Our homes, as the valuable assets they are, need our utmost protection even when the threat looks like a harmless rainstorm. Despite the seeming lack of danger, water damage is something that can happen easily, particularly with heavy rainfalls. Proper preparation for protection from the elements is essential, and it’s not just the home’s structural integrity that’s at stake with costly repairs you have to worry about – there’s also the harmful mould infestation risk.
It’s a minor thing that can easily turn into a major health concern. To safeguard your health, along with your budget, sealing the home’s crucial points like roof and gutters with a quality silicone sealant is a project you should consider. Depending on where you live, and how harsh the weather is, you may need to do so every three to five years, or more frequently.
What Are the First Signs of a Roof Leak?
In case of leaks, there are some signs that indicate trouble, such as water stains, dampness, damage to the roofing material, or even sagging ceiling. When you resort to using a reliable sealant, however, you won’t have to dread any of these.
Before moving on to explaining more about it, it’s important to mention you don’t have to wait for visible signs to check for trouble, as thermal imaging cameras can identify threats you may not even be aware of. Clogged gutters are another aspect that deserves your attention so be sure there’s no obstruction in the water’s way before applying the sealing solution.
Why Seal with Silicone Sealant?
There’s something about this specific material that makes it into a highly versatile and durable adhesive, perfect for this kind of application. To understand more, we need to look into its very properties. This includes things like its resistance to temperature fluctuations, as both high and low temperatures won’t make it change in substance.
From resisting thermal expansion and thermal contraction, all the way to wind oscillation, the elastic bond created by the silicone can withstand the regular wear and tear. This makes silicone sealants a significantly better alternative to regular rubber sealants, especially when it comes to the stability they offer that plays a crucial part in proper home insulation. While we’re at the withstanding detail, the durability of this type of adhesive hasn’t gone unnoticed, with proper application resulting in years and years of sturdy bonds. Up to four times longer!
More on the resistance properties, the UV rays are no match for this material either, so even with constant sun exposure you won’t have to dread any impact on the tight seals. Add to this the resistance to mould, mildew, and chemicals and you get the reasons why it’s become the go-to choice for different upgrades, repairs, and construction projects in general.
Even in the most extreme conditions, waterproof silicone won’t degrade and can shield from rain as much as snow and humidity overall. In addition to being excellent for filling gaps in roofs and gutters, there are silicone adhesives that make for great window and door bonds, as well as plumbing, kitchen and bathroom sink bonds too.
As there are different adhesives, it’s essential to check if you have the right one for your project and material. Lastly, you have the versatility which stems from this material’s adhesion to a range of other materials, so whether your gutters are made from plastic or metal, the sturdy bonding would be guaranteed. This goes for the range of materials used for roofing too. All in all, silicone is a low VOC solution that’s easy to work with using a caulking gun, and provides a great aesthetic finish.
A Word of Advice
Still, to count on all of the aforementioned benefits, I have to point out the necessity to do a bit of a clean up of the area you want to have sealed prior to the project so you can get the expected result. This is needed to remove any grime, dirt, or rust present on the roof and/or gutters surfaces. For this, you’d require tools like sandpaper, wire brush, a clean cloth and some rubbing alcohol once the cleaning is complete to ensure proper silicone adhesion.
As soon as you’re done with the sealing, it’s advisable to get in the habit of regular inspection of the areas. You may feel confident in your work, but it wouldn’t hurt to be on the lookout for some signs of peeling or cracks, especially after harsh weather situations like a heavy storm. This would ensure you do timely repair or seal minor cracks preventing them from turning into something big.
Regular cleaning and maintenance of the gutters is mandatory, more so as it can prevent the need for roof repairs down the road; where there’s proper water drainage there’s no room for overflowing gutters or damage to the seals. Inspecting and cleaning the gutters from dirt, debris or leaves can be the very chore that saves you from a great deal of headache.
