In most cases, your roof isn’t left bare after being installed. The manufacturers that create the metal Summerville roofing used on many local homes and businesses generally place some form of protective topcoat on their products. With aluminum and similar alloys, it’s not uncommon for the roof to be finished off with a thin layer of strong enamel or epoxy.
These coatings protect the metal surfaces of your roof, so your roof can protect your home. Regardless of how strong they are, building materials are subject to corrosion and degradation if they’re directly exposed to water and oxygen, and these chemical processes severely weaken roofs.
Unfortunately, topcoats aren’t impervious to natural erosion. UV exposure from sunlight, mechanical shape changes from thermal expansion, and physical impacts from hail and other flying debris all work to weaken or destroy the chemical bonds that hold topcoats together. The gaps that subsequently appear in these protective layers allow water to enter and eat away at the metal below.
Many homeowners notice that their topcoats are deteriorating because they can see visible signs of corrosive action, such as discolorations. In some cases, their roofs may even begin releasing rust-colored stains. Luckily, these issues can be repaired by experienced roofers even if it’s unclear precisely where the damage is located.
Before beginning, roofers will check the integrity of any fasteners or joints on your roof. This ensures that they aren’t missing gaps that would render the new barrier ineffective.