Louisiana Roof Tarping Manual

Transcription

1 Louisiana Roof Tarping Manual

2 HOW TO TARP A ROOF Introduction One of the things that we often have to do after removing a tree from the top of a house is to cover any hole that has been made in limbs that have broken through the roof. Either this or someone will indicate that their roof is leaking because of wind damage to the shingles or roofing. By covering the leaking roofs, you are stopping any further damage to the inside of the home. Tarping a damaged roof is a critical action in preserving the interior of a home. Safety As in all jobs that we do, doing it safely is of primary importance. Even though is necessary to cover the roof to keep the home from any further damage, if someone is injured. : Never work by yourself, Don t attempt to stand on a roof that is steeply pitched. Don t attempt to stand on a tarp-especially if it is wet. If at all possible, don t attempt to go onto a roof during a storm. Use a rope to tie off with, to prevent falling. Pinpointing the exact location can be difficult if an obvious deformity is not identifiable. Storm damage can range from large, highly visible dents and tears to almost undetectable indentations. Even small amounts of damage can harm the surface of your roof and lead to deterioration over time. Leaks can appear to start in one area, but water often moves in paths that are not expected. Before you decide to put a tarp on a roof, first try to identify where the leak is originating from. Start by checking the underside of the roof sheathing for water stains. Use a ladder if necessary. Be careful about climbing onto a roof, if there has been tree damage, the surface may be unstable. There are several ways to detect and evaluate the condition of a roof after a severe storm. Look for: o Torn or missing shingles - result from high winds or hail impact o Dented metal roof vents - caused by hail impact o Missing metal roof panels - blown off from excessive wind gusts o Broken or out of place tiles - result from wind, rain or hail impact

3 o Roof indentations - looks warped or dented, sometimes exposing the fiberglass in asphalt shingles o Water spots and signs of water -caused by water leaking underneath the roof deck into the attic o Other home damage - damaged by wind, hail or projectiles, including damage such as broken skylights and windows, tree or shrub damage or car dents Note: In the case of a low-pitched roof, it may be very difficult to track down the origin of a leak. HURRICANE Materials needed to tarp a roof: Woven Plastic Tarp Shingles 1 x 2 or 1 x 4 Wood Strips Metal Shears Utility Knife Flat Metal pry bar inch Common Nails Roofing nails Hammer Measuring tape A roll of metal flashing Duct Tape Tarping a Shingle Roof Basically, what you want to do is cover the damage with a woven plastic tarp that is held in place with wood strips. Partially unroll or unfold enough of the tarp to cover the leaking section of the roof from over the peak to below the leak area. The tarp needs to reach at least 2 3 feet wider than the damaged area. Lap the tarp over the peak about 2 feet and roll a 1 x 2 with the bottom edge of the tarp. Fasten the wrapped 1 x 2 down with the common nails. Stretch the tarp down over the damaged section of the roof. Wrap the bottom edge of the tarp around a 1 x 2 and fasten to the roof with the common nails. It is better if possible to let the trap drape over the edge of the roof and fasten it to the eave after wrapping it around a 1 x 2. Repeat the same action with the sides of the tarp, wrapping it around a 1 x 2 and fastening it to the roof with common nails. If a large area of the roof has to be covered, or the entire roof, then additional rows of 1 x 2 s will need to be added from top to bottom down the center and possibly down equal distances from the center to keep the tarp secure.

4 NOTE: If there are vents, roof turbines, and other items that protrude above the roof level, you may have to make cuts for them to stick through the tarps and use duct tape to secure the tarp around them. Alternate ways to repair smaller damage. If the leak is clearly identified and confined to a small area, there are other ways to perform the repair. You can use the flat pry bar to go underneath the shingle that you are going to replace and remove the shingle. Once the shingle is removed, another shingle can be slipped in place and nailed down. A quicker, easier way is to measure and cut a piece of metal flashing and slip it under the good shingles, covering the damage, and nail it in place. Tarping a Metal Roof Additional supplies are needed to repair a roof that has metal sheeting. Battery powered drill or power driver Assorted nut drivers 2 1/2/ inch self taping screws w/washers Caulk gun Tubes of caulk or rope caulk. Gloves Identify the damaged area in the roof. If the area is small (smaller than the size of your metal flashing): o Cut a piece of flashing that will cover the area, o Apply caulk around the edges of the flashing, o Screw down the flashing to cover the hole, o Put screws about 2 to 3 apart. If the area is large, o Check and see if there is any metal available that has the same ridge pattern. It is easier to just remove the damaged sheet and replace it than to cover it with a tarp. Stretch the tarp over the peak of the roof Roll the end of the tarp in a 1 x 2 slat and fasten to the roof about 2 from the peak with the 2 ½ self taping screws. o The board with be raised from the flat surface by the ridges of the roofing, but is on the side away from the leak. Pull the tarp tight and fasten about 3 below the leak using the same method. On the sides, go past a ridge in the metal,

5 o Roll the tarp around a 1 x 2 and fasten on the outside edge of a ridge. NOTE: If you remove any of the screws that were used to hold down the 1 x 2 s, you will need to either reinstall the screws back in the holes, or caulk the holes so they won t leak.