Tapco Roofing Products General Rules & Maintenance Check List – How to Care for your TapcoSlate Roof – 1. Do not allow leaf debris to build up on the surface of any roof, left unattended the debris will form leaf mould which by holding moisture (particularly in the profiled sheeting bases) will reduce the effective life of the product. 2. Remove debris, such as pine needles and broken branches in a non-abrasive manor. 3. Tree and shrub branches – check that overhanging branches are not in contact with the surface of the roof, wind generated movement can result in mechanical damage to the surface of some roof coverings. 4. Keep gutters clean to promote proper water drainage. 5. Look for signs of any cracked or broken slates/shakes caused by possible impact or wind damage. TapcoSlate does not break when subjected to roof traffic, unlike most other products. 6. Look for any interior evidence of roof leaks or dampness. PREVENTION OF GROWTH TapcoSlate does not actively promote growth on its surface. However, there are two ways of approaching "roof cleanliness": 1. To treat a new roof with a fungicide to prevent the growth of mosses, algae and lichens. This will last for 3-4 years. 2. The installation of copper strips, c. 5cm wide just below the ridgeline, will create a copper sulphate solution during rainfall which will run down the roof and discourage growth. Effective up to 5 metre rafter length. REMOVAL OF GROWTH To remove any offending growth if-and-when it appears: 1. Growth can be removed from a TapcoSlate roof by simply power washing the area. However, it's also important to remember that mosses washed down the roof will need to be removed from the guttering. 2. Manual removal of growth using a rubber scraper/bristle broom and a chloride solution, followed by treatment with a good quality fungicide. N.B. Staining can often appear on a roof if leadwork has not been treated with patination oil, and the resultant deposit following rainfall runs down the roof, marking the tiles. The application of patination oil should be done at the same time as the roof