Here are three ways you can prepare your roof for a repair that will not only save you the hassle of repairing it on your own later, but also keep you from having issues in the future.
Preparing the Area
No matter what you do, there will be some amount of damage when you repair your roof. The goal is to minimize it as much as possible. These steps will help you prepare your home to be worked on without causing additional damage.
Remove Light and Air
The second most common cause of water damage is from a broken water pipe. The key is to keep the water from coming into contact with any electrical or plumbing parts of your home. You can do this by completely closing off as many doors and windows as possible and using plastic sheeting over exterior walls that are not visible. You can also block off any pipes so that moisture can’t soak up through them into your home – but only if they’re not directly connected to anything important, like the hot water tank or your furnace.
Sweep and Vacuum
If your home is really damaged, you might even have to remove carpeting and rugs in places where water would seep through. Foam insulation is a great option for this since it’s very porous, but you have to make sure that none of the foam or padding is touching electrical or plumbing parts of your home. You can usually buy all-purpose spray foam at Home Depot or any other building supply store. It comes in a white plastic pouch with a nozzle attached (like an air duster). You simply fill the entire house with it and leave it there for several hours – be sure to check back on it periodically to see if any spots are drying out before they become water-logged again.
Seal Joints (if Needed)
If you have open joints on your roof, then you’ll need to seal them up to keep moisture from seeping in. If you do this step, don’t use caulking – use something that won’t crack or chip and is made for outdoor use – these are available at any hardware store. It’s important that you thoroughly dry the area before applying it to prevent leaks in the future. You can also check out some great DIY seals to find out how you can easily seal joints yourself.
Let Your Roof Dry Out
After you’ve run your garden hose over the roof, let it sit there for a day or two to see if any leaks reappear. If they don’t, then you’re all done. If they do, then go ahead and continue with the next step: pulling up damaged shingles.
Bottom line
The importance of insulation is paramount to roof repair. Sometimes the roof might not get wet but could still be at risk for damage if it does not receive protection from the outside elements. An additional layer of protection can come in the form of bubble wrap or tar paper which provide an added level of insulation from cold temperatures and water damage respectively.