Church roofs are a lot different than standard residential roofs, making repair and installation work quite complex. Church roofs often have architectural features like steeples and parapets that pose challenges to roofers. Historic buildings may pose even more difficulties, as contractors may need to use specialized materials to maintain the church’s appearance.
While it takes an experienced roofer to perform extensive repair and roof replacement services for a church, just about anyone can do basic maintenance tasks that will help prolong the life of a church roof. The following tasks can help churches better maintain their roofs:
- Get to know your roof – Church roofs typically come in two types: water-shedding roofs and waterproof roofs. Waterproof roofs are typically flat or low-pitched roofs that are built to withstand water. Standing water on these roofs can eventually cause damage, however. Regular inspection of your roof can allow you to identify and get rid of pools of standing water. Water-shedding roofs are designed to ensure water runs off the roof at an angle into gutters. Water-shedding roofs are often made of waterproof materials, but, if shingles go missing, the roof may be damaged. Again, regular inspection and maintenance is necessary.
- Know your shingles – Roofers use a variety of types of shingles for church roofs. Common roofing materials include metal, asphalt, slate, and clay. Some inexpensive roofing materials such as asphalt shingles may have a useful life of just 15 years, while other more expensive materials like slate shingles can last for decades. When describing your needs to a roofing expert, it pays to know some basic facts about your roof.
- Know the warning signs – Regular inspection of your church’s roof and its gutters can help you catch many problems early. For example, discoloration or dirty streaks appearing on interior or exterior church walls can indicate a clogged or leaky gutter. Up on top of the roof, dislocated and broken shingle tiles indicate roof damage, as do nails that have deteriorated. Vegetation growth can also be a sign of a problem.
- Clean those gutters – Regular gutter cleaning is perhaps the most important thing you can do to extend the life of your church’s roof. Keeping gutters clean helps prevent water from accumulating and damaging your roof. Repainting pipes and metal structures is also important to prevent rust.
If the roof of your church shows signs of substantial damage, get in contact with a professional.. Church roofing repair contractors can provide the expertise needed for complex church roof restoration and replacement projects, especially jobs involving historic buildings with very specific requirements.
Pfister Roofing has more than 30 years of experience in commercial roof repair, including church roof repair and replacement. Our roofing experts are knowledgeable concerning the techniques and materials used in historic church buildings, and can provide expert workmanship in repairing and replacing roofs for these architectural treasures.