Living in Australia, we’re no strangers to the devastation that fires can cause to homes.

As we move closer into summer, this means we will possibly face very hot and dry conditions throughout the country, which could lay the foundations for potential bushfires to take hold and present a danger to homes. It’s an unpleasant reality, but it is certainly true.

Fire damage can be substantial, especially to our roofs. So what should you do if your home does unfortunately get struck by the ravages of fire? Is there any way you can reduce the risks? In this blog, we’re going to look at fire damage and how it can impact on your roof.

What to do if your roof sustains fire damage

It’s no secret that fires can be ferocious and are responsible for causing millions of dollars of damage. The larger the fire, the more damage it is likely to cause. If you know that your home was in the line of fire or has sustained other notable signs of fire damage, then it is extremely important to check your roof for damage.

While many of the roofing materials used nowaday are designed to reduce the intensity of fire damage, this does not mean they are invulnerable to the conditions. You may notice slight charring or discolouration, but fire damage should be assessed by a professional roofer. Also, even if you don’t notice any clear external signs of damage, this does not mean that internal damage is improbable.

Take a look inside your roof’s void to see whether any of the joints have suffered charring or other similar signs of fire damage.

Fire damage itself may not be as ominous as it seems at first. While in extreme cases a roof replacement could be necessary, minimal fire damage could be solved with simpler repairs. The most important thing is that if you do find any signs of fire damage, call in a professional so they can assess what is necessary to keep your roof in ideal condition.

How to reduce the impact of fire damage to your roof

These days, most roofs are made from materials that are substantially fire resistant or fireproof. Popular roof materials are concrete and terracotta tiles as well as steel roofing such as Colorbond. All of these are notably resistant to fire.

However, it’s also a good idea to consider the exterior materials of other parts of your home as well. Are your walls made from the likes of bricks, stone fibre cement (fibro) or steel? If you have a deck/veranda, is it made from non-flammable materials? While wooden decks and verandas are a popular choice, they do present serious fire dangers - especially in areas that are known to be fire danger zones.

Even if your roof, walls and deck and are all made of fire resistant materials, there are other things to consider. For example, if your roof has a complex design, this can attract more debris such as leaves and twigs to become stuck. That’s why it’s important to constantly clear your roof and gutters of such debris as these can be an ignition point.

Also be cautious of the vegetation around your home. If winds are strong, fire could jump from a burning tree towards your home. And while the outside may be fairly fire safe, this doesn’t stop embers from finding their way inside your home and igniting the more flammable items and materials contained inside your property.

So invest in fire resistant materials for your home’s exterior, remove debris that could ignite a fire and try to keep your vegetation reasonably separated from your actual home. Ultimately, even with these steps your home could still fall victim to the ravages of a fire. Because of this, ensure you leave your home and get to safety, invest in insurance that will cover you for any loss caused by such a disaster, and have a professional roofer assess the damage to your roof.

At Roo Roofing, we know all the signs of fire damage to a roof and specialise in roof repairs and replacement. We can quote you the damage and, if any is necessary, the best course of action to fixing the damage. To find out more, call us on 1300 734 148.

* Image source: think4photop / FreeDigitalPhotos.net