How to Repair Steel Roofing
In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the installation of steel roofs. Many people remember scenes of shingles blown off roofs in storms, or degrading over time. Steel roofs endure difficult weather conditions much better than their shingle counterparts.
What you will need:
Tape measure, ladder, water, mild detergent, work gloves, stiff brush, bucket, towel, tin snips, putty knife, sheet metal screws, roof caulking, liquid rubber roof sealant, paint roller, microsealant tape
Directions:
- Check your steel roof for signs of holes or other damage. These often occur in roof flashing, seals, or seams. In the case of big areas with numerous small holes, these can be fixed by restoring the area with a roof covering, as opposed to individually patching the wholes. If nails have come loose over time, they should be pulled completely out and nailed back into position.
- Use a scrub brush, along with a mixture of soap and warm water, to clean the part of roof you're working on. Let it dry. If there are any loose areas in coating, use a putty knife to pull them up. Make sure there are no chips or debris.
- Position about two inches of microsealant tape around the spot you're repairing. Make sure you have work gloves on.
- Cut out a portion of galvanized steel using tin snips. The portion should be of the right length to cover the spot needing repair, and should be measured to fit properly. Insure the piece matches properly and is centered, then put the steel piece over the tape.
- Use your drill motor to drill holes in the steel and the roof. These holes should be positioned so that they are about one to two inches apart for the screws used to keep the steel in place. Position the screws to the section where you put the tape, making sure it is located a quarter inch from the sheeting's edge.
- Keep the steel even with the roof as you screw in the screws. It is important that the seal is very tight.
- Use caulking to seal around the steel piece just patched in. It is also good to use liquid rubber over the whole section. This can be done with a paint roller. Let it dry.