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Repairing a Metal Roof
Metal roofs are durable and many have extended warranties, however, over time, leaks might develop or accidents may occur. If the cause of the leak is not covered under your warranty, then you must find the source of the leak and fix it immediately to halt any more damage to your home. When you ignore leaks, the water can cause damage to your walls, flooring, insulation, furniture, doors, and windows. When it comes to repairing a leak, finding it can be more of a challenge then actually doing the repair. It is not unusual for a leak in one room originating from a separated roof seam located over a completely different room. When it comes to leaks, water typically does not fall straight down, but rather follows the truss system, until it seeps down the sidewalls, or pools up in the moisture barrier until finally finding an outlet. It is also a good idea to inspect your roof annual and to remove all dirt and debris from your roof that may be deposited by heavy rains or winds. When you inspect your roof, you want to inspect your entire roof for possible leaks. However, you also want to pay close attention to the J-rails, flashing around vents, pipes, and skylights, seams and roof sealant, as well as any rusted or worn-looking areas. You also need to make sure that you actually have a roof leak and not a condensation problem. Condensation stains are usually found on the ceiling near exterior walls, or often in corners. In addition, you will see numerous small circle stains instead of one huge stain. These smaller stains will also vary in both size and shape and will usually have white centers. Another good indication that you have a condensation problem is when stains appear even when there hasnt been a rainstorm. Stains caused by actual rain leaks can be found anywhere on your ceiling, including near exterior walls, around ceiling fixtures, ventilation pipes, chimneys, and even in the middle of the ceiling. Rain stains will often be concentric rings with dark centers and as the ring moves away from the center become lighter in color. Every ring in the stain is actually a separate occurrence. Therefore, if you have numerous rings surrounding a very dark stain, then youve had a roof leak for a period of time. Proceed with Caution when Walking on a Metal Roof:
Okay, lets look at the facts. First of all if you fall you will get hurt, second, OSHA requires that all professional roofers wear safety harnesses when walking on roofs. Therefore, if people who do this for a living need safety harnesses, so do you. Metal roofs can be slippery especially when they are wet, moss-covered, icy, or snowy, therefore, you must take precautions so that you don't slip off. Before stepping off the ladder and onto the roof, inspect your roof and its trusses to make sure they are in sound condition and can safely support your weight. Whenever it is possible, try to make any repairs while still standing on your ladder. However, if you must walk on the roof, make sure you watch your step. If you accidentally step on the wrong place, you might pop a seam.
A tip used by some professional roofers, is that they bring up a large board, which is a minimal of thick, and at least 2 wide, and 4 feet long. By using the board to stand on, you distribute your weight is more evenly, which helps to prevent breaking the seal on a seam. Do not use a board on a roof with a steep pitch, as it will slide off. If your leak is the result of a hole, the hole must be patched. To do this you will need the following materials and tools: Wire brush, tin snips, flexible putty knife, sheet metal screws, butyl tape, roof coating, a piece of galvanized metal, caulk.
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