Asphalt shingles are the most popular choice of Home owners in USA, accounting for almost 70 % of domestic roofing installations, according to tom boll now, who is the senior director of technical services at the national contractors association. And for good reason: asphalt shingles are lightweight, attractive, durable, and priced well compared to other roofing materials.
As an example, cured back shingles can be re-secured by brushing on a coating of asphalt roof cement or finding its alternative compound in tubes for use with a caulk gun (like henry rubberized wet patch which is available in 10.1-ounce cartridge at the home depot. At the time of repairing a leaky roof, when you want to a generous quantity of roofing cement to the underside of the shingle to make certain the edges and corners are secured. You should press it firmly to set.
Please note that shingles are more pliable in warm weather then these are cold, so you should consider this factor when resolving the problem of a leaking roof.
How to Fix flashings?
If you found all of your roof shingles seem to be intact, then you will have to search further, it means you have to look for any breaks or damages to your roof’s flashing including all vent pipes, skylight flashing and chimney if applicable. You have to get up on your roof and search for any damage or leaks in the flashing, especially near to chimney and all other penetrations.
During the searching, if you find any breaks anywhere in the roof flashing, or any gaps in the roofing cement, then you should know that you would either reinstall the flashing or repairs at the place of failure.
- Roof maintenance tips for Michigan Homeowners
- 6 Tips And Tricks You Must Consider While Installing Roof Shingles
- What Is Residential Low Slope Roofing?
- Roof Shingles with re roofing options in Michigan
- WAYS TO DEAL WITH GREEN MOSS ON ROOF SHINGLES
In normal conditions, you have to use a solar seal exterior grade caulk, or some quantity of roofing cement to repair any breaks in roof flashing.
If all the roof flashings seem to be intact and you cannot find any problem with your roof shingles, then to see that has your roof a sufficient pitch for an asphalt roof. If the pitch of your roof is less than 3 to 12, then it seems that your roof is subject to damage and leaks due to wind-driven rainwater.
If the pitch of your roof is solid between the 5 to 12 and steeper, then make sure to check the gables/side edges of the whole roof to see whether the gable flashing has installed underneath the shingles on all the gable sides of your roof.
If you do not find any metal flashing installed on your roof, then it means that your roof was installed by an unprofessional crew, and its need to be redone. In this case, the cause of your roof leaking will be easily explained by the absence of gable flashings, which made your roof vulnerable to rain at an angle because of strong winds.
In case, if your roof is leaking due to ice dams, or because of a poor roof design like a dormer wall is covering with melting snow during the winter season, then you will need a professional correction to correct the flaws in your roof’s design.
Sometimes metal flashing around the chimneys and dormers can be the cause of a leaky roof. If you want to repair this simply reseal joints using a caulk gun filled with special roofing cement. In case, if you see damage to joints previously sealed with roof cement, you can apply a fresh new coat with a putty knife.
After all these done if you think that it is necessary to replace an entire row of roof shingles, you get the shingles lift of from the roof to easily, you should think about that it is the time to call a professional roofer to see and analyze the roof situation. Because if your roof needs replacement then spot repairs will no extend the life of your roof.
In case, if your roof is leaking due to ice dams, or because of a poor roof design like a dormer wall is covering with melting snow during the winter season, then you will need a professional Roofing company to help in addressing the flaws in your roof’s design.