TOOLS: Hammer
MATERIALS: Double-headed nails, plywood or a tarp, roofing
cement (for spot repairs)
If your roof is severely damaged,
the primary goal is to prevent additional damage to your roof until
more permanent repairs can be made.
Use a sheet of plywood as an
emergency measure to keep out wind and water. You can also use a
tarp attached to the roof with strips of wood around the border.
When using these temporary measures,
use double-headed nails, which will be easy to remove when the time
comes for permanent repairs.
Be sure to mark the spot where the
nails were so you can apply roofing cement to the holes when the
final repair is finished.
Roofing cement can be used to fix
loose or buckled shingles. Do this on a warm day, as the shingles
will be more pliable and less likely to break than on a cold day.
To reattach a loose shingle, wipe
down the roofing paper and the underside of the shingle. Apply a
generous amount of roofing cement and then press the shingle
into the cement.
Press buckled shingles into applied
roofing cement. You can also patch cracks and splits with some roofing
cement.
Check the joints around the flashing
that is attached to the chimney and replace failed cement with a
fresh layer.
