Roof & Gutter Repair

Roofing repairs are often needed around roof penetrations.

Roof and gutter repairs extend the lives of those components, and extend the life of the building. Sometimes routine maintenance like cleaning gutters or cleaning collected organic debris from a flat roof reveal areas that need repair. Be sure you know what you are getting into if you decide to do roofing and gutter repairs yourself.

Identification

In some cases you can identify places where your roof and gutters need to be repaired just by being on the ground. This is especially true for roofs with a pitch and for gutters. You will need to get on the roof to identify repair areas for flat roofs and for pitched roof valleys, chimney and pipe penetrations and along the ridge. You will need to use a ladder to identify repair places along the fascia, soffit and where downspouts connect to the gutters.

Types

Common roof repairs include replacing shingles, resealing around pipes that penetrate the roof, resealing around chimneys, resealing or replacing skylights and repairing roof materials at transitions like valleys. Flat roofs commonly suffer from deterioration of the material where the roof meets the parapet and at places that pipes, air conditioning raceways and equipment stands penetrate the roof covering. You will find gutters often need resealing where sections and downspouts connect. They may also need hangers replaced.

Considerations

Weather is a major consideration when you are planning roof and gutter repairs. Schedule the work when dry weather is forecast, and even then have a plan for covering up the work-in-progress in case of precipitation.

You may have trouble matching the colors of some shingles, especially if the roof is older than 20 years. Get materials on hand before removing any roofing.

Chimneys often need flashing replaced and may need the cricket (the small peaked roof behind them) rebuilt. You will need a tool like an electric grinder with a masonry blade to cleanly remove grout from between the bricks when you do this work.

Misconceptions

One prevalent misconception is roofing and gutter repairs are quick and easy to do. The reality is that by the time you assemble the materials and tools, climb the ladder, deal with the surprises and then get everything cleaned up and put away again, you have invested at least a few hours. The surprises you may find include hidden water damage a distance from the repair spot and materials other than those being replaced that have reached the ends of their lives.

Warning

Working on roofs is dangerous. It might be wiser to hire a licensed contractor who carries the appropriate insurance. Using a rope tied to your waist to arrest your fall can injure you possibly more severely than the fall, and may end up leaving you paralyzed. Tools and materials falling off the roof while you are working is dangerous to others on the ground.

References

• "Stanley Complete Roofs and Siding"; Meredith Corporation; 2007
• U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration: OSHA eTools