Roof Repair for Storms. How to Prepare for the Worst

« « How To Remodel a Bathroom on a Budget | Thanks To Ceramic Floors » »

Roof Repair for Storms. How to Prepare for the Worst

Monday, July 20th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

by John Maguhn

Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Orange Park and every other part of Northeast Florida are all susceptible to roof storm damage. Do not let anybody tell you different. I do roof repair and installation and I see the same mistakes over and over when people prepare for storms. Here’s some pointers on how to minimize the damage to your roof and house.

Take all the old shingles off before re-shingling. One of the big problems I see is trying to put new shingles over the old ones. This does not make sense because if there are underlying problems then all you have done is cover them up. Make sure you do not ever try to put new shingles over the older layer.

Take a hard look over all the sheathing. If you see any holes, wear, or other damage get rid of it and put some new sheathing on.

Now, you might think that this next step is a little overkill but, believe me, if you do it then it will save your roof when the strong winds blow. You have got to re-fasten the sheathing by doubling up on the fasteners that are already there. That means putting another fastener between the existing ones. Some contractors have skipped this step and their customers have paid for it later.

Water leaks are caused by not attending to the details. Put some more flashing or roofing tape on the spaces between the sheathing pieces and around the chimney. Don’t forget to seal up the fasteners that penetrate the roof deck.

Next comes the ASTM D 226 Type I (15#). That is the minimum standard and make sure that it is asphalt impregnated. Your profile caps or tins should be at least an inch. Put them at 6 inch intervals on the seams and 12 inches on the field.

Though most contractors say you should use hot dipped galvanized fasteners only if you live near salt water, I think using them no matter where you live is the best practice.

Even though there is a lot of different makes and types of shingles out there I’m going to recommend that you use those that are approved for Dade County, Florida because you will not go wrong with that strict standard - even in Jacksonville. They each take six nails or whatever the manufacturer says.

Well, that is how roofs are done and re-done. Good, careful workmanship and high quality materials will make sure you will not unduly risk your home to wind and water damage when a storm hits.

About the Author:

John Maguhn is a licensed roofing and general contractor located near Jacksonville in Orange Park; FL. He has been in home remodeling in N.E. Florida over 20 years and is considered one of the best in the area. John helps people who need him, whether as a contractor or consultant, everyday. Go get his quality construction.

Get Social, Bookmark Us!!:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.