3 DIY Ways To Repair A Damaged Roof

This article will list easy DIY methods to repair your roof successfully. So keep on reading!

Ways To Repair A Damaged Roof

A roof goes through natural wear and tear. A well-maintained roof is a key to avoiding roof replacements and major damage to your house. However, small cracks and holes are inevitable and can cause leakages. We understand that repairing your home’s roof can be daunting, but it is a fairly easy task; you can DIY it.

1. How To Repair A Rubber Roof?
   For minor leaks and holes in a rubber roof, you will need glue to fill the holes and then adhesive patches to seal the damaged area. If a larger surface area of the roof is damaged, you will need a full-length rubber patch to reseal the cracks.
   Products You May Need
   ● Glue
   ● Rags
   ● Rubber Patch
   Clean The Damaged Area
   After locating the damage on your rubber roof, clean the area by drying any water and removing debris from the cracks and holes.
   Fill In The Holes
   After cleaning, take a flat knife and fill in the holes and cracks with glue.
   Patch It Up
   Lay the pieces of rubber patch over the filled-in holes and glue them down, too.
2. How To Repair An Asphalt Roof?
   Asphalt roofs are made from shingles that overlay on others and are fastened together by adhesive and nails. Over time, these shingles in asphalt roofs can break down, and water seeps through, causing leaks and drips.
   Products You May Need
   ● Pry Bar
   ● Hammer
   ● Shingles
   ● Nails
   ● Shingle Cement
   ● Rag
   Locate The Damaged Area
   Firstly, you need to climb your roof with the help of a secure ladder and locate the damaged area. The damaged shingles may have bent downwards, creating a pool of water.
   Clean The Area
   You must clean the area of damaged shingles by wiping away any water pools and drying the excess moisture in the surrounding shingles with a rag.
   Remove Damaged Shingles
   Next, remove the damaged shingles with the help of a pry bar. You need to loosen the adhesive on the tabs and remove the nails with a hammer. You will need to remove all the damaged shingles to assess the damage to the underlayment. A handy little tip is removing the shingles two rows above the leak. This will ensure the removal of any damaged and weak shingles. The shingles far above will easily sustain the weight of new shingles.
   Install New Shingles
   To install new shingles, remove the adhesive tape from a piece and stick the top of this shingle piece to the bottom of the shingle on top. For extra sturdiness, nail it down with a hammer. Most shingle pieces have a hole in place for the nail to go in. Keep overlaying the shingle pieces until you reach the surrounding undamaged shingles.
   Seal The Shingles
   To seal the shingles in place, you will need shingle cement. Apply one dap of shingle cement on each corner of the piece to seal it in place.
3. How To Repair A Flat Roof?
   Damage to a flat roof is recognized by water pooling. If water starts to pool on your roof, it will take a little while for the roofing felt under the cement will take a little while to get damaged and leak through.
   Products You May Need
   ● A durable utility knife
   ● Rags
   ● Bucket
   ● Roofing Nails
   ● Cement
   ● Propane torch
   ● Flame Spreader
   Prep
   Before you cut open the cement, there are some preparatory measures you need to take. First, drain any water pools, remove debris and broken cement and thoroughly dry the area by removing excess water with the help of a dry mop or a rag.
   Remove The Top Layer
   With a durable utility knife, slice opens the cement. The damaged area will be thin and can easily be cut open. Be careful not to damage the felt underneath. After the top layer is removed, you can see if there is any damage to the felt underneath.
   Remove Water From The Felt
   If you notice any water soaked into the felt, you need to squeeze it out by pressing on both sides. Then, use rags to soak this water and drain into an extra tub. Leave the damaged area uncovered and let it dry under the sun for at least a day. It is vital to let the felt dry; this will ensure that no mold builds up and eats away the whole roof felt. It is best to do any roofing projects during the summer so the sunlight can dry up the moisture, but if you start during the winter, be sure to use a propane torch and a flame spreader to dry the felt properly. While using a flame spreader, be sure to use protective goggles and keep the flame far from the felt. Some felt materials are flammable and can catch fire. After the felt is completely dry, you can patch up the roof.
   Patch Up The Roof
   Start by spreading cement towards the edges of the hole through which you accessed the roofing underneath the cement. After this initial spread dries, nail roofing nails along the whole area. Next, fill the additional nails with cement. Finally, apply an extra layer of cement to seal your work.
   Conclusion
   Our list of DIY ways to repair a damaged roof will help you successfully and efficiently repair yours. Follow our enlisted methods and tips, and you will be able to finish your project in no time.
   If you need professional roofing done near Dallas, look no further than CMC Roofing
   Services. We are the trusted roofing contractors in Dallas and deal in roof repairs, residential
   roofing services, and commercial roofing. We are located at 11496 Luna Rd Suite 100,
   Farmers Branch, TX; call 214-617-1835 to avail of expert roofing services now!

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