Maintenance for a Gravel Roof

Cleaning

• Roofs naturally collect a lot of dirt and debris, mostly from overhanging trees or detritus leftover from storms. The first step in your maintenance should be to clean out this detritus. This should be done every two to three months, or when you know that a rough storm has likely left leaves and branches on the roof. Make sure you check around and behind all pipes, temperature units and other fixtures on the roof as well, where branches and leaves can get stuck. You may also want to wipe down those fixtures with a damp rag to remove dirt buildup.

Filling Gaps

• While you are cleaning, you are likely to find gaps in the gravel. This is a dangerous condition for your roof, since areas uncovered by gravel undergo stress from direct sunlight and weathering exposure. Long term exposure can lead to damage, and therefore leaks, in the roof. If you find a gap, use a scrub brush or wire brush to thoroughly clean the exposed area to remove built up dirt and dust. Then cover the area with a 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick layer of mastic, or roofing cement. Move excess gravel from other areas of your roof and imbed it into the mastic to seal up the gap.

Gutters

• No matter what type of roof you have, the gutters play a vital role in the safety and security of the roof. Tar and gravel roofs are built with a slight slope that allows for rainwater to drain off, instead of accumulate and cause potential leaks. However, oftentimes some of the gravel runs off with the rainwater, clogging up the gutters and creating issues with drainage and potential leak problems. Take a broom to the gutters, or flood them out with a direct spray from a hose to clear out all debris, including excess gravel, to ensure that they won't flood during your next rainstorm.

Seals

• The fixtures, flashings and copings across and attached to the built up roof are all sealed with caulk to prevent rainwater from falling in behind them and rotting away the surface behind. Over time, this caulk can crack and wear down. Make inspecting these seals part of your regular maintenance program. If you find cracked or worn down caulk, scrape it out with a metal scraper or wire brush. Clean the area with mineral spirits to kill any mold or mildew and then reseal the area with polyurethane caulk, which is designed to withstand exposure to the outdoors.