Would welcome any advice about our pitch and gravel roof.
A single storey bungalow roof, 72 feet by 37 feet, with a slope of about
three feet in an 17/20 foot span. (The ridge is off centre).
Total area about 2700 sq feet. The low slope allows one to walk on it
without difficulty. At the edges it's only about nine feet off the ground;
all of which makes it easy to work on. The roof overhang is two feet which
keeps the drips away from the house; no gutters, hate them and feel they are
recipe for rot in edge of the roof? Seems to have worked too!
Only twice have we had to shovel snow off the roof; normally it blows away
into the North Atlantic! Occasionally we get wind gusts to100 mph here.
The only downside is that the roof space (one couldn't bless it with the
word 'attic') above the ceiling is less than three feet high; difficult to
crawl through and somewhat full of blown in loose fill insulation added
some 20 - 25 years ago.
Roof has the minimum number of apertures through it. One brick 18 inch by 36
inch chimney, with suitable flashing. One 3 inch pipe vent. One 2.5 inch
electrical supply mast (in end eave) and one small one inch pipe with
weatherhead for antenna cable. All these are inspected and kept caulked.
Very plain shed roof, no dormers, or intersection of sections of roof etc.
Plain and simple.
We have had minimum to no trouble with the roof, but it is now 33 years old
in a climate probably best described as 'Maritime' (i.e. probably like the
Maine or Scottish coasts.?).
The only trouble has been that in one two spots between the aluminum
(aluminium) edge flashing and the built up layers of tar and felt, with
gravel scattered over, a slight gap might develop probably due to
freezing/thawing etc. Each time this has been treated promptly by flowing
hot tar into any gaps and checking for rot in the wooden facia board and/or
soffits. In some 30+ years I have only had to repair two small spots of rot
in the facia board each a few inches long; one a corner over the garage,
where some condensation must have occurred. Also have added extra
ventilators and ensured adequate overall ventilation of the roof space in
all seasons. There is no evidence of rot in the roof structure (gang nailed
trusses on two foot centres) or the roof deck which is T*G lumber nailed
down to the trusses.
We have lost some of the original gravel due to wind and snow over the years
and there are one or two small spots where the felt is starting to look
bare.
It seems the original roofing contractor did a good job; roof performing as
well or better than anticipated. But due to it now being some 5 to 7 years
beyond what is often cited as the 'life' of almost any roof here it's time
to at least have a look at it.
Spoke with a leading and well respected contractor here who gave a
recommendation for a reliable roofing contractor; but also advised "If it's
not broke why fix it!". That was two or three years ago.
So that's the pitch (pun intended)! I would really welcome advice from
anyone about experience of this type of roof. Viewing its condition I am
wondering if the best course is to have a roofing contractor sweep the
gravel clear and apply an additional coat or two of hot roof tar or some
other product and then spread gravel again? Maybe that will make it last
another 15 years by which time I'll be heading towards 90!
Honestly, I don't think I'm deceiving myself when I say the roof looks that
good. Point is it IS 33 years old. I'm prepared financially to do something.
It isn't in bad shape.
Any advice please.
My cordial thanks in advance.
Terry.
PS. I apologize for cross posting; but in eastern Newfoundland we are
located sort of halfway between the major areas of North America and the UK
with weather conditions common to certain areas in both!