Dealing With That New Roof Smell
Your new roof may look amazing on your home, and you are seriously considering whether to call all of your friends and family to come to visit so you can show off your newest renovation. However, you might also be wondering whether that smell is going to last forever. If you plan to install a new roof soon, roofers in Longwood are available to discuss options that will not cause a distinct odor once a roof is completed.
Installing a new roof is a complex process. You have likely endured weeks or days of constant loud construction noises, with the sounds of hammers and nails on your new shingles first thing every morning. While this may not have been the most pleasant experience, your new roof is likely to be a sight for sore eyes. Of course, your new shingles should look flawless, and your home should look nearly brand new. This new look may even motivate you to do some spring cleaning or work on your landscaping to make the outside of your house look as fancy as the roof does. But often, homeowners who have just gotten a new roof deal with one specific problem, the new roof smell.
If you chose new asphalt roof shingles for your new roof, the smell is probably an issue. New asphalt shingles give off a char-like smell that is very strong and irritating for some people. The resulting aroma is because of the sealants used on the asphalt shingles that naturally melt and set your shingles in place. So when you have new shingles installed, the sun cooks them to get them set on your roof. During this process, gases are released into the attic space, and the smell can spread into your home.
Asphalt shingles are equipped with a layer of tar, and tar has a very pungent odor. While some people aren’t susceptible to the fragrance, others are highly frustrated by it.
Homeowners will likely notice that the smell gets more robust when the weather gets hotter. The scent can typically last from a few weeks to months, and you can speed the process by putting better ventilation in attic spaces or using turbine vents to push the smell out of the house. Sadly, this new smell is something that you’ll have to endure for a while. And though you can make the smell go away faster by adding in better ventilation measures, you’ll likely still have a faint smell after several weeks.
How to improve your home’s smell
Since the smell of the tar will linger around your property for some time, better ventilation can help clear out a lot of it. But until that new roof sets in completely, you’re likely to have minimal escape other than leaving home. This makes it vital to put in extra effort to combat the odor with delightful fragrances that may help you cope.
Eucalyptus leaves
Eucalyptus leaves are easy to maintain and pretty to look at, giving off a pleasant smell that can help improve the tar scent in your home. This plant also has a natural deodorizing property.
Using essential oils
Adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil into your air filter is one way of getting your house to smell fresher. Using your HVAC system to cool your home is natural, but taking advantage of the air system to spread around a fresh smell is something that not many people think to do. Mint clove, lavender, and lemon are some of the best scents to combat the tar smell lingering in your home. In addition, essential oil smells can help make your home feel more relaxing.
Add an air freshener.
Air fresheners that are marketed for use in your car can also be used at home. Clip an air freshener on top of your air vents, and you can utilize the natural air coming in while minimizing the odors associated with the tar from your roof.
Simmering potpourri
Potpourri is a mix of fragrant, dried plants that often has an edition of essential oils. It is common practice for people to place potpourri into small bowls to let off a gentle scent inside the home. However, simmering potpourri on the stove is a great way to bring out the natural smells of these plants and essential oils, and mixing different potpourri can bring a whole new host of aromas to the house. In addition, simmering the potpourri on the stove can help spread the smell through the home more quickly.
Use baking soda
Most people know that baking soda is a natural deodorizer. Dashing baking soda around the home, on your carpets, and even in your attic can help absorb some of the pungent tar odor from the roofing job. This also ensures that your carpets continue to smell fresh.
Our roofers in Longwood are available with experience and expertise in roofing techniques to help you find the roofing that fits your needs and specifications. Call us today!
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