How to prolong the life of your roof

When we talk about housing, we often mention "roof over our head". The roof is, certainly, one of the most important parts of any home, protecting the rest of the structure from water damage. During the last decade the quality of roofing materials and techniques improved greatly, and it is not uncommon to have a roof that will last, without damage, for a quarter of a century, or even longer.

Even the best roof, however, suffers from the harshness of our Canadian climate. And best roofing materials come with a substantial price tag. I was delighted to hear, therefore, that a Canadian company, Techni-Seal, developed a product that can be used to extend the lifespan of your roof by seven to fifteen years!

The product in question is called Elastomeric Roof Coating. It can be applied by painting over your existing asphalt shingles or metal roofing material with a roller. This coating forms a UV-resistant barrier, and substantially slows the deterioration of your roof.

Additional feature of this product comes as a bonus. The coating is opaque, and comes in a variety of colours. That allows the owners to change the look of their residence by choosing a new, either more modern, or simply matching or complementing the house trim, colour for the roof.

The application is simple, and you might be able do it yourself, saving a bundle in the process. If, however, your roof is like mine - large and fairly steep - it is safer to hire someone with a right kind of ladder, experience, and insurance, to do it for you. The last thing you should do is injuring or hurting yourself while prolonging the lifespan of your roof.

It is recommended to remove mildue from the roof before applying the coating, to ensure that it will adhere to the roof. The company offers a roof-cleaning solution, that will remove mildue. Please visit their website, at www.techniseal.com , to find out more about this excellent product. The website provides also a list of dealers carrying their products in various cities across the country. In Toronto, you should be able to find it in one of Rona Home & Garden stores. If the store does not have the colour or container size you desire, I was told by the Techni-Seal Toronto representative that they do have this product in their warehouse, and it can be ordered.