Roofing Repair Options For Leaking Asphalt Shingles
Water stains in your attic could be a sign of a roof leak. So are bubbles in drywall or under wallpaper on the walls. A roof leak doesn't always show up as an ugly stain on your ceiling. However, a dark stain on your ceiling is a major sign of a roof leak. It's good to catch roof leaks fast so they can be repaired before damage is done to the roof deck and inside your house. Here are a few ways your roofer might repair simple leaks in asphalt shingles.
Patch Small Holes With Roofing Cement
If a shingle has a small hole in it, the roofer might plug the hole with roofing cement alone or with a patch. Small holes might develop when a nail backs out and punctures a shingle. However, roofing cement might not be a permanent solution for larger holes.
In order to fix this problem, the roofer presses and fills cement into the hole and then leaves a very thin layer on top of the damaged area. A layer that's too thick might interfere with the way rain rolls off your roof, so roofing cement has to be used carefully.
If the hole was caused by a roofing nail that got loose and backed out, the nail should be removed and the hole filled. A new nail can then be used to hold the shingle in place.
Flatten Lifted Shingles
Shingles can curl along the edges of the roof. They might also lift if something gets caught underneath. Shingles should always be flat, otherwise, rain can get under them. Curled shingles can be flattened and held in place with roofing cement. If the shingle is just lifted, the nail or debris under the shingle should be removed to help them lay flat.
Fill Cracks
Cracks in shingles can often be repaired by covering the cracked area with roofing cement. If the crack is very large, a patch might be needed too. Roofing cement can be applied on the bottom and top of the shingle to make sure rain can't leak through. In addition, the roofer might add a handful of granules to the cement to provide UV protection to the shingle and cement.
If there's ever a question about whether roofing repairs with cement are suitable, the roofer can simply replace the damaged shingle instead. Then you can be sure the new shingle won't leak since it won't have any weak areas from holes or cracks.
Cover Big Holes
If your roof has a big hole from something like a raccoon or a tree limb impact, the roofer has to replace all the damaged shingles. However, the plywood base has to be replaced too so the shingles have something to adhere to. In this process, the damaged shingles are removed so there is room to work on removing part of the deck and nailing in new plywood. The plywood is covered with protective underlayment, and then new shingles are layered over the area to cover the hole and protect against water leaks.
For more information, contact a roofing repair company.
