Roofing Tips

 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.

                                                                                                      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.

Tips by Roof Repairs