How To Repair Bitumen Flat Roofs

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Flat roofs, which are mostly level, are mutual on older homes and in barren environments. These roofs work well, only you lot do demand to inspect them on occasion for cracks and other signs of harm. Virtually flat roofs are made of cobblestone, safe, PVC, or another constructed material. Condom and synthetic membranes are oft simple to fix with adhesive patches, while asphalt tin be repaired with caulk or resealed with bitumen. Unless your roof is in very bad shape, diligence with repairs prevents all-encompassing damage and gives your roof a longer lifespan.

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Determine how far the leak is from the ii closest walls. Finding damaged areas on a flat roof tin can exist catchy because the water tends to drip some distance before you see it. To get an estimation of where leaks stem from, become inside your dwelling house. Find spots that look wet or discolored from water damage, then use a record measure to determine their relative positioning under the roof.^[one]
- For instance, if the leak is 15 in (38 cm) from one wall and 20 in (51 cm) from the other, look in a similar area on the roof.
- You may also detect leaks by sensing a damp, wet smell when you're indoors after a heavy rain. Leaks need to exist repaired right away to avoid catastrophic damage to the roof.
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Examine the roof'due south slope above the area y'all measured. Get a sturdy ladder and climb onto your roof. Be careful, since being on the roof tin can be unsafe, specially during icy winters. Go higher up the leaking expanse and search effectually it, trying to make up one's mind how the h2o could flow down the roof and into the rooms below.
- Most apartment roofs aren't perfectly flat. They oft slope slightly to drive water off the sides. That means water tin seep into damaged spots higher on the roof and run down towards lower spots.
- Have a friend hold the ladder steady for y'all. For additional safety, wear a harness and secure it to a chimney, temporary guardrail, or some other anchor point.
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Identify whatever punctures, tears, or cracks in the roof. These spots should exist pretty easy to identify. Whatsoever identify that looks worn out can be responsible for water damage. The largest areas of damage are large problems that need to be patched up right away, but avoid overlooking modest spots. Accept care of them right abroad before they turn into bigger problems.^[2]
- Whatsoever spot that allows water in is an immediate issue. Every bit long as h2o gets into the roof, the woods framework underneath will begin to rot and become unstable over fourth dimension.
- Patching these spots will preserve your roof for longer. Flat roofs generally last upwardly to 25 years earlier needing to be replaced. If your roof is in bad condition, you may demand to call a professional person.
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Bank check the roof'southward seams for cracks and holes. If the roof's membrane seems to exist secure, the sides may exist leaking. Await around the edges of the roof. Water tin leak in through spaces between the roof and walls, vents, chimneys, or the metallic flashing strips used to repel water.^[3]
- These areas can be patched up similarly to leaks in the membrane. A good roofing caulk will fill in any gaps or cracks.
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Sweep away water and droppings from the damaged area. Ever make clean up any areas yous wish to repair. Any leftover dirt, gravel, and water in the area can prevent the repair fabric from bonding to the roof. In addition, sweeping the area clear gives y'all a improve view of the harm.^[4]
- To clear the roof, apply a tough broom. Become as much debris off the roof as possible.
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Dry any areas earlier attempting to care for them. To make constructive repairs, always dry out out the roof first. You just need to remove moisture from whatever areas you plan on treating with cement or sealant. Small areas tin can exist dabbed dry with paper towels. You tin also use a propane torch, but be very careful so you don't accidentally light your roof on fire!
- Waiting for sunny conditions helps dry out the roof. If you need to care for a large spot or the entire roof, you pretty much have to give the roof a day or two to dry on its own.
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Slice open blistered spots with a utility knife. Blisters wait like little bubbling on your roof. Pop the blister outset by cutting into its center. Be careful to proceed the cut shallow, since you don't want to cut whatsoever deeper than the damaged portion. Scrape away the damaged covering material.^[5]
- These spots happen due to trapped moisture and overheating. Cheque that the roofing underneath the blister is dry before you attempt to patch it. If it feels wet, dry it out first with paper towels.
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Cut around the damaged area until the membrane rests flat. For most pocket-size punctures, yous tin repair your roof just by forcing sealant into them. Sometimes, doing that is difficult. Using a utility knife, make a shallow cutting until you can remove fabric around the spot without damaging the layers underneath it.^[6]
- Use the damaged portion every bit a guide. Cut downwards until you lot are are underneath the damage, then cease then you don't puncture the balance of the material.
- You can lift cracked areas with a trowel. If the roofing cloth doesn't lie flat, you should cutting narrow strips around the crack until the expanse is level.
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Spread a layer of roofing cement with a trowel. A good roofing cement fills in and waterproofs gaps on all sorts of dissimilar types of roofs. Button a layer of cement ¹⁄₈ in (0.32 cm) thick into the damaged surface area. Spread the cement nearly half-dozen in (15 cm) across the damage, then smooth information technology out with the trowel. You should no longer exist able to meet the crevice or pigsty.^[7]
- You tin get roofing cement at most habitation improvement stores. Most cement comes in cans. Some sealants are available in caulk tubes which you can spread with a caulk gun.
- Pocket-sized holes and cracks no more than about 1 in (2.five cm) wide can exist sealed with caulk. Dissimilar cement, caulk is used to fill gaps. Cement functions as an adhesive, so information technology's more useful if you programme on adding waterproofing material over a damaged spot.
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Lay a piece of fiberglass mesh over the cement. Fiberglass serves as extra waterproofing for your roof. It comes in rolls, then y'all will need to cut information technology to size using a abrupt scissors. Push the mesh downwards to hold it in place in the cement.^[viii]
- Y'all tin can usually find rolls of mesh at dwelling comeback stores. Also shop at covering supply stores or go online.
- Fiberglass scrim is a blazon of lightweight tape that can be used in place of the mesh. It is good for sealing off long, straight cracks. After filling in the crack with caulk or cement, cover it with the scrim.
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Cover the mesh with a thick layer of cement. Open up your tin of roofing cement over again and spread a layer of it over the entire piece of mesh. Smoothen the cement flat with a trowel and add together more cement as needed. The final layer of cement should be about ¹⁄₂ in (1.three cm) thick and hide the mesh from view.^[9]
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Add a layer of gravel over the cement to prevent sun damage. You may have seen rocks on flat roofs and wondered why they are there. A layer of gravel or river stones is frequently used to protect flat roofs from sun impairment. Distribute the rocks evenly over the repaired area, making certain that no function of the roof membrane is visible beneath information technology. If the balance of your roof isn't already covered, add stones to protect it.^[x]
- This layer of anchor absorbs UV rays, preventing sunlight from breaking downwards the bonds in the roof membrane. Your roof will concluding longer when it is full of gravel.
- Y'all can as well purchase a tin can of reflective blanket from a home improvement store and brush it onto your roof.
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1
Get a roof repair kit to easily patch upward your roof. Roof repair kits come with all the supplies you need to patch up a roof. Many of them include caulk for sealing cracks as well as patches for treating larger areas of damage on the roof membrane. Getting a kit means you lot don't have to hunt down the individual components you demand for a repair.
- Match the patch to the type of roof y'all accept. If you aren't certain, you might want to call a professional person to find out.
- SBS covering (styrene-butadiene-styrene) is asphalt that has a consistency similar to safe. Use a torch on patch when repairing it.
- For EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene-erpolymer), use an EPDM patch. EPDM is a synthetic condom made from oil and natural gas.
- TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) is a very white, single-ply rubber coating. Use TPO patches to repair information technology.
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Cut out the damaged expanse using a utility knife. Locate the damaged spot you need to comprehend and begin planning how big y'all want the repair to be. Apply the pocketknife to cut a rectangle around the damaged part. Starting time past cutting virtually 1 in (ii.v cm) deep, then gradually make the cut deeper until you are able to remove the damaged roofing fabric.^[eleven]
- Be very careful when cutting. Avoid cutting deeper than the damage or else you will piece through the lower layers of material.
3
Fill the hole with a layer of covering cement. Get a can of a waterproof roofing cement from the store. Most cans of cement piece of work well for whatever roof, just y'all may want to bank check the characterization to make sure it is appropriate for the kind of roof you have. Spread out a layer of cement nigh ^one⁄_eight in (0.32 cm) thick, smoothing it out with a trowel until information technology is level with the residuum of the roof.^[12]
- Spread the cement under the surrounding roof material equally much as you can. Endeavour to get information technology near 2 in (5.1 cm) beyond the damaged area.
- Avoid using caulk when installing patches. Caulk is not meant to exist an adhesive. Your patches will last a lot longer when cement binds them to the roof.
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Set a patch on top of the cement. Accept a single patch made of the aforementioned material as your roof. Y'all shouldn't need to cut it to the proper size, only you tin can practice and so with a utility knife then it fits over the damaged surface area. Fit the patch in place so information technology is even with the residual of the roof and press information technology into the cement until information technology sticks.^[thirteen]
- Some mod patches have pare-off adhesive backings. These patches exercise non need to be held in place with roofing cement, although you can even so do this for boosted security.
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Coat the damaged area with a layer of roofing cement. Spread more than cement to provide a sticking signal for your new patch. Scoop the cement onto the damaged portion you covered earlier. Employ a trowel to spread it into a smooth layer about 6 in (fifteen cm) beyond the damaged spot and ¹⁄₈ in (0.32 cm) thick. The concrete should exist level with the rest of the roof.^[14]
- Be sure to spread the cement a little farther that you did the get-go time. Utilise the new patch as a guide to effigy out where you need the agglutinative to reach.
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Cut a patch to fit over the cement. Double patch the damaged surface area to provide extra water resistance. The new patch should exist both six in (15 cm) longer and wider than the damaged area, consistent with the last layer of cement you spread. Measure it out with measuring tape and cut it to size with a utility pocketknife.^[15]
- Adding a 2d patch may make your repair more than visible, but it is worth doing to brand the repair stronger.
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Set the new patch over the original patch. Y'all know the drill. Identify the new patch over the damaged expanse, pushing it down into the cement. It should hold fast. The new patch may exist bigger than the area y'all cut out and hang over your existing roof fabric a little flake. Keep it equally level with the rest of the roof as possible.^[xvi]
- Have the time to brand sure the edges of the patch are secure to the older roofing material or else h2o may go underneath it. If they don't stick, brand sure the patch is dry. Get more cement nether the edges and weight them down.
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Encompass the patch in a final layer of cement. Scoop more cement on the new patch, and then begin spreading it out with a trowel. The layer should be even with the rest of the roof and about ^ane⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) thick. And so, make clean up your cloth and leave the patch undisturbed so it becomes a potent, long-lasting function of your roof!^[17]
- Replace any ballast on the damaged area such as gravel or stones. If you don't have any, consider getting some to protect your roof from sun damage.
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1
Castor a bitumen primer over the whole roof. Working on the entire roof is necessary if the waterproof seal needs to be renewed. Make sure the roof is make clean earlier you begin. Then, go a bitumen-based primer and cascade a niggling bit onto the roof. Apply a paint roller to glaze the entire roof evenly in a sparse layer of primer about ^one⁄_two in (1.3 cm) thick.^[18]
- You tin can get bitumen-based primers at near home improvement stores. Bitumen is a black, oil-based mixture found in a lot of flat roofs, specially asphalt.
- A little bit of primer goes a long way. Pour out more if you lot run into you need it. The corporeality you use will depend on the size of your roof. Expect to employ about 1 US gal (three.eight 50) per 100 sq ft (ix.iii m²). You lot can calculate the roof'due south area past multiplying its length by its width.
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Allow the primer to dry for at least twenty minutes. The drying fourth dimension depends on the weather in your area. On cooler, overcast days, this may take several hours. Read the manufacturer's instructions for more than information. The primer should exist dry out to the touch before you continue.^[19]
- Wet primer isn't set, so whatever sealant y'all add on tiptop of it won't secure your roof properly.
3
Gyre a strip of fiberglass mesh over the roof. Mesh comes in large rolls. Larger rolls can be tough to get onto the roof, so get help if you lot need it. Starting on 1 end of the roof, roll the mesh out forth the roof's width. Using scissors or a abrupt utility knife, cut it so information technology fits the border of the roof. Make certain the mesh is level with the balance of the roof.^[20]
- Purchase mesh at a home comeback store. You don't need the giant rolls unless you're a professional person constructing a big roof. Those rolls require a crane to elevator, anyway.
- Roofing mesh about 40 in (100 cm) wide should work for near roofing projects. Mesh rolls come in a lot of dissimilar sizes, so what y'all use depends on the size of your roof and what you are able to carry up to information technology.
- You don't demand to cover the entire roof in mesh yet. Focus on installing the mesh 1 slice at a time.
4
Curl the mesh ends back and concord them to the eye of the roof. Now begins the process of sealing the roof and mesh in place. To do this, gradually curlicue the mesh back up and clench it down to ensure it doesn't unfurl. Use something that isn't abrupt, such equally a crowbar, paint tin can, book, or some other weight. Work on the mesh 1 side at a time.^[21]
- Start with the end of the mesh that is contrary of your ladder. This part may be confronting a wall or otherwise difficult to access.
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Mix a bitumen roof sealant until information technology reaches an even consistency. Bitumen sealants come up in big cans that look like liquid tar. The solid textile is at the lesser of the can. You lot volition need a wood mixing stick to stir the fabric around. Piece of work the sealant into a semi-liquid consistency that is piece of cake to spread.^[22]
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Pigment the sealant onto the roof with a soft-bristle brush. Employ a paint broom and dip information technology into the bucket of sealant. Start spreading the sealant at the far end of the roof. Work in 1 direction, placing the sealant where the mesh will lay once you lot roll it back out. The sealant should be in an fifty-fifty layer well-nigh ¹⁄₂ in (1.three cm) thick.^[23]
- Once you lot have the sealant in place, start spreading sealant under the mesh'southward other end. Roll up this stop if yous haven't already.
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Coat the mesh with another layer of sealant. Afterwards spreading sealant on the roof itself, roll the mesh dorsum out and printing information technology flat with your feet. Dip your brush into more than sealant and begin spreading information technology directly over the mesh. Glaze the mesh in a layer of sealant about ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) thick.^[24]
- Information technology'southward of import to do this to seal out moisture and stick the mesh in identify.
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Proceed installing mesh with sealant until the entire roof is covered. Roll out more than mesh next to the first patch of sealant. Allow the mesh to overlap the onetime layer past two in (v.1 cm). Each piece of mesh should be level and even with the other pieces. And so, spread sealant the aforementioned style y'all did for the first whorl of mesh.
- Echo this until your entire roof is covered. The amount of mesh and sealant you will demand depends on the size of your roof.
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Add a second blanket of sealant 12 hours afterward. Give the sealant plenty of time to dry, so come back and bank check your work. You will surely notice small, dark holes in the sealant. These areas aren't waterproof and benefit from another blanket. Spread some other ^ane⁄₂ in (i.3 cm) layer of sealant over the entire roof with your brush and so let it dry completely.^[25]
- Any holes should fill in right away with the 2nd coating. Go over the entire roof to ensure you seal every spot.
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Add a reflective coating to the roof to protect it. Buy a tin of reflective coating and mix it to an even consistency using a clean stirring stick. Use a pigment brush to glaze the edges of the roof. Then, get a make clean roller and spread the remaining reflective coating in a smooth, even layer over the rest of your roof.^[26]
- Y'all can buy reflective coatings at home improvement stores. The coating is similar to rocks used in some roofs, blocking sunlight that can wear out your roof over time.
- Expect the roof coating to take at least 8 hours to dry out. It can take as long equally 24 hours in common cold or humid weather.
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Gravel and reflective coatings are useful ways to reduce lord's day damage on your roof.
Repairs are temporary. They can extend the life of your roof merely cannot fix it forever. Yous volition need to set the roof again and once more.^[27]
If your entire roof needs to be resealed, chances are it will demand to be replaced before long. Resealing it tin can give yous upwards to a twelvemonth to safely decide what to do.^[28]
If you lot cannot complete the repair work yourself, hire a professional. Some repairs benefit from specialized tools that qualified roofers have. Hiring a professional will also be safer and more than constructive.^[29]

You will be working at heights, then be sure yous utilize a ladder rated for your weight. Be careful and have a friend piece of work with you.

Things You'll Need

Ladder
Harness
Measuring record
Broom
Newspaper towels

Utility pocketknife
Roofing cement
Trowel
Fiberglass mesh
Gravel

Roof patch
Utility pocketknife
Roofing cement

Fiberglass mesh
Mixing sticks
Soft-bristle broom
Paint rollers
Bitumen primer
Bitumen sealant
Clamps
Reflective coating

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