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DRY & WARM
Possibly the most important reason for treating a roof is not only to keep it clean, but to keep the building dryer and warmer. The dry weight of Fibrolite can increase considerably when wet, due to water absorption on unsealed surfaces. The weight can further increase if the surface is dirty and unsealed.
Apart from creating dampness in the building below, this great quantity of water in the roof is responsible for much heat loss; partly by causing the Fibrolite to lose its usually good insulating properties, but principally from the chilling effect caused by the evaporation of the water. Tests have been carried out inside roofs over the years to determine possible heat loss, from dirty sodden Fibrolite roofs compared to clean and sealed Fibrolite roofs. One test carried out in Christchurch, in cold southerly conditions, showed a difference inside roofs of more than 10 degrees colder under a wet dirty roof, as opposed to a clean sealed roof. |