure. Hence, it is best to replace it.
Roof Is Rotting
The main cause of dry rot is moisture. When the roof is inadequately insulated and ventilated, it results in high humidity, and this exposes the roof’s wooden components to excessive moisture.
Rot occurs when wood-eating fungus consumes the fibers, causing the wood structure to dry and crumble.
Damaged or Cracked Shingles on the Roof
If you detect cracks in your pergola’s shingles, you should inspect it for damage. Cracks in the shingles can cause leaks and catastrophic damage, therefore they must be repaired as soon as they are discovered.
The best way to do this is to get a polycarbonate roof for a pergola and replace it as soon as possible.
Contact Canada Plastics and Belting Inc. for Polycarbonate Roofing Panels
Once you notice these signs on your porch, pergola, and deck’s roof, it is time for you to have it replaced with polycarbonate roofing panels because one of its benefits is that it is the best material when it comes to strength and this is perfect for pergola roofing.
Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. has all of your roofing needs, ranging from polycarbonate roofs for pergolas, polycarbonate roofing, deck and pergola covers, and polycarbonate roofing sheets. Contact us today to learn about our products or visit our showroom.