DIY Roof Repair – Best Practices

Posted on: December 21, 2016 by in Roof Repair
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Here at Nulu Roofing we like to help homeowners get the best from their roof. Some roof repairs are well within the capability of the DIYer and we encourage them to get out there and have a go a fixing the basic stuff. Here is a great video from Youtube on DIY roof repair. Hope you like it!Our theme, today, is home improvement goes high tech, and we’ve lined up some very interesting topics for homeowners around the country. You know, usually, when we say high tech, we go digital. But, not everything high tech is electronic. That’s absolutely right. Sometimes, new technology means you can complete do it yourself projects easier than ever before, and we are all over that. All over it. So, stick around, and see it, right here, on Designing Spaces. A leaky roof poses big problems for homeowners. First of all, the water damage builds up over time. And then, you have the cost of a roofer. That could drain

Our theme, today, is home improvement goes high tech, and we’ve lined up some very interesting topics for homeowners around the country. You know, usually, when we say high tech, we go digital. But, not everything high tech is electronic. That’s absolutely right. Sometimes, new technology means you can complete do it yourself projects easier than ever before, and we are all over that. All over it. So, stick around, and see it, right here, on Designing Spaces. A leaky roof poses big problems for homeowners. First of all, the water damage builds up over time. And then, you have the cost of a roofer. That could drain

A leaky roof poses big problems for homeowners. First of all, the water damage builds up over time. And then, you have the cost of a roofer. That could drain on the bank account. But, not every roof leak requires major repair. Sometimes, all it takes are a few, simple tools, a little bit of knowledge, and the right materials. That’s right. Today, we take on a do it yourself roof repair project. (MUSIC). With time, it is inevitable. Your home’s roof will develop leaks. Then, your heart sinks.

You know it can be a major expense to hire a contractor to make the appropriate repairs. Designing Spaces has good news. Although many roofing projects are meant to be left to the professionals, you may be able to do it yourself with minimal costs. Today, we show you how you can protect your greatest investment, without draining your bank account. We’re here, with Gerry Chavez, from Henry Company, to guide us through a D-I-Y roof repair. Yes, I just said D-I-Y and roof repair in the same sentence. Gerry, welcome back to Designing Spaces.

Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here. And, we’re here, at Frank’s home. Now, he thinks he has a roof leak. So, Gerry’s going to guide all of us on how to fix it as a D-I-Y project. Looking forward to it. Yes. So, let me ask you. Unless we’re having water come through our ceiling, how do we know if we have a roof leak? That’s a good question. But, before we get started, it’s important to reiterate that D-I-Yers can take on these types of projects,—.

Uh huh. —but they can be dangerous. So, always think safety first. Good point. Now, we have three areas of the roof where, typically, leaks will develop. First, you want to check for cracks, splits, or breaks, uh, or any visible problems. Uh huh. Second, you want to check all roof penetrations, such as skylights, chimneys, or roof vents, as 80% of roof leaks occur at some penetration. Wow. And third, you want to check where you have any dissimilar materials, such as, where metal meets brick, or shingles meet metal. These surfaces expand and contract at different rates, and tend to pull away from each other. A loose seal could indicate a leak. OK. Now, I notice you have different products, here. So, could you tell us what their differences are, and their specific applications? Absolutely. So, we have three products, here, today. We have Wetpatch, clear patch, and roof repair fabric.

Now, Wetpatch is an asphalt based leak stopper that can be applied on wet or dry surfaces, underwater, and from 20 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Our top of the line product is Henry 209 Extreme Wet Patch, and that offers a lifetime warranty. So, for the life of the roof, you’re covered. Wow. The next product is 28R, it’s rubberized wet patch, and that offers a 10-year warranty. Then, we have Henry 183 Roof Repair Fabric, and that reinforces the patch, and provides 5 times strength and durability. And finally, we have her, today, Henry 212LV, which is a crystal clear sealant. Well Gerry, with all of that, how do I know what I’m going to need? Well, that’s a good question.

Before we decide what products we’ll need to do the repair, let’s go up on the roof, and take a look, and that’ll determine what products we’ll need to do the repair. OK. You know what? I’m gonna let you guys do that, and I’ll just stay down here, and supervise. Sounds good. Let’s do it. Let’s do it. Alright. Have fun. Be safe!  You know, Gerry. What you just said confirms what I already thought. This section, right here, is directly over my bedroom, and that’s where the leak developed.

That looks mighty suspicious to me. What do you think? That’s a pretty typical scenario. Here, we have shingles meeting rolled roofing, plus we have some loose material. So, what do we do? That’s easy. We’ll use Henry 209, and repair fabric. That’ll give us an instant, permanent patch. I like it. I’m ready. Alright. Let’s do it. OK. So, I brought along a selection of tools we may be using. We’ve got a roofing trowel, a putty knife, utility knife, brush, and of course, safety goggles, and gloves. Wow. You know, I actually have most of this in my garage, already. Frank, you know that’s no surprise. Most of these tools can be found in a typical home’s tool chest. OK. So, what do we do now? OK. So, before we get started, we want to make sure the surface is clean.

OK. So, I brought along a selection of tools we may be using. We’ve got a roofing trowel, a putty knife, utility knife, brush, and of course, safety goggles, and gloves. Wow. You know, I actually have most of this in my garage, already. Frank, you know that’s no surprise. Most of these tools can be found in a typical home’s tool chest. OK. So, what do we do now? OK. So, before we get started, we want to make sure the surface is clean.

So, we’re gonna use the brush and the putty knife to remove all dirt, dust, or any loose particles that may prevent a smooth patch. (MUSIC/SCRAPING). OK. Now, this is pretty solid. Yeah. You don’t want to pry too much. You only want to remove anything that is loose. (MUSIC/BRUSHING). Looks like we’re ready. OK, Frank. Now that the surface has been cleaned, we’re ready to do what is known as the three-course patch. In step one, we’ll apply a quarter-inch layer of Wetpatch into the repair area, and we’ll work the wet patch into the break, spreading it two to four inches beyond the repair area, feathering the edges. Got it. Right, right here, Gerry. That looks good. Cool. OK. So, in step two, we’ll reinforce the patch with Henry Roof Repair Fabric, which will give us five times strength and durability.

OK. So, here we go. Right over. Just tap it down with the trowel. Like so? You can go heavier than that. That makes sense. Push in with a little more pressure. There you go. And, that’s all there is to it. OK. And finally, in step three, we’re gonna apply another quarter-inch layer of wet patch, over the top, completely covering the fabric. Once again, feather the edges. We want to get a smooth patch, so that water will run off of it.

Makes sense. Gerry, we want to avoid digging in too much, right. I’m a little worried about rollin’ that fabric. Correct. Yeah. You wanna just cover it completely, and avoid having the fabric come up. Remember to feather the edges. So, how’s that lookin’? That looks really good, and that completes the three-course patch, and now you have a permanent solution with a lifetime warranty. Alright, then. You know, while we’re up here, it’s a good idea to do a little preventative maintenance. Remember, I mentioned that we have penetrations where dissimilar materials come together? That those are possible leak areas? Yep. Well, let’s take this opportunity and go leak proof some of those.

Designing Spaces will be right back. Before the break, Gerry showed Frank how to safely and efficiently repair a small leak on his roof with step by step instructions. Now, let’s rejoin them to see how Frank’s work grades out, according to Gerry. Hi, guys. Welcome back. So Gerry, how did Frank do?

Hi, guys. Welcome back. So Gerry, how did Frank do? Well, Frank, all I can say is, great job. And Debi, he did an excellent job, and as you can see, it’s easy to do. Thanks, Gerry.

You know, I love D-I-Y projects, and this one saved me a ton of cash. You know, it cost a couple of hundred bucks just to get a roofer out to give an estimate? That’s right. And, Henry products provide a permanent, long-lasting solution, and are backed by the longest warranties available, such as the 209 that we used, today, which has a lifetime warranty. Well, it looks good. So, job well done. And, you both were safe. That’s right. And remember, while working on a roof can be dangerous, taking certain safety precautions can lead to a successful D-I-Y roof repair project. Be sure to read the entire product label, first, and follow the safety instructions on your ladder. Uh huh. Mmmmm. And, for more complex repairs, and high pitched roofs, be sure to consult your roofing professional. Right. But, it is nice to know that a homeowner can do—.

Absolutely. —a small roof repair as a D-I-Y project. Yes. Well, thank you. I appreciate it. Now, the website. Where can we learn more about Henry products? Yeah, that’s easy. Go to www.henry.com. OK. Easy enough. Absolutely. Thank you, so much, for being here, today. And, thank you, Frank, for letting us be part of your roof repair. Hey! You bet. Appreciate it. Well, we’re gonna have a link to their website on ours, at designingspaces.tv, and be sure to check us out on Facebook, at facebook.com/dspacestv. Thanks for watching, we’ll see you soon. Bye bye. Good job, guys. It went on sooooo easy. When it comes to the topic, like today’s show, home improvement and technology, we could go on for hours. Hours? Really? Yeah, well, uh. I might pull somethin’. I think we’ve covered enough. We have a ton of great info on today’s show, and I hope you enjoyed it.

So, it is time to call it a wrap. I’m David Jones. And, I’m Debi Marie. I guess we’ll see you next time? Right? That’s it. That’s right. Alright. You can visit these websites to learn more about the participants on this edition of Designing Spaces.

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