There’s nothing better than the sight of a fresh sheet of Colorbond on top of a house or around the perimeter of the house. Whether you’ve gone for the moody Ironstone, the earthy Terrain, the restrained Surfmist or the classics – Manor Red or Deep Ocean you’ll be looking at your creation and knowing it’s the best decision you’ve ever made. The benefits of Colorbond go far beyond the aesthetics. It’s legendary for its toughness and durability and for its ability to maintain its original colour for decades. Colorbond doesn’t need much help to keep looking great but there are still a few things you can do to ensure you get the absolute best out of that coil of Aussie genius.
A roof is every building’s first line of defence from the elements and natural hazards such as wind, hail, snow, rain, ice, and extreme heat. The fact that it protects the occupants and property in a building makes it the most vulnerable and will remain as the number one asset.
If you’ve been kind to your Colorbond during storage and installation, you’ll be pleased to know that for the most part the maintenance tasks end here. Colorbond roofing that is exposed to rain throughout the year won’t need any maintenance at all. The rain will wash all the dirt away and keep it looking good as new.
Parts that are protected from the rain will need a bit of TLC every now and then. Areas such as wall cladding, fascias and garage doors that don’t receive any rain can build up condensation, which can lead to erosion. This risk is intensified if you live close to the sea as the build up of salt can slowly chip away at the appearance of your Colorbond roof.
In light of this, Bluescope recommends that owners wash their segments of Colorbond that are hidden form the rain every six months whilst Colorbond that is subject to sea spray should be washed every six months.
The best way to do this is to build up a routine, so every time you water the garden you should give your Colorbond fence a wash and every time you wash the car make sure you aim the hose at the garage door for a quick spray down. For heavy dirt build up Bluescope recommends the use of a pure soap solution or non-abrasive detergent mixed with water. It’s important that only sponges or soft cloths are used to wipe the dirt away, using abrasive steel brushes or steel wool can cause irreparable damage to the surface of the Colorbond. The same goes for your choice of solution; you should never use turps or kerosene to wash your Colorbond. After cleaning you need to thoroughly rinse the Colorbond ensuring no soap or detergent is left on the surface.
Follow these simple guidelines and your Colorbond roof or fence will stay as good as new for years to come. When you compare a quick hose down or a scrub every 3-6 months to the hassle of getting a roofing contactor around to replace cracked tiles it’s easy to see why so many people are going Colorbond.