A damaged roof is an open invitation for moisture to enter the home and cause significant damage. As time passes, water damage can lead to mold, fungus, and mildew.
When it comes to roof repair, the most important factor is recognizing issues early. Once problems are identified, the next step is determining whether a repair is possible. Contact Ellingon Roofing LLC for professional help.
As your roof’s first line of defense, shingles are essential for keeping water out of your home. If damaged shingles aren’t repaired quickly, they can weaken the rest of your roof and lead to moisture infiltration and those pesky ceiling leaks. Thankfully, damaged shingles are often the first sign of trouble and can be easily fixed with some roofing cement and new nails.
When a shingle is damaged, it’s important to inspect the area thoroughly. Check for cracks, holes, and rips. Be sure to also examine the surrounding shingles, as they may be loose or have been affected by the same weather conditions that caused your damaged shingle.
If you discover a shingle with a hole or a large crack, you’ll need to replace it with a new one. To do so, start by loosening the shingles above it with your pry bar. Next, firmly lift up the shingle you wish to remove and expose its nails. Using your pry bar again, gently but firmly work under and around the nail to dislodge it from the shingle.
Once you’ve removed the damaged shingle, install the replacement and secure it with roofing cement. Be sure to use a color that matches the surrounding shingles for a seamless look.
You can repair a shingle with a small crack by placing a thick bead of roofing sealant under the cracked surface. After applying the sealant, press down the shingle and smooth it out with your putty knife. To camouflage your repair, check the gutter for an accumulation of colored granules that have washed down the roof from the damaged shingles and sprinkle them over the sealant to mask your repair.
Loose or missing shingles can affect your roof’s ventilation, which is crucial for air circulation and moisture control. Check for sagging, uneven or bubbling paint as well, which are signs of inadequate attic insulation and/or ventilation. Ultimately, if you notice a lot of missing or loose shingles, it’s best to consult with a professional to have them evaluate the damage and determine whether you need to replace the entire roof or not.
Damaged Flashing
Flashing is a thin, protective material that’s used during roof construction to connect seams around different installations on the roof like chimneys, vents and skylights. It also helps eliminate the chances of water damage to the interior of your home around these installations. Flashing is typically made of copper, galvanized steel or aluminum and is very important to the overall health of your roof.
Flashing can become damaged from a number of reasons, most commonly due to weather conditions or physical damage. If the flashing has a hole or a section is missing, it’s a good idea to have it replaced right away. One or two small leaks from a damaged flashing area may not cause much damage, but as the leaks expand and spread throughout your roof they can be very expensive to fix.
A roof repair professional can replace a section of your flashing by carefully removing the old section and then putting in a new piece that’s properly sized and overlapped to create a watertight seal. The replacement piece can be made from a variety of materials, but copper and galvanized steel are the most durable.
The best way to spot flashing damage is to get up into your attic or crawl space and visually inspect the area. The most common signs of flashing damage are rust spots or corrosion, as well as holes and dents. It’s a good idea to do this on a regular basis, especially after any severe weather events.
Another way to spot damage is to look for water stains on the ceiling or walls. If you’re noticing these areas in your house, it’s likely because of a leaky roof and damaged flashing.
It’s possible to do some minor repairs to your own roof if you have a little experience. However, any extensive or complicated repair jobs should be left to the professionals. Doing a job that you’re not familiar with can lead to serious and costly damage, as well as pose a significant safety hazard for you and your family. It’s always worth having a professional take a look and recommend the proper course of action for your repair needs.
Damaged Built-Up Roofing (BUR)
BUR roofs have a reputation as being some of the most durable commercial roofing systems. They can withstand some of the harshest weather conditions and can last for up to 30 years when properly maintained. However, these thick layers of felt, asphalt and gravel can still be damaged from the elements and other factors.
If your BUR roof is damaged, a professional should be contacted to perform repairs. A repair on a BUR roof should include removing any materials that are not firmly attached and then preparing the area for the new patch. This preparation includes removing any debris, aggregate and dirt from the area of the damage. It also includes thoroughly cleaning the area.
Once the area is cleaned, a bitumen membrane patch should be installed. This can be done by using a hot application process or cold installation method. This will ensure the patch is sealed into place. It is important to note that a hot bitumen patch can melt or burn the adjacent material, so this type of repair should only be performed by a trained and certified commercial roofing contractor.
When a BUR roof is damaged, it may develop blisters or waves that protrude from the surface of the roof. This is typically caused by damp, swollen or contaminated layers of the roof. In order to repair this, your contractor will remove any swollen or damp layers and then add more felt, asphalt cement and chippings on top of the damaged areas.
Another common problem with BUR roofs is bare spots in the surface flood coat. This is often caused by erosion or by a lack of maintenance. To fix this, a contractor will cut away any bare spots from the surface and then replace them with fresh aggregate.
A major advantage of a BUR roof is that it is able to hold up to more physical abuse than other single-ply roofing systems. This is because it has many layers and a high puncture resistance. Because of this, it is much less likely that your BUR roof will experience accidental penetrations that can cause costly leaks.
Leaks
One of the most common issues a homeowner will encounter is roof leaks. Leaks can lead to a number of problems, including damp and mold, rotted framing and sheathing and damaged ceilings. If you suspect your roof is leaking, it is important to get it repaired right away to avoid water damage and potential structural problems.
There are a few things you can do to help locate and repair a leak in your roof. First, if you have a water stain on your ceiling, you should try to identify the source of the leak before it gets worse. If you can, take a flashlight to the attic and shine it over the area of your roof where the water spot is. This will allow you to see any areas where the roof deck is exposed, and you can then check for water stains or rotted wood.
Another way to find a leak is to use a hose to “make it rain.” Have someone inside the house keep an eye out for where the drips appear, then go up on the roof with a garden hose. Start low, soaking the area just above where the leak appears in your home, then move up the roof a little bit at a time. Ask your helper to yell when a drop shows up, so you can pinpoint the location.
Many roof leaks are caused by shingle seams that aren’t sealed properly. These seams are usually located in areas where two planes of the roof come together, such as around chimneys and dormers. The sealing may have been done improperly in the beginning, or it may have cracked over time due to weather and wear and tear.
To seal these leaks, your roofer will break the seal and lift the shingle up. They’ll then apply an ice and water shield to the underside of the shingle, and reseal it. They’ll also apply a new strip of underlay to prevent moisture from coming up through the joint.
If your roof is leaking, you should limit the damage by moving any furniture or belongings you can to safe areas of the house. If you’re able, cover them with tarps or buckets to protect them from water and mold.