How to Repair Flat Roofs
Flat roofs are very vulnerable to water leaking because it doesn't run off as easily as a sloped roof. Repairing a flat roof might be a challenge and take a long time. It doesn't require a lot of tools however, but will require patience.
Things You'll Need:
- Broom
- Blower
- Ladder
- Utility Knife
- Nails
- Shingles
- Marker
- Roofing Putty
- Putty Knife
- Bricks
- Hammer
- Clean the roof from any water, dirt and debris. Usually a broom and blower should be able to remove everything from the roof. Make sure to use a stable ladder when climbing on the roof. Also be careful when hauling tools up the ladder.
- Cut a small section around the cracked areas with a utility knife. Make sure to cut in straight edges and not circles. It will be a lot easier to make a patch with straight edges than one in a circular shape.
- Trace the piece you cut out on a new shingle. A marker should be able to trace the new piece visibly. A pencil probably will break and it will be hard to see.
- Apply the patch with roofing putty and a putty knife. Make sure you apply putty under the entire replacement patch.
- Nail around the edges of the patch. You should be able to use a regular hammer instead of a nail gun.
- Apply a thing layer of roofing putty around the seams of the patch for extra support.
- Lay a brick or other heavy object on the patch just in case it shifts from the wind.
- Allow the putty a day to harden before removing the brick on the patch.