How to make roof repairs with your own hands

In detail: how to make a roof repair with your own hands from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Sooner or later, no matter what materials were used to create the roof, it begins to collapse. Leaks are formed, materials deteriorate, the appearance deteriorates and the owner of the building has to urgently take measures to repair or completely replace the roofing. Roof repair is easy to do with your own hands, if you know the main stages of work and the materials that are used for this.

Owners of private buildings rarely make scheduled repairs to the roof of a house, only when this can no longer be avoided. And in vain, since minor defects are easier to eliminate before they grow to a serious scale. After all, if at least once a year to conduct an inspection and scheduled repair of the roof of a private house, then major repairs may not be needed soon. Such prevention does not require large financial investments, but it will help save the owner from unplanned expenses and force majeure.

Serious mechanical damage

All types of repairs, according to the degree of complexity, can be conditionally divided into four categories:

small;
capital;
planned;
complete reconstruction.

Sloped roofs require less repair than flat roofs due to their advantageous design... (Repair of flat roofs is described in detail in the article of the same name). On roofs with a slope, melt or rainwater does not linger, therefore, if it usually leaks, it is due to technological shortcomings during its construction or due to the limitation period of the construction.

A routine inspection is very important, therefore, even if the ceilings in the house are dry, a regular inspection of the house's rafter system is necessary.... Such examinations are traditionally carried out four times a year. In the spring, the roof is inspected for winter damage, in the summer for garbage collection, in the fall for problems before the long winter period, and in the winter for snow removal. Sloped roofs do not need to be inspected as often as flat ones and can be checked twice a year.

Video (click to play).

Based on the results of the inspection of the roof top and its wooden frame, a repair plan is drawn up with an estimate of the required materials.

When examining a sloped roof, you should pay attention to:

Search for mechanical damage.
Detection of corrosion, fungal and putrefactive lesions of wooden rafters.
Determination of the temperature of parts of the structure.
Assessment of the moisture content of the timber frame.
Determination of the condition of roofing from a technical point of view.

In addition to routine inspections, measures should be taken to clean the roof from snow masses in winter, as well as remove contamination and do preventive maintenance with your own hands. Care should be taken when cleaning sloped roofs in winter.

When removing snow, do not use metal tools to avoid mechanical damage to the roof surface.

Dents or scratches can lead to further corrosive processes. For such events, it is safer to use wooden shovels, as well as plastic panicles or scoops. Plywood panels can be used for cleaning large surfaces.

In the warm season, the roofs are cleared of dirt and leaves with their own hands, and they are examined for the appearance of traces from the claws of animals.

When you are on the roof in winter, do not get too close to the edge. Installation and repair of an inclined roof should be carried out in compliance with safety rules... It is recommended to use a safety harness and only travel on special paths.

Dampness or slight ingress of moisture can contribute to the appearance of fungal or putrefactive lesions of the wooden frame of the truss system... This is a rather serious problem, because such a roof may require large material costs for repairs and a serious amount of work. Such lesions spread very quickly and can completely capture the entire structure, therefore, if rot is detected, the complete removal of the affected wooden element is required and replaced with a treated new one. After completing the repair of the building frame, you can, if necessary, start repairing the roofing.

Damaged slate roofs are usually repaired on site... Sheets of asbestos cement that cannot be repaired are replaced, and those that are still quite intact are repaired with patches and glue. Repair of tile or other piece materials occurs in a radical way - with the replacement of damaged elements with new ones.

Reconstruction of the slate roof

Minor repairs to the roof of a private house include, in addition to eliminating leaks, its painting and cleaning... Some types of roofs, such as galvanized ones, have a rather long operating period, therefore, they need to be periodically cleaned and painted to avoid corrosion. Before painting, the corroded surface is cleaned from rust with a special compound. The frequency of painting such a roof is once every 3-4 years.

Minor repairs to a tiled roof

The entire weight of the roof lies on the rafters of the wooden frame, it is they who take on not only the weight of the roofing material, but also atmospheric precipitation (streams of rainwater, snow masses), as well as gusts of wind. If a routine inspection revealed damage to the rafters, then do not waste time. A broken rafter may not withstand the load and collapse along with the entire roof... The need for overhaul of the rafter system arises only if half of its entire area is damaged by rot. Most often, damaged elements are replaced.

Repair of the rafter system in case of damage to the rafter leg in stages:

If there is a break in the rafters, then a jack is installed on a previously prepared board, with the help of which the parts are aligned and connected.
The damaged area is well cleaned and strengthened with meter-long boards on both sides, their thickness should be at least 3 cm.
The lining is attached to the rafters with long nails.
Holes with a diameter of 16 mm are made for mounting bolts (4 on each side).
Bolts are inserted and tightened.

Reinforcement of rafters with overlays

With a large area of damage, bar prostheses are used. Replacement of the affected areas is as follows:

In the place of damage, sheathing, insulation materials and roofing are removed. Then the crate is taken apart.
The rafters are propped up with temporary racks, which are removed at the end of the work.
The decayed parts of the structure are removed.
They put on a prosthesis on the rafter leg, it should be 2-2.5 times longer than the affected part of the board.
The reliability of operation is checked, after which the racks are removed.

Strengthening the rafters with a prosthesis

In a similar way, the parts of the Mauerlat that have undergone the decay process are replaced.

Sometimes it happens that the rafters are intact, but the crate is damaged, and is no longer able to bear the weight of the roof. This can cause the roof to buckle and crack. In this case, reinforcement or complete replacement of the lathing is done.... In this case, the timber is placed between the rafters, and the boards are stuffed in the transverse direction.

Usually, do-it-yourself roof reconstruction is resorted to when there is a need to arrange an additional habitable room in the attic space.

This is a rather serious manipulation, requiring a complete change of the entire rafter system.At the same time, not only does the external decorative appearance and material of the roof change, but also all systems of hydro, heat and sound insulation.

First, the roof covering is removed, then the entire rafter system is dismantled.

If at the same time it is planned to install a roof with an attic room, then the choice of the type of roof will be carried out between the hip and half-hip roofs, which are more suitable for this option than others and allow you to get the maximum space.

It is recommended to install inclined roofs with your own hands using a profiled sheet and an angle of inclination of up to 50 degrees. In winter, during heavy snowfalls, snow masses will not linger on such a surface, which will significantly reduce the load on the rafter system. In this case, during the construction of the roof, it is possible to use a wooden material for the rafter legs of a smaller section.

The reliability of the supporting structures, the safety and quality of finishing the house depend on the timeliness and quality of roof maintenance. Scheduled work is much cheaper than emergency work, because in most cases, it is possible to repair the roof with your own hands. As a rule, preparation for scheduled repairs begins after the autumn roof maintenance. The final list of works and estimates are drawn up after the spring inspection of the roof.

The types of roof repairs are divided into three categories: emergency, planned maintenance and planned capital:

- emergency repairs are carried out immediately upon detection of leaks, upon destruction of load-bearing structures, in case of malfunction of the drainage system and in other emergency situations;

- routine repairs include the replacement of individual elements of the roof, sealing joints and abutments, repair and treatment of wooden structures with antiseptic and fire retardants, etc .;

- Overhaul includes partial or complete replacement of elements of the rafter system and roofing. Do-it-yourself roof overhaul requires special knowledge and experience.

Each of these types of repairs begins with a roof inspection. First, the Mauerlat, elements of the rafter system, insulation and the condition of the roofing from the attic are examined:

- when examining the Mauerlat, cracks, traces of mold and rotten areas are revealed. Dark spots and streaks on the Mauerlat indicate leaks. Particular attention is paid to the support points of the rafters and the areas that fall on the valleys and ribs. The condition of the eaves is checked;

- when examining the rafters, deflections, cracks, traces of mold and rotten areas are revealed. Particular attention is paid to the points of support on the Mauerlat and the ridge girder, the exit points of ventilation pipes, chimneys, etc. Sagging, dark spots and nailed dust indicate damage to the roof and leakage of joints and abutments. The condition of the ridge vents is checked;

- when the insulation gets wet, it is necessary to localize the leaks. For this, the vapor barrier film and thermal insulation material are partially dismantled;

- when inspecting the lathing, deflections, cracks, destruction of laths, traces of mold and rotten areas are revealed. Particular attention is paid to the condition of the laths in the valleys, at the ridge, on the ribs, at the exit points of ventilation pipes, chimneys, etc. Sagging and dark spots indicate damage to the roof and a violation of the tightness of the joints and abutments;

- It is convenient to inspect the roofing with two people: from the attic side, leaks are identified (in the light, through dark spots and nailed dust), while the inspector marks the defective areas with light blows of a stick. The assistant detects defects on the outside of the roof and marks them with chalk.

When inspecting the roofing from the outside, you must:

- make sure the integrity of the roofing;

- make sure that the overlaps, joints, abutments and attachment points of the roof and security systems are tight;

- check the strength of the fastening of the elements of the roofing, drainage system, etc.

After the completion of the inspection, an estimate is drawn up, and a plan for repairing the roof with your own hands is being worked out. It is better to purchase roofing materials necessary for repairs in advance: in winter the assortment is wider, and prices, as a rule, are lower.

Roofing material for roofing began to be produced more than 100 years ago, but over the years it has not lost its relevance. This material is appreciated for its availability, low cost and moisture resistance. However, roofing with roofing felt is subject to mechanical stress, therefore, it often requires repair. Therefore, homeowners regularly face the question of how to repair a roofing material roof. Since this material belongs to the "economy" class, it is impractical to involve professional roofers in the reconstruction process, it is more rational to do it on your own. In this article we will tell you why there are leaks in the roofing felt, as well as how to fix these gaps with your own hands.

Roofing material is a surfacing material based on roofing board impregnated with petroleum bitumen, with mineral dressing. For production, thick cardboard with a thickness of 200-420 g / m2 is used. More modern and technologically advanced counterparts are made of fiberglass or polyester. Waterproofness, resistance to ultraviolet light and microorganisms that cause decay and the formation of fungus, make the roofing material coating extremely reliable. The material is laid with an overlap in several layers, which provides excellent waterproofing. Installation is carried out by fusion, some types of roofing material are glued to the material with molten bitumen or special mastic. Leaks in such a coating appear for the following reasons:

Improper use. Manufacturers of roofing material do not recommend the use of this material on operated roofs, since when people are on this surface, mechanical damage may appear, leading to leaks. However, developers often ignore the manufacturers' warnings because of the cheap roofing material.
Atmospheric influences. Water falling on the roof from the roofing material is absorbed in a small amount into the roofing material, and then, when frost occurs, it crystallizes, leading to the formation of cracks.
Wind load. In regions with a high wind load, roofing material is damaged by sharp, strong gusts.
Incorrect installation. Most often, the reason for leaks of roofing felt roofs is poor-quality installation of the material, performed without observing the recommended technology. In particular, problems can be caused by non-adherence to overlaps between strips or poor preparation of the base of the blood.
Poor quality material. The second most common cause of leaks in roofs with roofing felt is the use of low-quality, cheap material.

Note! The service life of a cheaper lining roofing material, which is used for laying the inner layers of a roofing cake, is only 5 years. Roofing grades are more expensive, but they last about 7-8 years. Since the covering consists of several layers of material, the total duration without a repair period for roofs of such a structure is 10-15 years.

Each type of roofing material has its own shelf life, after which first small cracks and defects form in the roof covering, and then full leaks. Roofing material is laid with an overlap of 3-6 layers, which helps to extend the life of the material up to 15 years at best. The most common "diseases" of this coating are cracks, breakouts and bubbles. They eliminate these defects with their own hands in the following ways: Patch repair. When insignificant single damage forms on the roofs of their roofing material, patch repair is carried out.It consists in sealing defects with your own hands with new layers of roofing material of a small area. The difficulty of this method is that the stone chips, which are sprinkled on the top layer of roofing material, reduces adhesion, and therefore prevents adhesion. Installation of patches is inexpensive and can extend the operation of the roof for 1-2 seasons, but this will only slightly delay the overhaul. Important! According to the experience of professional roofing masters, it makes sense to repair roofing felt without removing old layers if the total area of damage on the roof surface does not exceed 10-15%.Roofing made of roofing material, made in the days of the USSR and meeting strict quality standards, has high reliability, but nowadays it is already serving its age. Due to the inexpensive price and ease of installation of this material, it has become a popular building solution for overlapping country or garden houses, industrial buildings, and outbuildings. You can repair a roof made of roofing material with your own hands if you follow the following technology:

First of all, a thorough revision of the surface of the roof slope and the roof truss frame is carried out. If they are in satisfactory condition, repairs can be carried out without removing the old coating. If the rafters are damaged, the dismantling of the entire roof structure cannot be avoided.

The old roof covering is cleaned of debris, dust and dirt. To do this, use water and a brush with soft plastic bristles.

Where there are bulges on the roof surface, it is necessary to make shallow cross-shaped cuts, and then squeeze out the accumulated moisture from under the roofing material.

Next, the roof is left to dry. If the weather is dry and warm, moisture will evaporate in 2-3 days. If the weather is wet or the volume of accumulated liquid is large enough, use a construction hairdryer.

To increase the adhesion between the old and new coating, stone chips are removed from the top layer of roofing material, and then primed with bitumen mastic.

After the mastic has dried, start laying a new roofing material. The roofing material is cut into strips, and then fused or glued to the old coating with an overlap of 15-25 cm. 3-5 layers are mounted, placing them apart so that the joints between the material do not coincide.

Professional roofers point out the importance of maintaining overlaps between strips of roofing material. Roofing material after the end of installation gives a significant shrinkage, because of which the strips can simply disperse, forming cracks at the joints. The smaller the roof slope, the more the overlap is done.

Roof integrity is the # 1 challenge for any homeowner. The thermal insulation of a residential building, as well as dryness and comfort inside it, directly depends on this. And if the integrity of the roof is violated, repairs are required, moreover, urgent repairs.

The first is performed in emergency situations. The second involves a complete replacement of roofing material and even a lag (all or some). And the third solves the problem of eliminating minor problems with the roof and extending its overall service life.

Let's try to figure it out: how and when to carry out this or that type of repair? What materials and tools are required? And is it possible to do it on your own, without the involvement of specialists?

All currently existing roofing materials can be divided into 2 large groups:

Soft, which include rotting canvas and cardboard. Both on special bitumen or bitumen-polymer impregnation.
Tough. These are roofing iron, slate, as well as tiles of various types.

A soft roof is more economically profitable, since it is cheaper and easy to install. However, it has a number of disadvantages:

short service life, from 3 to 7 years, no longer;
exposure to the negative effects of climatic conditions (destroyed by rain, snow);
exactingness to the flooring in several layers.

This is why, when it comes to roofing, homeowners today are increasingly opting for rigid materials, despite the difficulty of installing some of them.

Slate is a special finishing board made of asbestos cement. It can be of various shades and different configurations: flat, wavy, embossed. Its only drawback is its tendency to cracking due to fragility. Therefore, the first sign of the need for roofing repairs is cracked slate slabs. To assess the condition of the slate, you need to go upstairs and determine the extent of damage, complexity, volume and sequence of repair work.

If there is a lot of defective slate, it makes sense to replace the entire coating. If the damage is small and on a modest area, you can not change anything, but fix the roof using an adhesive prepared yourself, according to a special recipe.

To repair minor defects on the slate, follow the following step-by-step instructions:

First, the roof must be swept and rinsed with a hose in the most thorough way.
Then prime with a composition of water (3/4) and PVA glue (1/4).
Next, you will need to prepare the same special adhesive: mix the frost-resistant water-based paint E-AK-111 (1 part), cement grade M300 (1 part) and loose asbestos (3 parts). After mixing the ingredients, a mixture should be obtained that resembles thick sour cream in consistency. But you should not cook it a lot at once, because it tends to dry out rather quickly.
With a freshly prepared solution, it is necessary to coat all the damaged areas found, as well as the places where the slate is attached to the roof frame and at the joints.
After applying and drying the first adhesive layer, it will be necessary to spread the composition a second time. And then on the third and even the fourth. Each layer is applied thickly with a paint brush. And it dries completely. Such repairs can extend the service life of slate blood by another 9-10 years.

If the slate roof is badly damaged, you will need to rebuild it again. In this case, one should act in stages:

If a partial replacement of the soft roof covering is required, it is necessary to cut out the defective area before the screed. And on this place, lay new material using liquid bitumen and using a gas burner. And all seams, joints and abutments will need to be tarred.

Today, many owners of country houses prefer to change the existing roofing coverings for new ones - high-quality, technologically more modern, beautiful and durable. These, of course, include metal tiles. True, it is used only for sloping roofs, and if the angle of inclination is less than 15 °, you will have to additionally process the abutments of the sheets with a moisture-resistant sealant.

The sequence of work with a complete replacement of roofing with metal tiles is as follows:

At the very end, it is necessary to paint the places of damage to the upper layer of the metal tile (and this is possible with self-coating) to paint with paint in color.

Soft roll roofs should be inspected annually for defects. If this is not done, very soon the complete destruction of the sheet base will follow, and then the roof structure itself will begin to deteriorate.

If defects of a soft roll roof are found during visual inspection, the following should be done:

Determine the scale of the upcoming renovation.
Buy the right amount of material, similar to what was used to create the roof. Also purchase an adhesive moisture-insulating mastic for him.
Cut the required number of patches of the required size from the purchased roll cloth with a sharp knife.
Treat damaged areas with mastic (cold or hot, preheated).
Then put the cut pieces directly on the mastic.
On top of the edge of the patches, after that, it will be necessary to additionally process it with mastic (this is for better moisture insulation). This is done as follows: cold mastic is poured onto the surface, and then evenly distributed using a wooden strip with a rag wound at the end. And if hot mastic is used as an adhesive, then it will have to be heated to 90 ° C before application and distribution.
If the size of the defects is small, you can get by with liquid rubber, applying it with applications on the places of damage to the roof and on the area close to them. Such applications last quite a long time, due to the increased plasticity of the material, which perfectly tolerates temperature extremes, exposure to water and ultraviolet radiation.

Membrane roofing is worth mentioning separately. This material is new in construction, but it is already conquering the market, and quite actively. It has a lot of positive properties, including:

high strength;
excellent moisture insulation performance;
durability (service life up to 50 years);
the ability to install on any basis (shape, coating), up to green roofs;
maintainability.

Membrane roof coverings are hard to break. They have only one weak point - the seams. And on them in some places the PVC or TPO membrane can disperse. Therefore, the repair of such a roof is reduced to restoring the tightness of the seams between the pieces of the film web. However, chemical and mechanical damage to the roofing membranes is also possible. And then you also have to apply patches.

However, neither the installation of a membrane roof, nor its repair (even seams, even defects) can be carried out independently, without the involvement of professionals.This will require special equipment, as well as specific specialized knowledge and decent professional experience. So all that falls to the owner of a house under a roof with a membrane covering is to notice the problem in time and promptly call the masters to solve it.

If the roof has lost its attractive appearance and does not fulfill the responsibilities assigned to it, then you should think about repairing. Depending on the degree of damage, the restoration can be superficial or major. It is worth approaching work responsibly, since the condition of the roof affects the atmosphere in the house. To carry out procedures for repairing the roof, you can invite specialists or do it yourself. The work requires certain knowledge and strength, which will be rewarded with a long service life of the roof.

Preparatory stage

Before proceeding with the repair, it is necessary to assess the degree of damage to the roof. The first step is to inspect the rafters, waterproofing layer, floor in the attic. The room adjacent to the roof must be free from mold and moisture. The accumulation of moisture leaves its mark on wooden products, changing their shade. In some cases, you can find out about the condition of the roof by looking at the wet walls and ceiling in the living area. The best time for an internal roof inspection is heavy rain. In this case, it is possible to accurately determine the extent and location of roof leakage.

The next step is an external examination. Particular attention should be paid to the study of such parts of the roof as the ridge, the joints of the roof with pipes, metal aprons. In the normal condition of the roof, each part must be intact and perform well its protective functions. Inspection should be carried out from top to bottom, carefully examining the surface. Endows must be checked for leaves, branches, and then a study of the component. Eaves can become unusable from constant contact with moisture, so you should find out the condition of the part.

After completing the described actions, it is necessary to start checking the drainage system and ventilation. Pipes, funnels and gutters should be checked for debris, carefully cleaned of accumulated dirt. Pay attention to the roof slopes. The plots may contain lichens and moss, which negatively affect the condition of the roof. The space is examined for holes, dents and other damage. Experienced specialists use modern technologies in their work that quickly find defects.

The presented manipulations must be carried out once a year. The best time to check is spring. Summer is ideal for work, when there is more free time and there are no sudden changes in temperature.

Causes of roof damage

Most often, a leak in the roof occurs due to the action of the following factors:

Incorrect roof installation. If the load is not distributed correctly, the roof can quickly collapse.
The appearance of moss and fungi. Harmful plants can speed up the roof damage process. You can avoid such a fate by regularly inspecting the roof.
The use of substandard materials. Unreliable elements quickly fail, starting the process of destruction of the roof.
Careless cleaning of snow and ice can cause gutter and roof breakage.
Time factor. Even the highest quality and competently laid roof requires periodic reconstruction.

Due to the presented factors, the integrity of the surface may be violated, gaps may appear at the joints or breakdown of the drainage system. Finding the problem is sometimes quite difficult on your own, in which case you should connect a specialist to the work.

Failure of the rafter system

The rafter system must withstand heavy loads. Snow, rain, roofing material is kept on the rafters. Failure of an important element can lead to disastrous consequences.

Repair is carried out in several stages:

Before starting work, it is necessary to support the rafters with temporary stands. The attributes are removed at the end of the procedure.
The place of damage is eliminated from cladding, insulation, the main covering and lathing. If there is rot, the area is thoroughly cleaned and treated with an antiseptic.
Boards are prepared, 1 m long, 5 cm high, which are fixed on both sides of the rafters with nails.
In the event that the area is badly rotten, it should be replaced. For this, a rod prosthesis is used, the dimensions of which should exceed the damaged area by 2 times. On the edges of the new section, lining is hammered.
If the lathing is out of order, it should be replaced or the structure supplemented with a wooden beam, with boards nailed transversely.

Repair of additional layers

The roof consists of waterproofing, thermal insulation and vapor barrier layers. If there are leaks in the roof, the add-ons may fail. Most often, waterproofing fails, which affects the state of the remaining elements. You can fix the damage with your own hands, performing simple manipulations:

Get rid of the inner lining and vapor barrier.
Check the insulation for damp areas. Raw slabs need to be replaced with new elements.
Examine the waterproofing layer. While maintaining the integrity, the film is laid in place, if there is damage, the product is changed.
It is necessary to lay a layer that protects against moisture, taking into account the location of the rafters.
After replacing the waterproofing layer, it is necessary to ensure the stable operation of the thermal insulation. To do this, select parts of the insulation of a certain size, slightly larger than the distance between the rafters. When laying, the products are slightly compressed and placed in the opening. When making a two-layer coating, it is necessary to avoid matching the joints. If there is not enough space for the location of the second layer, the distance is increased using overlays.
The next step is to install a vapor barrier layer.

Video (click to play).

Tips for repairing various types of coatings