Roofs that are flat or nearly flat usually are built up with as many as five alternating layers of roofing felt and hot tar or asphalt, fastened to the wood sheathing. This built-up roofing is often topped with a protective covering of gravel, pebbles or marble chips, or with a final layer of mineral-surfaces roll roofing; the light-colored stones or minerals help reflect the sun’s rays from the dark, heat-absorbent surface.
A built-up roof should last from 10 to 20 years, before the sun’s heat dries out the tar or asphalt and cracks develop over the entire surface. You can extend its life considerably by coating it with an asphalt-aluminum roof paint that shows the drying process and forms a stronger and more reflective surface.
When the roof does eventually fail, do not try to replace it yourself- that job calls for special equipment and the expertise of a professional roofer. But you can and should repair minor damages. Inspect the roof at least once a year for blisters, cracks, tears and storm damage. Blisters, which indicate the underlying layers of from the wood sheathing, should be treated immediately before they break open and admit rain water.
As you treat a blister, examine its interior. If it is dry, the blister is probably caused by poorly adhering or dried-out asphalt cement, and a simple patch can be an adequate repair. Interior moisture is a design that water has leaked into the roofing and seeped along the sheathing to a point underneath the blister. Locate the point of leakage – possibly in losses flashings at adjoining walls or around chimneys and vent pipes. It a substantial amount of water has penetrated the roofing, causing a large section to buckle or blister, cut out and patch the entire area.
A built-up roof should last from 10 to 20 years, before the sun’s heat dries out the tar or asphalt and cracks develop over the entire surface. You can extend its life considerably by coating it with an asphalt-aluminum roof paint that shows the drying process and forms a stronger and more reflective surface.
When the roof does eventually fail, do not try to replace it yourself- that job calls for special equipment and the expertise of a professional roofer. But you can and should repair minor damages. Inspect the roof at least once a year for blisters, cracks, tears and storm damage. Blisters, which indicate the underlying layers of from the wood sheathing, should be treated immediately before they break open and admit rain water.
As you treat a blister, examine its interior. If it is dry, the blister is probably caused by poorly adhering or dried-out asphalt cement, and a simple patch can be an adequate repair. Interior moisture is a design that water has leaked into the roofing and seeped along the sheathing to a point underneath the blister. Locate the point of leakage – possibly in losses flashings at adjoining walls or around chimneys and vent pipes. It a substantial amount of water has penetrated the roofing, causing a large section to buckle or blister, cut out and patch the entire area.
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