Roof Maintenance
A roof needs to protect the school building from all types of weather, such as rain, sun, and wind. Another important function of the roof is to keep water from getting into the school building. It is a key part of the school building's waterproofing system. Therefore, the roof and gutters should be kept in good shape.
Rainwater should freely flow through the gutters and into the down-spouts.
Gutters
Gutters need to be kept clean to function properly.
- Make sure someone regularly cleans out leaves, debris, plant or tree droppings.
- Clogged gutters or down-spouts will cause water problems if they are left untreated.
- An inspector should also look at the gutters for pinhole leaks or rusted sections. These can cause them to leak water.
- Gutter brackets should not be broken or rusted. Down-spout pipes, called leaders, should be intact, with no rust, holes, or broken sections.
- The rainwater should freely flow through the gutters and into the down-spouts. If not, the gutters may not be aligned correctly. They should slope toward the down-spout.
- Improper alignment should be corrected quickly. If not, it defeats the purpose of the gutter system.
- Never allow water from down-spout to pour directly on a roof below.
- Connect upper story down spouts to lower level gutters.
Let's take a closer look at the different types of roofs that are common on school buildings.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-1. Never allow water from a gutter's down-spout to pour _____.
You forgot to answer the question!