How To Tackle A Leaking Roof Repair
It is imperative to make all the necessary repairs to the home’s roof framing before ever installing the first repair shingle. It is the frame of the roof that serves as the roof structure’s foundation. Simply patching any damage on the top does not take care of the problem that could cause sagging or misalignment in the future.
Most homes are manufactured with access to the attic, or a minimal amount of crawlspace just below the roof framing. It is important to check the framing to see if any damage has occurred because of a roof leak where water has penetrated and weaken the system. In addition, other issues can cause significant damage including termite infestation that can significantly weaken the structural integrity of the entire roof system.
Only when you are 100% sure that the roofing deck a solid, should you begin repairing the damaged area. If the roof is wet, you need to pat the entire area completely dry were any rainwater has penetrated into the attic. Only then should you apply any polyurethane caulking to the open area. In the event that there is a missing shingle or roof tile, it will need to be replaced. If the substrate material is also missing, that will need to be replaced as well.
Gently pull up any damaged shingles using a pry bar. Remove any of the shingle nails using the pry bar or a claw hammer. With quality felt paper below; replace the missing shingle with the new shingle along the damaged area. Be sure a nail in the newly placed shingle. If more than one shingle is missing, start from the bottom and work upwards.
When installing new shingles gently lift the older ones to slide in the new ones. Recognize that the old ones will likely be brittle and easy to snap. Because of that, it might be a good idea to cut away 2” along the top of the shingles to make it much easier to slide the entire unit into place. This will eliminate the need to pull up the old shingle to get access to the nails.
When done, apply a small amount of roofing tar along both the top and the bottom of the newly installed shingle that was just trimmed. This will allow the shingles to hold together firmly in place and ensure a quality seal.
When looking across the roof for any signs of damage or water penetration, it is always imperative to look at the flashing. This is the metal material around chimneys, vents, skylights and other roof penetrations. Make sure that there are no cracks in the caulking or roof cement. If found, apply a dab of roofing cement and feather it out to allow water drainage over and around the added material.
After allowing it to set for a few hours, bring a hose up on the roof, and thoroughly drenched the area to ensure that the leaks have been repaired completely.
