Category: Roofing

How can I temporarily cover a hole in my roof?

What is the best way to temporarily patch my roof?

Tomorrow I’m going to be taking two chimneys out of my house. They are both brick and mortar chimneys. Both of them stick out the middle of my roof — i.e. neither is on the side of the house. I’ve got an air hammer and will be removing them brick-by-brick.

Once I get the chimneys below the roof, I’m going to want to temporarily patch the roof. I’ve seen online how to tarp a roof. But it looks like you have to nail the tarp to the roof. Doesn’t that damage the integrity of the roof? I wonder if I could just use that tacky felt paper and cover it for a day or so.

One of the problems is that since I live in Seattle, it will likely be raining tomorrow — and for the rest of the week — and likely for the rest of the month. So I need something that will give me some immediate coverage until I can get a roofer out.

The Best Methods for Patching Holes in Your Roof

Imagine for a moment that you have just arrived home after a windstorm and notice water dripping from the ceiling. Upon further investigation, you discover that a tree limb has fallen and punched a hole in the roof. There are some things you can do yourself to keep things under control until the permanent repairs can be made.

Call for Help

One of the first things you will want to do is to call your local home improvement contractor for help. The sooner this is done, the sooner the repairs can be made that are done permanently and correctly. The contractor may be able to advise you of some temporary measures that can be taken until someone arrives to make the repairs. Remember that temporary repairs are just that: temporary. For that reason, you don’t want to delay having a professional do the permanent repair so you won’t have to worry about it leaking again.

Safety

When attempting to patch a hole in the roof yourself, the number one thing to keep in mind is safety. Doing work on a roof by nature puts you at risk of injury due to falling, either falling off the roof or falling from the ladder while trying to access the roof. Make sure the ladder is stable and secure by checking it before climbing. Also make sure enough of the ladder is sticking up beyond the edge of the roof to provide a hand hold for getting on and off the roof.

Never try to get onto the roof while the storm is still going on. There are too many dangers. You could be struck by lightning or blown off the roof by the wind. You could also be struck by another falling tree limb. In addition, while the roof is wet, it will be slicker than it is when it is dry.

Instead of trying to get onto the roof while the rain is still going on, you should do what you can to minimize the damage from below. This includes putting pails or other containers under the leak to catch the water. You might need to move furniture or other items that are not permanently installed out of the way.

Cover the Hole

The easiest way to keep water from coming through a hole in the roof until it can be fixed is to cover it. This can be done with the use of a tarp. Simply lay the tarp across the hole and place things around the edge of it to keep the wind from blowing it off. If possible, you should place the tarp in such a way that the upper edge of it overlaps the ridge of the roof. This will help keep water from running down the roof, under the tarp and into the hole.

Patch the Hole

If you are a bit handier with using tools for projects around the house, there are some things you can do to patch the hole. The shingles can be removed from the area adjacent to the hole. The hole can then be plugged with using wood and roofing tar, or you can purchase a kit that is especially designed for this purpose. However, either of these methods can be quite involved so you might want to leave this to the professionals.

How to Fix a Hole in the Roof

A hole in the roof invites disaster–from water damage on drywall and flooring to animal infestation. Temporary patch jobs are only effective until the rain starts. Repairing a roof should be a top priority for any homeowner. Handyman types who are comfortable on a roof can use basic carpentry skills to make this home repair without hiring a roofing contractor.

Step 1

Wear safety goggles and rubber-sole work shoes. Use an extension ladder with the third rung against the eave to access the roof. Carry tools in a tool belt.

Step 2

Take up the shingles over the hole. Slip a pry bar under the shingles above the affected area to pull out the nails holding the damaged shingles. Use hammer claws to help remove all nails from the shingles over the hole.

Step 3

Prepare the plywood or sheathing around the hole. If the hole is a cutout for a vent, the wood may be ready for repair. A hole from tree damage will be oddly shaped and splintered. Use a reciprocating saw to cut a square or rectangle shape around the hole and remove all splintered wood. Cut the plywood in half between the rafters if the hole is big enough.

Step 4

Patch the wood with plywood of the same thickness. Install a 2-by-4 brace under a small hole that extends three times the width of the opening. Hold it against the inside of the plywood by pulling up through the hole while driving deck screws through the roof and into the brace. Use a jigsaw to cut a rounded shape from the plywood to the exact size of the hole. For large patches, nail 2-by-4 braces inside the existing rafters with 10-penny nails. Replace a plywood section with new plywood cut to fit the exact size. Nail the plywood sheet section to the braces with 8-penny nails. Cover the wood borders and bracing screws on top of any roof patch with roofing tar.

Step 5

Lay roofing felt or tar paper over the missing shingles. Slip the top of the paper in under the flaps of the shingles above the repair. Lay the upper sheet of tar paper 2 inches over the lower if two sheets are needed to cover the section. Nail tar paper on with roofing nails over every 18 inches of the perimeter and along any overlapping sheets.

Step 6

Lay new shingles over the repair section. Remove the adhesive cover strip and lay the bottom row of shingles first. Use three roofing nails across the horizontal center line to secure each shingle. Cover the lower row with the flaps from the next row up. Tuck the straight edges of the uppermost row under the remaining shingles and nail them under the flaps. Dab roofing tar over each fresh nail for added water protection.

Temporary hole-in-roof fix

Was your roof severely damaged in a recent storm? If strong storm winds ripped up your roof shingles, the rest of your home is at risk from leaking water or additional wind damage. A quick and cost-efficient fix is to simply cover the damaged area of your roof with a durable plastic tarp. Plastic tarps come in a variety of sizes; because of its inexpensiveness it’s a good idea to buy plastic tarps in different sizes. That way you’ll have different tarp options depending on the damage size of your roof.

One of the most durable types of tarps comes in polyethylene weaves with border piping and heat-sealed seams. We usually don’t recommend nailing anything to your roof, because the possible damage made to your shingles. But in the event where you need an emergency fix where you’ll eventually reinstall shingles in a roof repair, nailing is a necessary option for keeping covering a large hole on your roof with a tarp. Nail down the edges  and if you can, cover the nail heads with roofing cement to prevent rain from entering your home.

Temporary shingle fixes

Have any of your shingles been damaged to the point where they’re loose, curling, or even ripped off of your roof? You can use a heat gun to soften and then straighten out any curling shingles, or use high quality glue to glue down to your roof loose or ripped off shingles.

Have any 2-inch 6D galvanized nails? Another temporary fix for loosened shingles is to nail them down securely with your 6D nails. Make sure that once all nails have been securely put in place on your roof to cover the nail heads with roofing cement. This ensures that the storm or wind that originally loosed the shingles won’t loosen the nails.

Don’t have 6D nails but you do have roofing cement? Help seal up your roof by applying the roofing cement to any damaged or cracked shingle joints, or to your roof flashing to help seal the roof.

How to choose a good commercial roofing contractor

With so many commercial roofing contractors (also known as ‘flat roofing contractors’) out there, how do you choose a good one? What do you ask them, or look for, to find out if they are trustworthy, reliable, and do quality work? When on-line reviews can be faked, and when the company can say anything they want on their own website, how can you research the company yourself?

Is the commercial or flat roofing contractor licensed?

If a commercial roofing contractor is licensed, it means they have been granted a trade license as required by local laws. In Colorado, roofers are not licensed at the state level. To become licensed, the roofing company must pass business practice and trade skill tests, pay a fee, and prove they are insured and/or bonded.

Do they have experience?

If the commercial roofing contractor doesn’t have experience, you don’t want them to ‘cut their teeth’ on your roof. When a roofer is just starting-out, if they use your roof as their training grounds, you can bet mistakes will be made, and you will pay the price. Save yourself the headache and keep looking for someone with more experience.

Are they a member of a roofing association?

It’s not easy to be a member of a reputable roofing organization or association. If a commercial roofing contractor is a member, that means they’ve met certain criteria. For example, when applying to the Colorado Roofing Association

Is the contractor certified or qualified?

Just like becoming a member of a roofing association, it takes a lot to become certified or qualified or ‘preferred’. Take Owens Corning, for example. In addition to the above items, to become a Preferred Contractor with them, the company must also have no legal actions or judgements during the past 5 years, and no personal or business bankruptcies during the past 7 years. To find out if a commercial roofing contractor is a Preferred Contractor of Owens Corning, use their “Find a Roofing Contractor” page.

Tips to Follow When Selecting Your Commercial Roofer

Choosing the right person for the job isn’t an easy task. There are many offers and contractors out there and homeowners might get lost during the whole process.

License and  Insurance

The two most important things you should ask for when selecting your commercial roofer are license and insurance. The former is more crucial than the latter since there are many cases where non-licensed roofers still manage to get the job done.

Do Some Research

The Internet makes research extremely easy. To check someone’s work, you just need to follow up on their social media accounts. LinkedIn and Facebook would be great places to start, but you can also check reviews on sites like Angie’s List, Homestars and Yelp.

Warranties

Your roof is as good as the warranty. Hiring somebody that doesn’t offer warranties isn’t a smart move. Additionally, you should read them in detail in case something isn’t mentioned or just doesn’t seem right

Offers & Services

Of course, hiring an up-to-date firm is very important. Roofs dictate curb appeal and energy efficiency thus directly influencing your home’s value. You wouldn’t want a roofing company that is outdated and that offers “old school” solutions to modern contracting problems

Tips for Choosing the Right Commercial Roofers

If you are in the market for a commercial roofing company, it’s important to take your time and ensure that you choose someone who brings experience and professionalism to their jobs. Your commercial roof is a representation of your business and also protects you and your employees from the elements. Problems with a commercial roof can get expensive quickly and even cause your power bills to skyrocket, which is why you should hire a great commercial roofing company sooner rather than later. Keep reading on to learn some valuable tips for choosing the right commercial roofers. After this article, you will feel a lot more comfortable when deciding on the right commercial roofers for your business.

Do your Homework

If you are interested in hiring a certain commercial roofing company, make sure you take some time to research the company. It’s easy to find customer reviews and any feedback about a company online. A simple search on the internet will help you access tons of information about a company. You can also ask past customers how their experience was with a certain company too. The more you can find out about a commercial roofing company ahead of time, the better suited you will be to make a good decision.

Search Local Businesses

Another great tip for choosing the right commercial roofing company is to search for local businesses first. If you go local, you will find commercial roofing businesses that want to build a good reputation in your area. That means they will work hard to grow their business and create a relationship with you since you are local. You can typically expect better results if you go local with your commercial roofing company needs.

Interview the Roofing Company

One of the best ways to make an honest assessment of a commercial roofing company is to interview them in person. That way, you can ask questions and determine their level of professionalism before you hire them. Talk to the commercial roofing company about your specific project, pricing, and how long the project will take. The more questions you ask the better idea you will have about a roofing company. Listen to your intuition, especially if you notice some red flags during the interview. A great roofing company will have answers to almost all of your questions.

Figure Out How Insurance Works for Them

The last tip for finding the right commercial roofers is to ask them what type of insurance coverage they have. There’s always the possibility for an accident or damage to your commercial roof, and the last thing you want is to get stuck paying for it because the roofing company isn’t covered. Commercial roofing companies should have an insurance policy or certification that protects you from accidents.

How to Find the Perfect Material for Your Commercial Roof

When you work on designing a commercial building, it can be difficult to tell what the best material is for a given situation. Commercial roofs have a unique design and they require more consideration than a regular residential roof.

Top Considerations for a Commercial Roof

When you’re installing a commercial roof, there are a number of things that you need to take into consideration. These are the most important things you need to think about

Building Usage

What is the building going to be used for? Is it a warehouse where inventory will be stored? Is it going to be a public space?

Weather Considerations

The location of the building will have a big impact on the commercial roof that’s best for your project. You could be in a location that’s exposed to extreme weather conditions. There may be building codes in your location to make sure that the structure is sound.

Will the Business Grow?

Are you working with a business that plans to grow in the next few years? You want to make sure that you have a roof that will grow with it. You don’t want to put the business in a position where it has to replace the entire roof again for a building expansion

How to Choose the Right Commercial Roofing Contractor

As a commercial property owner, maintaining your commercial roofs is essential to the soundness of your portfolio. Nothing can compromise the integrity of your commercial buildings or multi-family housing properties faster than roof leaks and water running amuck through critical interior building systems. With this in mind, consider the following criteria for choosing the right commercial roofing contractor for your peace of mind and investment.

Check Credentials

The first items on your list to vet potential commercial roofing contractors are ensuring they follow best business practices, have a well-established history and maintain superb customer-oriented focus — up to code, so to speak.

License: Your commercial contractor should be legally licensed to work in your area.

Bonded and insured: If your contractor isn’t bonded and up to date with insurance — liability and worker’s comp — you may be financially responsible for damages to property and body during roofing service, repair and installation.

Testimonials: The clients your contractor services are some of your best resources for vetting companies. Check references of recent work similar in scope to your needs.

History: Choose a company that has been in business many years or even decades. This is not to say that newer companies aren’t talented. However, to best ensure your property, go with a company with a proven track record.

Centrally Managed Contractor

Whether you are hiring a commercial contractor for one project, such as an commercial roof installation, or you’re looking for a maintenance contract and long-term relationship, look for a company with the resources, service consistency and communication assets.

Resource management: A centrally managed contractor ensures the roofers working on your project are permanent employees (no sub contractors), trained in the same manner and deliver superior services and results. This should hold true no matter if your commercial properties are in Blaine, MN, or span from Arkansas to Nebraska and back to Iowa.