Phone:
(701)814-6992
Physical address:
6296 Donnelly Plaza
Ratkeville, Bahamas.
Ignoring roof damage to include loose or damaged roof shingles can lead to much worse problems down the road. Years of rain wind and extremely hot sun will damage asphalt shingles. The average roofing shingle has a life span of around 25 years. You can assure your roof will last a long time with proper maintenance and repairs.
Sticks and twigs from trees, hail, moss and even birds can damage your roof shingles. Missing or damage roof shingles can lead to tears in waterproof roofing membrane and cause leaks. If not repaired rotten wood and major leaks can occur without notice. Regularly schedule roof maintenance will extend the life of your roof.
Inspecting your roof
Before climbing up on your roof safety must be observed at all times. On some pitched roofs a harness and tie-offs are required for safety. Always climb with care and avoid falls. Place your ladder on a solid surface and test before climbing to the roof. Wear shoes that have a good grip only and never wear flip-flops.
Climb on a day when there is no wind and it isn’t raining or icy A wet roof can also get very slippery really fast. Take your time and watch where you are stepping. Start inspecting the roof at the ridgeline working your way down to the gutters. Look for missing, cracked and damaged shingles. Also look for faded brittle shingles, moss and missing granules or bald spots.
Take note of the amount and type of debris you find on the roof twigs, branches and leaves. Look at the condition of the gutters and if they need to be cleaned. If you have a fireplace now would be a good time to check the condition of the bricks or wood trim if you have a gas fireplace. Roof vents, seals and roof stack boots need to also be inspected.
Avoid walking on areas of the roof that you know have loose or damaged shingles.
Types of shingle damage
Shingles are design to overlap each other so rain water flows off the roof into the gutters. Gaps caused by missing shingles allow moisture to get under the shingle where moss can form and lifting of the shingle can worsen the problem. Heat from the sun can curl and warp an asphalt shingle. Missing shingles leave gaps that invite rain. It is important to note the problems with your asphalt shingle to know how to repair them
Tools Needed:
Utility Knife/New Blade
Roofing Trowel
Roofing Cement & Black Jack
Galvanized Roofing Nails
A Hammer
Pry/Flat Bar
Gloves
Eye Protection
Step by step roofing shingle repair
First sweep of blow debris off the roof using a broom or blower. Locate and mark the areas you found that need repaired with tape. Repair splits and cracks by liftin the shingle with the roofing trowel and placing a quarter size dab of roofing cement between the shingles then smooth flat. you can also run a bead of cement along the front edge of the shingle to prevent lifting. Let dry 24 hours.
Replacing missing shingles
locate nails that are holding the tabs. While using a flat bar pop them loose. Lift the old shingles up and slide out the old shingles. Cut the tabs to fit on the new shingles then lift the old shingle and slide the new one in. Nail it down using 4 roofing nails placed 1 inch from the edge. Press the tabs down and seal the nail heads with cement.
Reattaching lifted shingles
Lifted shingles trap moisture and must be fixed immediately. Tn this simple task requires lifting the shingle with the roofing trowel and placing a dime size dab of cement under the shingle then flattening with the trowel. Hold down for 2 minutes. You can put a weight on stubborn lifts that refuse to stay down until cement had dried.
Temporary solution minor granule loss
Spread black jack on the shingle then sprinkle granules or fine sand over the sealant for a quick patch. If the shingle has lost all of the granules from it then replace the shingle. It is very important to do this on dry days under 90 degrees for best results.
Calling a Professional Roofer
If the problem covers more then 25% of your total roof’s square footage call a pro. If the roof pitch makes the job too dangerous or you lack the physical ability to navigate the roof hire someone to do the job.
