Are you fed up with changing your house’s roof again and again so need to be worried Canton Michigan roofers will help you change and repair your roof within your budget? In this article, we will discuss how to repair the asphalt flat roof by using some simple steps which will help in getting rid of daily stress due to leakage or environmental change. So, let’s get started
Prepare the Roof
Cleaning the roof’s surface is the first stage in repairing a built-up asphalt roof system. This is a crucial step that ensures your patch adheres to the surface and not to the dirt or stone that may be on or entrenched in the roof’s surface.
If the roof is covered in gravel surfacing, this phase will be more challenging. If this is the case, the gravel must be removed before the patch may be applied. Gravel surfacing allows water to flow through and between the gravel, and if the patch is applied to the gravel without removing it, water may flow beneath the patch, allowing the leak to persist.
To remove the gravel, scrape it from the roof’s surface with the flat portion of a pry bar while holding the tool upside down. Draw the pry bar in one direction only, not back and forth. At least four to six inches outside the proposed patch area, remove the gravel. After the gravel has been removed, clean the membrane’s surface with a dust brush to remove any loose dust or dirt. Through dust and filth, asphalt repair products will not adhere to the roof surface.
Prime the Repair Area
Apply the liquid asphalt primer to the roof surface with a brush or roller once the patch area is free of all dust, debris, and moisture. There are also spray can items available that are effective. Allow the primer to flash off so that no surplus priming remains on the roof’s surface. The adherence of the patch will be hampered if the primer is excessively wet.
Cut the Fabric Patch
After the primer has dry, cut the asphalt-impregnated cotton cloth to fit at least 3 inches beyond the perimeter of the patched area. Installing the patch as a two-layer application is advised. The patch’s initial layer should be 4 inches broad, and the second layer should be 6 inches wide. A straight-blade utility knife or a pair of scissors can be used to measure and cut the fabric.
Cement the Patch
Apply a bead of asphalt flashing cement to the roof’s surface with the trowel. Apply the flashing cement evenly across the patch area, extending beyond the area where the cotton fabric will be attached. Apply the 4 inches of cotton fabric into the cement after the flashing cement has been placed, then use the trowel to embed the cotton fabric into the roof cement.
Apply a Second Layer
Over the patch, apply a second coat of asphalt flashing cement, extending beyond the 4-inch patch currently in place. Overlay the patch with a single layer of 6-inch cotton fabric, ensuring that it goes beyond the 4-inch patch in all directions. Using the trowel, fully embed the patch in the flashing cement.
Complete with Asphalt Mastic
Apply a finish application of asphalt mastic to the roof patch after both layers of fabric have been put in. Reset the gravel over the repair area if the patch is being placed to a gravel-surfaced roof system to camouflage the repair and retain the general appearance of the roof.
