If the area you live in is prone to heavy rainfall, especially after long periods of drought and extreme heat, you could find yourself with roofing that does not quite accomplish everything that it is supposed to; namely, keeping the interior of your home, garage, or office building nice and dry while protecting those valuable items you have stored underneath it.

Waterproofing under your shingles is probably the most obvious way that your home’s roofing can be waterproofed. It is sometimes assumed that the shingles themselves are the only waterproofing that is needed for a home, but for maximum protection when replacing a roof or working on new construction, the contractor that is installing the roofing material should add a waterproofing layer under the shingles. This can be in the form of waterproof tar paper, roofing felt, or a newer material called thermoplastic polyolefin. These materials typically roll out under the shingles and add extra protection to your home’s roof in case water seeps through nail holes or cracks that develop in your shingles.

If you are not quite ready to replace your roofing entirely, there are many other options available for you. The most common are oil or water based compounds that spread over your roof similarly to the way that paints spreads over the wall. These compounds will form a waterproofing barrier between your shingles and the rainfall, and restore to waterproof nature of your shingles. Oil based compounds typically last a great deal longer than the water based compounds. However, if the environmental impact is a factor, water based compounds are what you are going to use.

Remember that, as with all home maintenance, regular inspection is the key to minimizing damage. Check around your home’s flashing and fascia frequently and take action at the first sight of water damage or leaking. Inspect your home’s attic or crawl space several times a year, looking visually for water damage, discoloration, and visible signs of mold or mildew which all indicate that your roofing’s waterproofing may need maintenance. Be aware of the smell of standing water in your attic or crawl space as this is often the first indicator of damage. If you are seeing water damage on your ceilings inside the top level of your home, there may already be damage that will need to be repaired.

Proteus Waterproofing has joined forces with Building and Land Guarantees Ltd to provide a 10 or 12 year insurance warranty to protect clients against defective design, materials and workmanship – all backed by a Financial Services Authority (FSA) ‘A’ Rated insurer to give clients complete peace of mind in Proteus’ waterproofing solutions.

Proteus’ Managing Director, Justin Pitman, said, “At Proteus, we always strive to be at the cutting edge of the waterproofing industry with our products and services. Our new 10 and 12 year Latent Defects Insurance reflects the confidence we have in the quality and durability of our products.”

For total peace of mind, the 10 or 12 year guarantee insures the client against any latent defects in the original installation of the waterproofing system – in addition to Proteus products and systems already being tested to the most rigorous international standards.

The Proteus 12 year warranty may offer exceptional benefits, but the best solution for the client still remains the same. Get a properly designed and installed roof in the first place and maintain it like any other asset in the building – and your roof will outlast any warranty.