Your roof can become damaged from falling tree branches, high winds or severe weather. Often times, however, a roof can become worn as it ages. Roofs cannot last forever, with even the strongest roofing materials. If you have an older roof or one that has been through a strong storm, you may find it is in need of small repairs. If you have no experience working with roofing materials, you should hire a professional roofing contractor to perform the repairs.
You will need to have the proper supplies in order to complete an asphalt roof patch: shingles, pry bar, roofing cement, caulking gun, putty knife, roofing nails (galvanized), paper towels, and – of course – a ladder to get up on the roof.
Once you climb the ladder and step on to your roof, be careful to watch where you step. Roofs can be slippery, especially when wet or damaged, so be sure to step cautiously and clean the roof surface that you’ll be patching. Begin by removing the damaged Bitumen Roofing Sheets shingles or any shingles that are loose from the roof. Use your pry bar to rip off shingles around the damaged area and remove all nails. If you cannot remove the nails, pound them flush against the sheathing beneath where the shingles are normally.
Now that the damaged shingles and debris has been removed, inspect the area for signs of water damage. Are there any rips or tears in the sheathing? If the sheathing is torn in any way, you can use your caulking gun with roofing cement to fill in the rips and gaps. If you pounded any nails into the sheathing, be sure to cover them with roofing cement, also. This will create a watertight seal and prevent your roof from developing leaks. You can use your putty knife to create a smooth, flush surface with the roofing cement.
Now you can start installing new shingles on your roof. Begin with the lowest row and work your way to the top. You can fit the shingles into the places that the old ones sat, then nail them in using your galvanized nails and hammer. You can also use a nail gun, if you have one. Asphalt roofing shingles are manufactured with dry strips of roofing cement Flat Roofing Jobs Abroad applied to the underside. This roofing cement will heat up as a result from the heat of the sunlight and will adhere itself to the shingles directly below, creating a watertight seal. You will have to apply extra roofing cement on the last tile you place in the uppermost position to fit it underneath the older, undamaged tiles already in position.
While the steps lined out here may seem simple, it is certainly no easy job. A professional roofing contractor will be able to fix any of your roofing problems properly and in a shorter amount of time. They have the right materials and the experience needed to get the job done with ease. Contact a roofing contractor for your next exterior home project.
