ROOF
REPAIR TIPS
While waiting for licensed
contractors, there are two temporary remedies
for leaks you can use. Before climbing
onto the roof of your home, know this: It is easy to slip, particularly on wet
tile and
there is danger from tree branches, power lines and ladders. Repairs are made from the outside. On the inside, set up buckets under leaky
areas and to relieve the water pressure.
On the outside of the roof, you can use plastic sheeting or tar
paper. The smallest holes may be patched
by using a trowel to spread roofing plastic cement over them.
Plastic
Sheeting
·
This is
the most temporary measure. Take heavy
plastic sheets – a brand name is Visqueen – and use roofing nails to fasten
them around the hole.
·
If you can find 2 by 4’s, square off the hole with
the wood first. Then wrap the plastic
around the wood and nail down the wood.
·
If you can’t get wood or nails, use
bricks, cement blocks or sandbags to hold down the plastic.
Roofing
Paper
This is
known as tar paper or roofing felt. Find
it in the building materials sections of stores. It is applied with trowel-grade roofing
plastic cement and a trowel.
The paper generally is sold in rolls by weight (15-,
30- and 90- weight paper are common) per 100 square feet.
The paper
is best applied in overlapping layers – alternating the cement and paper – from
the bottom of the roof upward.
Contractor
Tips
The National Roofing Contractors
Association can help you find reputable roofing contractors. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (two
first class stamps) to the NRCA, Buying a New Roof,
The NRCA offers these tips:
v
Check for a permanent place of business, telephone
number, tax identification number and occupational license. A professional will have these readily
available.
v
Check for a company with a good track record.
v
Ask the contractor for proof of insurance. Insist on seeing copies of both liability
coverage and workers’ compensation certificates.
v
Find out if the contractor is bonded and licensed.
v
Be sure the contractor can provide a manufacturer’s
warranty. Beware of unrealistic,
long–term warranties.
v
Ask for a list of references and completed
projects. Check with past customers to
see if they were satisfied with the materials and workmanship.
v
Call the Florida Department of Business and Professional
Regulation to check for complaints against a contractor. The DPR can be reached at (850) 487-1395.
v
Insist on a written proposal and examine it carefully
before signing or paying any money.
Spotting Roof Problems
Ø
Resist the urge to get up on a ladder to take a closer
look at your damaged roof. Leave that to
a professional.
From the Ground
Ø
If you need a closer look, use binoculars. Look for torn or missing shingles and
problems in the valleys – where two sloping sections join at an angle. Because water flows heavily in the valleys,
they are especially vulnerable.
A
Closer Look
Ø
If you can’t
see from a distance, wear non-slip, rubber-soled shoes and use a firmly braced
or tied-off ladder equipped with rubber safety feet.
Don’t Walk on the Roof
·
You could dislodge the protective surface granules,
diminishing waterproofing effectiveness.
You also could fall off or through a weak, damaged roof.
·
If you find large accumulations of shingle surface
granules in the gutters, it doesn’t necessarily mean the roof needs to be
replaced. A contractor should inspect
the roof, however.
·
Tile roofs
should be checked for cracked, missing or loose pieces of roofing
material. For asphalt or wood-shingle
roofs, look for protruding nails.
·
On flat roofs, look for bare spots in the gravel
surface and check for standing water.
·
Take a close look at the flashing on chimneys, vents,
skylights, wall/roof junctions and other areas where the integrity of the roof
may be compromised.
- Check television antennas and other add-ons to see if there are leaks that are a result of improper sealing of openings made in the roof.