Asphalt Shingle Roofing and Folsom Roof Repair

Nearly four-fifths of American homes have asphalt shingle roofs–and for good reason. Asphalt shingles are economical and fairly easy to install and repair. The two basic types are composition and fiberglass-base shingles.

Composition shingles are made of organic felt manufactured from wood and paper fibers. Fiberglass-base shingles are made of manmade fiberglass mat. Both kinds are soaked in asphalt, but the fiberglass base shingles are more fire-resistant than the organic ones. Asphalt shingles have mineral granules embedded in them; when you find these granules washing away, it’s a sign that you need to repair or replace your shingles

Although asphalt shingles may look like individual tabs, they are generally manufactured in 3-foot-long strips that are notched to look like smaller units. They come in a variety of weights. Generally speaking, the heavier the shingles, the longer they last.

Make roof repairs on a warm day, when shingles are more flexible (and therefore less likely to crack) and roofing cement spreads more easily.

Common Asphalt-Shingle Roofing Problems

Roofing problems make themselves known in the form of leaks and drips. Repair leaky roofs before ceilings and walls are damaged; better yet, check your roof at least once a year before the storm season (and after a major storm, if necessary).

Make your repairs when the weather is clear.

High winds can tear off shingles, particularly if they’ve become brittle with age. Ice and snow can cause shingles to crack, as can hot sun and heavy rain.

Check your roof regularly for bald spots, cracked or curled shingles, or an absence of mineral granules, usually exhibited by an accumulation in your gutters.

Bend any questionable shingles back to see if they have some give. If they crumble easily or appear gray and bloated, they may need replacing.

Replace existing shingles with any that remain from the original roof installation or buy new ones of the same type, color, and size if possible. Don’t remove damaged shingles from ridges–instead, nail each corner of the existing shingle in place and cover with a new one.

Shingle Maintenance

Roofing cement can work wonders on an asphalt-shingle roof. If shingles are cracked or beginning to tear, seal the cracked or torn areas with roofing cement.

Also use roofing cement to press torn or curled shingles into place and to cover exposed nail heads.

Asphalt Roof Shingle Repair

Lift the tab above the shingle that has been damaged and pry out the nails that hold the one you want to replace.

Snip off the top corners of the replacement and slide it up under the existing shingles, being careful not to tear the roofing felt.

Nail on the new shingle, placing the nails under the shingle above. After driving in the nails, daub the nail heads with roofing cement.

While you are on the roof, check the roof flashing for corrosion or pinholes and repair with roofing cement (you may need to lift up a flap of shingles to get access to the flashing).

1) On a warm day, lift shingles to expose nails of damaged one. Pry out nails.

2) Slip replacement in place under up-roof shingles.

3) Nail by hammering against a pry bar placed on nail heads.

2) Beneath the asphalt shingles on a roof’s surface, you’ll find roofing felt, sheathing, and the roof’s structure

Diy roofing and building diy – How to install asphalt roof shingles : Easy roof building diy for your gazebo, outdoor living / outdoor room, patio,garden shed,garage or pergola. Prepare the roof with horizontal and vertical chalk lines.
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It’s only September so you may be wondering why I’m harping about winterizing your roof now with winter a number of months off. Let me tell you this; winterize now before winter is upon us! With a little planning and taking action now to winterize your roof, this is one plan that will save you time, money and roof damage.

Now depending upon where you live winter can mean a number of different things. In my part of the world it means lots, and lots, and lots of rain. However, some places old man winter brings extremely low temperatures, snow and ice. Whatever the extreme condition winter brings you; be it rain, wind, cold, it can take a real toll on a roof that is left unprotected as winter approaches. In these cases the price of inaction can add up dearly.

How To Prepare Your Roof For Winter

So what are some things you can do to prepare your roof for the cold winter months? One thing is to keep the gutters cleaned out and in good repair. When a gutter is clogged with debris, leaves or pine needles and then becomes full of rain or snow it can freeze right in the gutter. Imagine one huge ice cube hanging from the edge of your roof. The weight alone can rip a nice gutter system right from the side of your roof. Or it can overflow with ice cycles, they look great in photos but can do real damage to your home or folks unlucky enough to get hit by a falling one.

Leaky Roofs – A Nightmare

Another item to take care of before winter sets in is leaks in your roof. You’ll want to make sure that you repair any leaks well before winter hits; once it starts to rain or snow you’re not going to have many opportunities to repair your roof. The most important reason to repair your roof leaks now though is that roof leaks cause a huge amount of damage. Even small leaks, if left alone, can become huge and damage not just the roof structure; the leak can also damage the attic and home below the roof, causing untold damage.

Now the first thing that probably comes to your mind when we’re talking about a leak is water damage. I don’t want to minimize water damage, it’s horrible. However, the real culprit form a leaking roof is mold, mildew and bacteria. If this stuff gets a foothold and starts to build up in your home it can cause you all kinds of health issues. Mod, mildew and the resulting bacteria can get inside the walls of your home. This leads to health problems for you and your family all because of a roof that started to leak.

Winterizing Products

There are plenty of products on the market that you can use to waterproof your roof as well. This is a great idea if you live in a climate where it rains or snows a lot during the winter. You’ll find that the waterproofing products on the market today do quite a bit more than just protect your roof from water. It usually includes some preservers and conditioners for your roof as well.

Now applying waterproofing materials isn’t probably something you’ll want to take on yourself; instead, I’d have it done by a professional. It might cost you a bit of money; however, the application generally pays for itself in savings to your utility bills during the winter and even going into the summer. Since standing water, melting ice and snow along with constant exposure to cold can lead to a wide range of issues, taking good care of your roof is worth the investment. Having a waterproofing product applied to your roof is a great fist line of defense towards protecting your roof this winter.

So, if you haven’t started winterizing your roof, now is the time to get started! Take some time this weekend to see what you can do to give your roof an advantage this winter. Get your roof winterized well before Old Man Winter moves in this year!a