Do-it-yourself old roof repair

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of an old roof 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, a 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.

Often, roof repairs can be done on your own.

Much has changed since the creation of the first dwelling by man, but one thing is invariable: every house needs a roof! In the course of evolution, a wide variety of roofing coatings have appeared, as they say, for every taste and wallet. But nothing lasts forever under the moon, and any element of the house fails over time. When the roof as a whole or its individual components are somewhat worn out, there is no need to carry out a complete replacement. A more convenient and budgetary way is to do it yourself roof repairs. It is mistakenly believed that repairing the roof of a private house is an event that only experienced specialists can do. In fact, knowing the secrets and rules, you can do this work yourself.

The roof of a private house performs, first of all, a safe function, providing not only the comfort of living, warmth and coziness for all household members, but also preventing damage to property. Therefore, if the roof is leaking, and the owners are in no hurry to repair, the consequences can be catastrophic.

Lack of inspection and repair can even lead to collapse.

Before proceeding with the repair work, it is necessary to assess the situation and inspect the roof, including the attic. How to do it? In every private house there is an attic or attic, this is where it is worth starting to analyze the situation. Climbing into the attic, the problems are visible to the naked eye: the degree of wear of the rafter system, its integrity, the presence of unpleasant odors of dampness and mustiness, and also mold stains or fungus. Wet spots on the ceiling or walls in living rooms can often indicate a violation of the functionality of the roof of a house.

For example, a leak can lead to increased humidity in the attic and the development of mold.

It is most convenient to inspect the integrity of the roof, including the attic, during heavy rain. So the places of leaks are clearly determined and it is easier to understand the reasons.

When the condition is assessed inside the house, it is necessary to check the integrity of the roof outside. What to look for?

on the condition of the main elements, such as the ridge of the roof;

A worn out ridge may well cause a leak.

at the places where pipes are connected to the roof and other vertical elements;

for the integrity of metal aprons at the joints;

for the presence of foreign objects in the ends;

on the integrity of the eaves.

It is also important to check the integrity of the coating itself.

After a thorough inspection of all individual components of the roof of a private house, it is important to pay attention to checking the ventilation system and waterproofing. To avoid global problems and costly repairs, it is worth conducting a current inspection of the roof of a private house annually, the ideal time is the beginning of spring. Why is the repair of roofs of roofs relevant and every owner of a private house should know the nuances? There are several common problems that can lead to functionality and integrity issues:

Inadequate quality of building materials, irrational savings on the purchase of fasteners.
Violation of installation technologies, excessive loads that contribute to the destruction or deformation of slate, bitumen or any other roof.

Excessive load can be caused, for example, by abnormal snowfall, which must be foreseen in advance.

A negligent attitude towards the device of ventilation and waterproofing systems, as a result - dampness, high humidity, mold, fungus and rotting of the rafter system.

Failure to carry out an inspection of the functionality of the roof.

The "venerable" age of the roof of a private house. Any, even a super-quality roof, has its own service life, as a result of which wear and tear occurs and reconstruction is required.

The disadvantage of old roofs is also that outdated materials were used to create them.

Having studied the problem in detail and assessing the situation, you can carry out the current repair of the roofing with your own hands, without involving specialists.

The rafter system is the roof base of a private house. The main material for its construction, as a rule, is wood. Despite the treatment of the wooden surface with all kinds of antiseptics, the reliability of the rafter system may decrease. In addition to the violation of waterproofing, such a basis is negatively affected by various atmospheric loads: the severity of snow, rain flows, gusty winds. If damage to the rafters is detected, then it is impossible to hesitate with the repair for a minute.

Even such a defect can lead to sad consequences.

Where to begin? First of all, in the affected areas, the sheathing and insulation are removed, the roofing is removed, the crate is partially disassembled. If a focus of rotting of the rafter support is identified as a result of damaged waterproofing, the site of the lesion is carefully cleaned. Boards 8-10 centimeters wide are lined on both sides at the site of the lesion of the support. In the event that the focus of decay extends to the very middle of the beam, reconstruction is performed. To do this, it is necessary to make a "prosthesis": the decayed part of the support is cut out, and a bar replacement is installed in its place, its length is 2 times the size of the decayed piece of the beam. The structure is reinforced on both sides with overlays and long nails.

An obligatory moment: all areas of the lesion, even carefully cleaned ones, must be treated with an antiseptic.

In addition to the failure of the support rafters, a damaged lathing can violate the integrity of the roof. Anyone can also handle its repair by doing the work with their own hands. For this, all cracks or deflections are replaced with new ones or reinforced. To strengthen the lathing, it is enough to lay a bar between the rafters, and fill the boards in the transverse direction.

One of the highlights is the thermal and waterproofing layer. In the event that it gets wet, the level of protection may be reduced. To identify and fix the problem, you need to understand the structural features of the roofing pie:

mineral wool heat insulator layer;

vapor barrier made of glassine or foil materials.

If there is a violation of waterproofing, and heat loss has arisen, the work is not easy, but it is quite possible to do it yourself. The first step is to remove the skin, check the vapor barrier layer for moisture. If the vapor barrier is still wet, it is removed and a new one is installed in its place. Then the waterproofing layer is checked for integrity. If the film is damaged, it is replaced.

The waterproofing film must bend around the rafters. To do this, it is fixed with special staples or nails.

This is followed by the laying of insulation plates. It is necessary to cut it out not end-to-end, but by making a margin of 1 centimeter in order to cover the rafter distance as much as possible. After the insulation is installed in place, vapor barrier is performed.As you can see, do-it-yourself repair and restoration of roof waterproofing is an essentially simple process, but multi-stage. Keeping the technology and sequence of steps, the event is within the power of even beginners.

Installation of steam and thermal insulation of the roof

Due to the fact that today there is a whole fireworks display of types of roofing, each material has its own problem areas and repair recipes.

Metal tiles. Such a roof has the following problems:

corrosion and rust;

damage to the top layer of paint;

deflections and deformation.

The elimination of such problems is possible with your own hands. To do this, it is enough to unscrew the screws and replace the old sheet with a new one.

Correct installation of metal tiles

Rebated roof made of steel:

rotting of the upper layers;

damage to paintwork;

the appearance of gaps.

Gaps can be closed with sealants. The integrity of the coating can be restored by covering the sheets with paint again, but first cleaning and disinfecting the lesions.

Slate. There can be several problems with a slate roof, but the most common is the appearance of cracks. To repair the blemishes of a slate roof, you can use the following "therapy":

pour a thick layer of adhesive mass;

glue with epoxy glue;

cover with adhesive foil tape.

Slate is a rather outdated material and has recently become less and less popular.

There are often times when the slabs on the slate roof begin to knock. In this case, a violation of the fastening is possible, and the elements should be re-fastened with self-tapping screws. Slate roofing has many advantages, so its popularity is not diminishing. It must be remembered that the sheets are quite fragile and care and attention is needed when working with a slate roof.

Minor repairs to a slate roof

Bituminous shingles. Such soft roofing has several potential operational problems:

shedding of granulate;

the appearance of cracks;

deformation.

Bituminous shingles are quite popular in private houses.

Problems can arise from incorrect installation, improper maintenance and uneven granulate application. Small cracks can be sealed, like on a slate roof. If the cracks are large or there are many of them, the elements must be replaced.

Repair of bituminous roofs with rubber paint

The secret of success is simple: all preventive and repair work must be carried out in a timely manner. A reliable roof is always the coziness and comfort of living in a family nest. Given the fact that the process is quite simple, the work can be done with your own hands by performing any current repairs, including the attic roof. For a high-quality result, it is important to know the secrets and features of the structure of the roof and the nuances of working with one or another type of roofing material.If the roof has worn out to one degree or another, this does not always mean that it is necessary to change it completely. Repairing the roof of a private house is an event that is quite sufficient in many cases. Depending on the degree of damage, this can be either major work or a minor fix. The older the coating is, the more forces and materials will have to be spent. But after that, the roof will thank you, having reliably served for many more years.First you need to climb into the attic and find out the condition of the rafters, the laid floor and the waterproofing layer. It is necessary to check if it is pulling from there with dampness, if mold has appeared. If the tree is severely faded or covered with dark spots, this may be due to constant moisture. Damp walls and ceilings in the rooms of the house can be signs of worn roofing. But in some cases, the roof may not be to blame for this. Sometimes it's all about leaking pipes (water supply, sewerage or heating). There are often cases when water flows along the outer wall, and then enters the house through the interfloor joint.An internal inspection of the roof is best done during heavy rain, in which case it is possible to more accurately determine the locations and causes of leaks. Image - DIY repair of an old roof

One of the signs of a roof leak, in this case, not only the rafter legs are damaged, but also the roof lathing. Photo:

After a careful study of the seamy side of the roof, it is examined from the outside. First of all, it is necessary to inspect such nodes of the roofing system as - the ridge for whether it is intact, whether its moisture-protective layer is in order. Then the joints of the roof to pipes and other vertical parts are the most vulnerable places. Therefore, it is necessary to check the metal aprons well in these places. Then they gradually go down to the valleys - perhaps they are full of branches and leaves that need to be removed and only after that the element can be viewed. The cornice board can rot from time to time - therefore they check it, and at the same time find out whether the lower part of the cornice itself is intact.

Now it remains to inspect the ventilation ducts and the drainage system (for clogging with debris). Attention should be paid to each funnel, gutter and downspout. Well, the roof slopes can become a haven for mosses and lichens - in this case, they need to be eliminated. In addition, they look for bubbles, dents, holes or chips with cracks on the roof covering. By the way, many repair companies have infrared cameras in their arsenal. With their help, you can quickly find leaks and check the entire system. Then, based on the data obtained, the required amount of work and materials is calculated.

Advice: it is advisable to check the roof every year, preferably in the spring. Then, in the summer, if necessary, you can repair the roof of a private house, having determined in advance what materials the scale of repairs will be required for this.

It is sometimes very difficult to detect and understand the cause of a pitched roof leak. This is due to the design features of the roof, because water can flow in one place, and leaks will appear in completely different places.

Most often, the roof leaks due to the following reasons:

#one. Violations of the integrity of the roof.

# 2. The joints of the roof covering with walls and vertical elements such as antennas, pipes and parapets can be depressurized.

# 3. Another common problem is the breakdown or failure of the drainage system.

All of the above problems arise for the following reasons:

If the fasteners and roofing material are of questionable quality, then they will not last long.
In addition, violations of technology during the installation of the roof are possible. This creates excessive loads that destroy the roof.
If snow or ice is inaccurately removed from the roof and gutter, they can be damaged, after which they will begin to collapse.
Moss and fungi that have settled on the roof also spoil it and in some cases this process of destruction can occur much faster than you might think. To prevent this, it is necessary to timely carry out maintenance of the roof.
Destruction from time to time - even a very high-quality roof and a well-built roof, after lying on the roof for a long time, wears out, requiring replacement or repair.

As you can see, everything is pretty simple in theory. But in real life it is not always possible to find a leak in order to repair the roof of a house. Sometimes water drops fall inside the house when the wind blows from the side, driving rain or snow under the roof. It often happens that dripping from the ceiling is not at all where the water enters the interior of the house. In such cases, it is better if the roof and the entire "roofing pie" are checked by professionals.

The entire roof rests on the rafter legs, they take on the loads from the severity of snow, streams of rain and gusts of wind, and of course the severity of the roofing material itself. And if the rafters are damaged, then you should not hesitate. The problem needs to be addressed immediately.

In the damaged place, the sheathing, insulation and roofing are removed, the crate is disassembled. If the rafter support is rotten, they clean the affected area well. Then the boards are stuffed from two sides of 80-100 centimeters long and 3-5 centimeters thick. They are fastened with long nails. It also happens that a piece of rafters rots to the very core. Then it needs to be cut out and a bar prosthesis installed, 2 or 2.5 times longer than the rotten part of the rafters. Overlays are placed on its edges. The whole structure is connected with nails 10 or 15 centimeters long. While work is underway, temporary racks are substituted under the rafters, but after the bar prosthesis is installed, they are removed.

Two ways to repair rafter legs.

There is another option - the rafters are intact, but the crate is damaged and it is no longer under the strength of the roof. We eliminate cracks and deflections by replacing the lathing or reinforcing it. To do this, a timber is laid between the rafters and boards are stuffed in the transverse direction.

#one. Burn all diseased parts of the rafters after removing them.

# 2. Coat the cleaned areas with an antiseptic.

Due to leaks, the insulation can get wet and, as a result, lose its heat-insulating properties. In this case, you need to change it. However, sometimes his change is due to the fact that, although he is whole, he does not keep warm enough. When viewed from the inside of the roof, the roofing cake consists of the following layers:

First comes the waterproofing membrane,
Then - a heat insulator (mineral wool, as a rule),
Next is the vapor barrier layer.

The latter is made of polyethylene, glassine, foil-clad materials, vapor-absorbing membranes.

An example of a shingle roofing cake. Consists of roofing material (shingles), waterproofing, two layers of basalt wool and vapor barrier.

In case of damage to the insulation, there is a lot of work to be done, but you can repair the roof of a private house with your own hands. To do this, remove the cladding inside and get to the vapor barrier. Having taken it off, they feel the insulation, checking if it is wet. All wet plates of the heat insulator must be removed and replaced with dry ones. To complete the waterproofing, check its integrity. If it is intact, they settle this film back, if it is damaged, change it. In this case, the waterproofing membrane must be laid so that it bends around the rafters, so it is attached to them with staples or nails.

The insulation slabs are cut so that they turn out to be 1 centimeter wider than the rafter distance. When laying them, they are slightly squeezed, and then placed between the rafters. Straightening, the insulation will not fall out - it will hold tight. The joints between the first and second layer of the heat insulator should not be aligned. If the second layer does not fit, the thickness of the rafters is increased with overlays. After stuffing nails on the rafters, pull a cord over them over the insulation. A vapor barrier layer is laid on top of the insulation with an overlap of 7 to 10 centimeters, securing it with a stapler.

This coating requires repair if:

The sheets are rusted;
The paint has peeled off them;
Roof deflections have occurred.

For repairs, it is enough to unscrew the self-tapping screws that hold the damaged sheet, and then replace this sheet with a new one. By the way, manufacturers give a guarantee for this roof from 10 to 25 years. If during the warranty period the metal tile has cracked, lost color or peeled off from the base, then it is quite possible to require replacement.

If replacing the sheet with a new one is not possible, then the crack and chips of the polymer coating are pre-cleaned and degreased, and then painted over. But this repair will not last very long.

The main reasons requiring its repair:

Large gaps appeared;
The paintwork is damaged;
Rotting surface.

If large gaps appear in the steel roof, then they are covered with silicone sealant. The damaged paintwork is cleaned, degreased and covered with enamel of the appropriate color.If the damage is significant, then I apply patches of new steel to the rotten sections of the roof, connecting them with folded joints.

There is already a more serious guarantee - from 30 to 50 years. It extends to the integrity of the tiles, their frost resistance and water resistance. Naturally, in this case, the laying technology must be observed, and the tiles must be transported correctly. Otherwise, the guarantee will "fly off". They do not change the material even when there are slight differences in the colors of the tiles.

When repairing, it is necessary to remove both damaged and adjacent tiles. First of all, the top ones, then the side ones. Having driven a wedge under the tile next to it, you need to pick up the edge of the tile to be removed with a screwdriver (or trowel). New tiles are laid evenly, taking care of the tightness of the joints.

She has a warranty period of 15 to 25 years. They change such a roof under warranty if the granulate is poured, has an irregular shape or is applied unevenly. Or the roof leaks water, does not withstand weather conditions. But if improperly installed, maintained or used in aggressive conditions, the warranty will be void.

If the cracks in this coating are small, then you can glue them. Lifting the tile, we smear it with roofing glue from the inside, and then press it against the plane of the base, holding the glued place for several minutes. However, it happens that there are a lot of cracks in the roof - then it is better to change it. Pulling out the nails in the desired area, cut it out, then insert a whole sheet of tile. The edges are aligned. Work is carried out at above-zero temperatures - from 5 to 25 0 C.

If the damage is small, then the following repair method is suitable (it is necessary to work when it is cloudy outside). After cleaning and washing the roof with a stiff brush (water is supplied from a hose), it is dried. Then the soil is applied - diluted PVA (glue - 1 part, water - 3 parts). Apply the prepared mixture with a layer of at least 2 millimeters, covering the cracks.

In case of large damage, the slate sheet is changed. For this, nails are completely removed from the sheet that requires replacement. On adjacent sheets that press the sheet to be removed, the nails are not completely reached, but only raised higher. This is necessary so that the adjacent sheets begin to rise and allow you to get the damaged sheet and put a new one. By the way, the manufacturer gives a guarantee for slate - up to 15 years.

Usually, the drain begins to leak when the tightness of the joints is broken. This happens very often in winter, under the influence of snow and ice. Therefore, if the system is made of PVC, then all the elements are usually connected with dichloroethane glue or rubber seals. If necessary, we replace them with EPDM seals. But it is more difficult to replace glue joints: you need to cut out a piece of pipe, and then glue a new one using the same glue.

Individual elements of metal gutters are usually fixed with rivets, which must be drilled out with a drill when replacing parts. Replacing worn parts, they are riveted to each other, and a silicone sealant is applied to the joints.

These places (outlets of ventilation, chimney, roof windows and antennas) require special attention and control. Their joints must be covered with roofing glue. A special sealing tape is also suitable. There is also an option - to close these places with overlays with decorative trim. And then, after the repair, the roof of the country house will become both solid and elegant.

Finally, we invite you to watch an interesting video that shows the process of roof reconstruction in an accelerated mode.

Do-it-yourself repair of a galvanized roof is a more time-consuming process than repairing a roof covered with another material. If, during operation, gaps have formed between the sheets, then it is necessary to clean the joints from rust deposits and solder them. If the metal roof is completely unusable, then a major repair will have to be performed, with a complete replacement of the coating.Roofing iron is another type of rigid roof that is widely used in the construction of country houses.It has the most venerable age - it has been used for more than one century. But, of course, modern roofing iron is drastically different from the material originally used. Moreover, every decade, more and more improved varieties of it appear on the construction market. It is recommended to cover the roof with roofing iron only when the slope is 15-30 °.Currently, the most demanded materials of this type are galvanized sheet steel and corrugated board (multilayer material based on polymer coated steel). In summer cottage construction, it is usually sheet metal that is used. This material is very reliable and relatively inexpensive.The cost of roofing from sheet iron is less than from metal. At the same time, it cannot be said that such a roof looks worse.And in terms of durability, with good care, an iron roof is in no way inferior to a metal roof.A major overhaul of a sheet metal roof may not be required until several decades after installation. Local repair of a metal roof is usually reduced to the elimination of local damage. This article discusses both types of repair work, since the owners of a country house with a roofing material or slate roof over time may have a desire to change the old roof to an iron one.Timely measures taken for preventive local repair of the iron roof will help extend its durability and postpone the need for repair. The main point of prevention is the protection of the roof surface from corrosion, which inevitably occurs under the influence of precipitation. For this purpose, the roof is painted with a special anti-corrosion paint. However, you should be aware that not all paint is suitable for repairing galvanized metal roofs.The fact is that the properties of galvanized metal differ from ordinary ones. If painted with a simple oil or alkyd paint, it will react with zinc, causing it to peel off quickly. A coating of such paint will last no longer than one season. Therefore, for the repair of a galvanized roof, it is necessary to choose paints with greater adhesion and elasticity. These include, for example, acrylic primer-enamel or other options with similar characteristics. They are more expensive than conventional paints, but they fully pay for themselves. Better to spend one time on expensive high-quality paint than repainting the roof or patching new holes in it every year.When you paint a roof that is no longer new, you first need to assess its condition and repair the existing damage. If there is rust on the surface, it must be washed off with kerosene and then cleaned up with sandpaper.Perhaps, during the operation of the roof, gaps have formed between the sheets at their junctions. In this case, to repair the iron roof, the joints are cleaned of rust in the same way, then wiped with a solution of zinc chloride using a regular paint brush. After that, the joints are sealed with a powerful soldering iron. Excess cooled solder is removed with a file.In the event of cracks and gaps in the old roof, they are sealed with patches, which are cut out of a new sheet of galvanized steel with roofing scissors. The size of the patch for repairing a metal roof on each side should be 10-15 cm larger than the size of the damaged section of the roof. We will fix it by soldering or using some kind of glue or sealant. You should consult your hardware store about which glue is best for galvanized metal.If for some reason you did not have a spare sheet of roofing iron for patches at hand, it can be successfully replaced by fiberglass or a high-quality roofing material - such patches are also attached with a sealant and serve no worse than metal ones.After all defects are eliminated during the repair of the iron roof with their own hands, they begin to paint.The entire surface of the roof is thoroughly cleaned of dirt and old paint using a brush with iron bristles or special liquid agents. Then the roof is washed with water, allowed to dry and covered with 2-3 layers of protective paint. When repairing a galvanized roof, it is most convenient to apply paint with a spray gun, but if it is not available, you can use a roller or a large fly brush.It should be noted that the process of overhauling an old galvanized iron roof is quite laborious compared to laying any other roofing material. If you do not have the skills to work with sheet metal, it is better to entrust this work to professionals. If you feel confident in your abilities, use a few guidelines.Roofing iron is not too heavy, therefore, as in the case of metal tiles, a thinned wooden lathing with a step of 20-30 cm is suitable here. A waterproofing layer made of roofing felt, roofing felt or some other insulating material is placed on the lathing.When using sheet metal in the course of repairing a metal roof, it is desirable to minimize the number of joints on the roof, since joints are a potential area for leaks and damage. Guided by this rule, the size of the sheets is selected. If the length of the slope is small, it is advisable to use sheets of the same length. With a long slope length, the sheets are chosen in such a way that the number of horizontal rows is the smallest (as in the case of metal tiles).There are two methods for stacking sheet metal. The first, and the simplest, is overlapping. Sheets begin to be laid from the eaves. They are attached to the crate using roofing screws with a rubber gasket under the head. Each next sheet is laid with an overlap on the previous one, the width of the overlap is 5-10 cm. For the reliability of the joint, the overlap is coated with a sealant and laid with a thin rubber tape.A more complex method of roofing iron flooring in the overhaul of an old galvanized steel roof is folding. This method provides the highest roof tightness. Folding is the fastening of adjacent sheets to each other due to the bent edges in a special way. There are 4 types of folds: single recumbent, single standing, double recumbent and double standing.Reclining folds are made at the junction of sheets horizontally (parallel to the cornice), and standing folds at the junction vertically (along the slope). Double folds are more reliable.Let's consider the folding technology using the example of a single standing seam.

Video (click to play).

The edge of one sheet is folded up at a right angle by 3 cm. The edge of the second is similar, but by 7 cm. The sheets are connected and the larger edge is folded into the smaller one. This operation is done with all the sheets while still on the ground. Then the sheets are unhooked and lifted onto the roof. There they fasten them with self-tapping screws to the crate and interlock with a prepared fold. Then the seam is sealed with a mallet and hammer. Folding requires some experience, therefore, when laying roofing iron with your own hands, the first method is usually chosen.