Seam Roof Repair, Including Roll Materials

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Do-it-yourself seam roof repair - quickly, beautifully and efficiently

Seam roofing is considered one of the most reliable and durable. And although its service life is quite long, it also needs periodic renewal due to moral or physical wear and tear, as well as maintenance for reasons that sometimes do not even depend on caring for it. For example, during strong winds, a tree can fall on the roof and damage the coating. So you always need to be ready to repair the roof and know as much as possible about repairing a seam covering in order to quickly and inexpensively, and most importantly, fix problems yourself in time.

Content

• 1 What most often has to be repaired on a seam roof

• 2 Types of seam roof leaks

  • 2.1 Snow leaks
  • 2.2 Storm leaks

  • 2.3 Dry leaks

    2.3.1 Video: how to eliminate condensation in the attic

  • 2.4 Flickering leaks

• 3 Methods for repairing folded roofs

  • 3.1 Sealing roof folds

  • 3.2 Sealing of joints and roof outlets

    3.2.1 Video: seamed roof, pipe bypass

  • 3.3 Repair of seam roofs with roll materials

    3.3.1 Video: repair of seam roofing using self-adhesive roll material "Rizolin"

  • 3.4 Repair of seam roofs with liquid rubber

    3.4.1 Video: Tips for painting seam roofs

  • 3.5 Repair of sagging seam roofs

  • 3.6 Repair of eaves

    3.6.1 Video: what is the eaves strip for?

  • 3.7 Minor damage repair
• 4 Tips for repairing seam roofs

What most often has to be repaired on a seam roof

Seam roof repair can be of two types:

1. Overhaul - complete or significant replacement of roofing material, linear coatings on the facade of the house and downpipes. It is carried out according to the method of constructing a new coating, with the only difference that work is added to dismantle the old flooring.

2. Current repairs - replacement of small areas of damaged or worn-out roofing, patching in place of large holes, sealing of small fistulas, replacement of individual elements of the drainage system, eaten away by rust, faulty grooves and eaves. Repair will also be required when the folds are depressurized and the seams are not tight.

   

   The main malfunctions that cause the need to repair a seam roof are material wear, holes and holes in the coating surface, as well as depressurization of the seams.

Roof damage is usually caused by negative climatic influences, which accelerate the wear of the roofing - rain, snow, ultraviolet radiation, as well as hail, gusty winds, frequent temperature changes, etc.

However, seam roofing often needs repair due to installation errors, the most common of which is improper arrangement of roofing units. As an example - the device of the ridge according to the eaves overhang scheme, which disrupts the natural ventilation of the roof. As a result, leaks appear with all further consequences - wetting of the insulation and rotting of the rafter system, the appearance of dampness in the house, moss, fungus, smudges on the walls and stains on the ceiling, as well as heat leaks.

If any roof unit is improperly constructed, it becomes a potential source of moisture entering the under-roof space with all the ensuing consequences

Therefore, when erecting a metal roof with folded fastening, it is very important to be guided by the standards provided for by SNiP 3.03.01–87, SNiP II-26–76 *, SNiP 3.01.01–85 *, SP 17.13330.2011, SNiP 12.01.2004, and also observe instructions provided by roofing manufacturers.

Types of seam roof leaks

Any defects in the roof are fraught with leaks. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to identify the places of damage, for which the coating is examined from the outside, as well as to the lumen from the side of the attic during the rain or immediately after it. The detected defects are circled in chalk and marked on the roof diagram, which determines the size of the areas to be repaired or replaced.

When examining an attic space, look for dark or discolored spots that signal leaks.

If it is impossible or impossible to visually identify the place of damage, then proceed from the type of leaks, which experienced roofers subdivide into the following categories.

Snow leaks

Snow leaks usually occur due to untimely cleaning of the snow cover, under the weight of which the mountings are loosened, or too careful shoveling of snow from the roof, which leads to scratches. You may not immediately pay attention to such microscopic features, however, this is already a violation of the protective layer of the roofing material, which opens the way for moisture to the unprotected metal. Snow leaks appear during a thaw, although the roof can dry out quickly after rain.

Another reason may be improperly laid or poor-quality insulation, which allows heat to pass through, due to which the lower layer of snow melts, but does not roll down, as it turns out to be locked by the upper cover. And standing water begins to corrode the metal.

As a result of heat loss due to improperly laid insulation, the lower layers of the snow cover thaw, but the water does not drain from the roof, but begins to corrode the metal

Repair in this case is reduced to identifying and sealing microcracks with red mastic, replacing loose screws, checking the density of joints. More global measures are good insulation of the attic to prevent heat from escaping outside, and installation of an anti-icing system on the roof so that snow does not linger on the roof.

Cracks on the surface of the seam roof are covered with red lead mastic

Storm leaks

Here the situation is clearer - leaks occur during rain. You need to pay attention to the sealing of the roof, especially in problem areas - valleys, abutments and seam seams. Laying new waterproofing, additional sealing with bitumen, tapes and other modern sealants or repairing seam joints will help to resolve the issue.

Repair of a recumbent seam is carried out with the help of fiberglass, on which a thick layer of nitro paint or alkyd enamel is applied on top

Sometimes you even have to go to change the slope of the slopes, if the angle of inclination of the roof was not maintained during its construction in accordance with the weather conditions in a particular area and the type of roofing. To do this, in the area of the ridge, the slopes are disconnected and additional inclined surfaces are installed, thus turning the usual gable structure into a broken mansard roof.

Dry leaks

Dry leaks are the biggest surprise. It would seem that the tightness of the seams is not broken, the fastenings are not loosened, there are not even microscopic cracks, and the roof is "crying". The odor of dampness warns against dry leaks. In this case, it is necessary to inspect the under-roof space for the accumulation of condensate due to a clogged ventilation passage. Untimely cleaning of debris, foliage and branches, clogged gutters, or, much worse, improper installation of the roof can lead to the appearance of dry leaks.

Condensation on the vapor barrier material can occur due to a clogged ventilation duct or errors in the construction of the roofing cake

Video: how to eliminate condensation in the attic

Flickering leaks

Flickering leaks are homeowners' biggest headaches as they come and go regardless of any weather conditions. In most cases, such leaks occur:

• due to ice build-up on the roof, which scratches or even breaks the coating;
• as a result of inaccurate cleaning of the roof surface;
• due to the loss of tightness of some components of the roof or due to mistakes made during installation;
• sometimes through increased steam pressure, when a poorly insulated sauna is located in the attic;
• and also because, when arranging roof passages, an insufficiently wide apron was mounted.

When the cause of the leak was not found during the inspection of the attic, you need to examine the roof from the outside:

1. On the insulated roof, the coating is pre-cleaned of debris and the condition of the fasteners, abutments, and aprons is carefully checked.
2. On a cold roof, the examination is carried out together. One person remains in the attic, while the other uses a hose under good pressure to abundantly water the roof. With such a shower in the attic, the place of the leak will immediately come to light.

Seam roof repair methods

The variety of reasons causing seam roof leaks determines a fairly wide variety of methods for repairing it. In some cases, it will be enough to carry out the usual sealing of local sections of the roof, and in some cases, it will be necessary to replace or process large areas of the roofing with insulating materials.

Roof seam sealing

It often happens that the roofing material is still quite suitable for use, and the seam seams have already parted and became the reasons for leaks. This mainly happens when the single-fold technology was used during installation, since this is the weakest fastening, which often fails after 2-3 years. And besides, for the sake of ghostly economy, they could "forget" about sealing the folds.

The technology of attaching paintings using a single-fold seam is unreliable, so leaks may appear in 2-3 years

In this case, there is no need to completely disassemble the roof. It is enough to seal the folds using sealants having:

• good adhesion to metal;
• flexibility and vibration resistance;
• resistance to the influence of ultraviolet radiation and other negative atmospheric phenomena.

Most often, mastic polyurethane or bitumen-containing compositions are used, which have proven themselves well as reliable protection against leaks.

The sealing process is as follows:

1. The remnants of the old sealant are removed if the seams have already been sealed earlier.

2. The working surface is well cleaned from dirt, rust and dust.

   

   The surface adjacent to the seam seams is thoroughly cleaned from dirt and rust

3. Degrease the seam seams and dry the surface.

4. Apply butyl rubber sealant in a convenient way, but use a special gun for accuracy.

   

   To eliminate the leakage of the roof, recumbent and standing folds are treated with butyl rubber sealant

In regions with high humidity, snow cover and frequent gusty winds, sandwich technology is used, which is laborious, but provides excellent results. Sealing is carried out in stages:

1. A polyurethane tape is glued to the prepared surface.
2. The metal patch is fastened with rivets.
3. A sealing mastic is applied on top.

Recently, self-adhesive tape sealants with a double-sided work surface have become more and more popular. They are produced in the form of ribbons or cords of various colors and sizes, which are much easier and more convenient to work with.

Sealing of longitudinal and transverse seam joints is very convenient to carry out using tape sealant

But what is not recommended at all is to try to solve the problem by simply tightening the folds and covering the seams with strips of soft roofing. Such sealing is short-lived and ineffective - due to the thermal expansion of the metal, the folds will soon disperse again, and the soft roof will crack and quickly become unusable.

Of course, sealing the seams with opaque mastic or tapes, which cannot always be matched to the roofing sheet, will require subsequent painting of the covering flooring, otherwise it will look unaesthetic. But painting is completely unacceptable for expensive roofing coatings - copper or titanium-zinc.

Copper seam roofing is remarkable for its amazing beauty, therefore it is advisable to initially mount it according to all the rules so as not to violate such splendor and grace in the future

There are two options for solving problems with leaks - when installing, use reliable folding technology and strictly follow all standards, or perform sealing:

1. Transparent sealant.
2. By sealing the seams with hard butyl rubber tape. To do this, unbend the folds, lay a seal and re-fold the folds with a seaming machine or close them with a simple push with a self-locking structure.
3. By the soldering method to which copper lends itself wonderfully. Over time, oxidation will occur and the seam or patch will match the color of the main roof covering.

Sealing of joints and roof outlets

In addition to seam seams, it is extremely important to seal the joints between the roofing sheet and pipes and walls. It all depends on the shape and size of the roof outlets. To eliminate gaps around small-diameter pipes, apply mastic or gasket. Large outlets are sealed differently depending on their intended use. For example, a waterproofing apron is arranged around chimneys or at the joints with walls.

To seal the joint of the folded sheet with the wall, arrange a waterproofing apron, which is laid on a silicone sealant

At the junction of the roof windows with the openings, a multilayer seam is formed.

The place where the roof adjoins the attic window is sealed with a metal lining, and leaks around the window perimeter are eliminated by gluing a bitumen tape

The work is carried out according to the general scheme - first, surface preparation for processing, and then the sealing process.

Video: seamed roof, pipe bypass

Seam roof repair with roll materials

Roll materials for repairing seam roofs are used mainly for large wear of the roofing. Roofing material is most often used - an inexpensive material known for its waterproofing properties and a proven material.

They act in the following sequence:

1. The crate is repaired in those places where it is open.
2. Carry out an inspection and, if necessary, repair gutters, valleys, abutments and overhangs.
3. Fasten the torn or swollen panels with nails.
4. They well clean the entire roof from debris, dust and rust.
5. Roll materials are laid along and across the seam seams in particularly problematic areas.
6. Along the folds, the strips of triangular section are stuffed, equal in height to the fold seam.
7. Reclining folds are bent to the canvas.
8. Cover the surface with hot bitumen and glue the roofing material with an overlap of at least 80 mm.

9. Seam seams are clearly formed.

   

   If all the work is done accurately, then after repair the seam roof will not lose its attractiveness

If all the work is done carefully, a roofing material of a beautiful texture and color is chosen, then such a soft coating will not visually differ from a real folded one. In addition, the roof will have double protection - the old metal coating and the new soft one. And if you also replace the insulating layers of the roofing cake, then the new roof will last for many years. It is quite possible to say about such repairs - quickly, beautifully, efficiently and inexpensively.

In addition to roofing material, metal folded roofing can be repaired with innovative roll materials, such as "Rizolin" with a reinforcing fabric inside and copper or aluminum foil outside, or the like.

The covering of the standing seam roof with the self-adhesive roll material "Rizolin" with aluminum foil is successfully combined with the "gray" wood at the bottom of the wooden facade and brown wood at the top

These materials are mostly self-adhesive, so working with them is a pleasure. They protect the metal well from corrosion, withstand a fairly high temperature drop - from -50 to +50 ºC, and also perfectly dampen noise and vibration.

Video: repair of standing seam roof with self-adhesive roll material "Rizolin"

Repair of seam roofs with liquid rubber

In addition to roll materials, when repairing a seam roof, liquid rubber is used - a group of sealants, which includes varnishes, emulsions, mastics and paints for cold use. If you need a local repair of the folded roof, on which holes have appeared or folds have flowed, the composition is applied to them with a brush or roller, after gluing both sides of the folded seam with masking tape. Subsequently, it is removed and a flat line is obtained, which can be painted to match the color of the roofing, or can be made contrasting, which will give originality to the seam covering.

When it is required to create a protective rubber coating over the entire roof, then airless spraying is used using special equipment.

If it is required to repair a large area of the roof, the application of liquid rubber with a spray is used, the surface must be pre-cleaned, washed, dried and primed

Video: tips for painting a seam roof

Repair of sagging seam roofing

A seam roof can sag for many reasons - due to dilapidation, inaccuracies in the structure of the crate, snow load, etc. If subsidence occurs, then it is necessary to level and strengthen the roof.

Work begins with the removal of the curved panels. Then:

1. The dilapidated crate is repaired or additional boards are stuffed if the step was not taken during installation, which is most often the reason for the roof subsidence.
2. Check the waterproofing layer, if necessary, replace it with a new one.
3. Align the removed pictures, if they are suitable for use, and then put them in place, having previously cleaned the inner side of dust and treated it with linseed oil. Panels that cannot be restored are replaced with new ones.
4. The repaired canvases are connected with the previous flooring, first with recumbent folds, and then with ridge folds, while strengthening the fastening with clamps. In this case, the lying folds of adjacent pictures should not be on the same line.

5. They clean the roof from debris and prepare it for painting.

   

   Sagging of the seam roof occurs mainly due to improperly arranged lathing, therefore, repairs begin with its inspection and restoration.

For small areas of subsidence, patches can be dispensed with. To do this, the damaged area is cut down with a chisel along the lathing line so that the fresh joint falls on a hard base - a lathing board. The patch is cut out and placed on the entire width of the picture, that is, from ridge to ridge, after having cleaned the base.

What is good about a seam roof is that it makes it possible to replace individual paintings that have received damage and become unusable. The work here is carried out in a similar way to the repair of a sagging roof, connecting the new panel with the old one, additionally smearing the seam with red lead mastic.

Seamed roof allows replacement of individual panels in need of repair, which greatly facilitates and speeds up the implementation of repair work

Replacement of all sheets, if required, is done in stages, so that the intended work area is processed within a day. For this, new panels are prepared in advance, which are subsequently laid on the prepared surface, fixed with clamps along the crate and T-shaped strips along the cornice.

Repair of the eaves

When updating or repairing a seam roof, sometimes it may be necessary to replace gutters, valleys or cornices, which, if the sealing is broken, break down faster than other roofing elements. When repairing gutters, initially you need to inspect the eaves and replace the damaged areas so that you do not have to remove the already repaired gutters in the future.

Repair of eaves overhangs consists in straightening deformed elements or replacing them with new ones:

1. Disassemble the drainage section and remove the hanging brackets.
2. They remove the damaged parts of the drip and replace them with new ones or restore them by thoroughly cleaning the inside and treating it with linseed oil. In this case, the curvature radius of the eaves plank is checked in accordance with the slope of the roof.

3. Install the drip in place and fix it to the lathing with roofing nails every 100–150 mm. The overlap of the eaves must be at least 20 mm. For better joining of the fragments, the corner of the stiffener is cut off and this edge is inserted into the previously installed element, pushing it as tightly as possible to the cutout.

   

   When performing roof repairs, you can install a new or well-restored old eaves strip

4. Reattach the brackets and install the gutters.

The role of the cornice plank is very significant. It is she who protects the rafter system from getting wet during rain and provides an unobstructed flow of air necessary for good ventilation of the roof. Therefore, it is important to properly equip the eaves overhangs from the very beginning in order to avoid problems during operation.

The curtain rail must be level, securely fastened and correctly oriented towards the gutters

Video: what is the eaves strip for?

Repair of minor damage

Minor repairs include sealing fistulas.

1. Holes with a diameter of up to 5 mm are cleaned with a steel brush from dirt and sealed, covering the damaged area by 200–300 mm with red lead putty in the consistency of thick sour cream.
2. Large damages are caulked with tow soaked in red lead paint, after straightening the torn edges and cleaning the working surface. The caulked hole is coated on top with red lead putty and patched with a piece of thin fiberglass, larger in size than the damage, and soaked with the same red lead paint.

Small holes in the seam roof are sealed with filler (fiberglass, tow) impregnated with red lead paint

Minor repairs can be dispensed with when, when inspecting the roof in some places, the folded joints aroused suspicions about their tightness. This usually happens with single-fold fastening of canvases. In this case, it is enough to tighten the seam seam, for which the standing seams are opened and pressed again, and the recumbent seams are simply tightened more tightly, and then covered with red lead putty and drying oil.

Rust cleaning can also be attributed to minor repairs. It is removed with a stiff brush, and the place of stripping is covered with two layers of paint. Rust is a very insidious thing that tends to spread quickly over the surface.

And if such a problem has already arisen, then you need to monitor whether it will appear again. And it is even better to prevent its further appearance by painting the entire roof, having processed it first from a spray gun with special rust converters such as "Antikor" or "Rusas", which will create a protective phosphate layer.

When rust has appeared at the junctions, you have to work a little more:

1. Thoroughly clean the repair site and sweep the debris off the roof with a soft brush.

2. Wrap the bottom of the pipes with self-adhesive sealing tape, pressing it tightly to the base, or treat it with a sealant and put a special silicone pad on the pipe.

   

   Corroded joints are cleaned, treated with rust converters, and then closed with a special pass-through

Thanks to such actions, water, rolling down the pipe, will fall on the waterproof insulation and leave the roof, and not seep inside.

Tips for repairing seam roofs

For a folded roof to please for many years, and not to test the nerves of homeowners for strength, very little is required:

• carry out a preventive inspection of the roof at least 2 times a year;
• remember that any metal does not tolerate rough handling, therefore, do not use aggressive detergents, varnishes and paints, and also unbend and bend the folds very carefully;
• every, even the smallest, scratch should be repaired immediately, and not wait until it turns into a rusty hole;
• treat folding places with anti-corrosion compounds;
• initially equip the seam roofing correctly, following the recommendations of the manufacturers, as well as the rules and norms prescribed in the regulatory documents.

You can also add to this the painting of the seam covering, and regardless of whether the metal roof needs painting or not, since a layer of rubber-based paint is an additional reliable sealing that will ensure a long service life of the roof of the house.

Painted seam roofing acquires additional sealing, and with it reliable protection against any leaks

Seam roofing can rightfully be considered beautiful, durable, economical and unpretentious in operation. If you follow the rules listed above and strictly follow the technological process, its service life will be determined only by the strength of the roofing material. And this is sometimes hundreds of years without leaks and repairs.