Quick and Easy Roof Repair

Have you noticed water in your light fixtures during the winter months? Maybe, you have come across soft spots or drooping on your rubber roof. I am here to walk you through the quickest and easiest way to do simple patch and caulk repairs. The longer you allow the moisture to enter the tears, cracks, and seems; the more work you ultimately will contend with. So, grab your household items below; and lets climb the ladder to a leak-proof roof.

1. Rolling pin or a smaller hand roller.
2. Caulk gun.
3. Absorbent towels.
4. Hammer.
5. Scrubbing pads.
6. Bucket of water.
7. Petroleum distillate (any good cleaning product will suffice).

***You will need at least 24-48 hours of drying time; when all the work is complete. Check the latest weather reports to insure the proper situation can be had. Altogether, allow five to six hours from job start to finish. Don't be alarmed, you only need 1-2 hours to complete the first few steps. There is a waiting period of 3-4 hours (spare time) between, then another hour to finish the project and clean up. Easy, right? Let's get started by shopping for a couple of items we normally don't keep, hanging around, in our garages.

Are you located in the general area of a Menards or Fleet Farm? If not, any hardware store should carry the two items you need to purchase. The first item on our list are "inside and outside corner" rubber patches. Don't let the term "corner" fool you. They are simply round patches that can form to a corner. A box will contain four 8" round rubber discs. They are large enough to be cut down to fit smaller holes/tears, just make sure you are leaving an ample diameter around your bad spot. The cost is roughly $25.00-$40.00 per box. The last item on our list; rubber caulk. A single $5.00 tube will cover quite an area, but extra is better than not enough. Well, we are ready to get the ladder out and have some fun.

Step One

Take the scrubbing pad and dunk it in the bucket of water. The surface needs to be cleaned. Next, take your towels and wipe the cleaned area dry. Move around the surface of the rubber roof until all the questionable spots are washed. Dropping a patch by each spot helps mark the area to be repaired. If you notice a nail or screw that is protruding, use your hammer and gently ease it back into its home.

Step Two

Re-cleaning the surface with a petroleum distillate product is essential. The patches will adhere better to the surface. Use your scrubber to clean the areas again. While the cleaning agent is drying, cut the patches if necessary, and load your caulk gun.

Step Three

Cover the bad spots with the patches and press them on. The rolling pin works like a charm. It prevents ripples and allows you to place pressure on the patches; helping them adhere. After covering all the spots desired; the waiting game begins. If another project is on the "honey-do" list, now is the time to take that on. Remember you have about 3.5 hours to spare.

Step Four

Climb back up and grab the caulk gun. All you need to do is lay a nice even bead around the entire perimeter of each patch. The roof may be hot, so be cautious when kneeling. After the caulking is complete, walk around the roof once more; insuring there are no missed holes or tears. Minuscule--pin holes or areas where it looks worn, can be quick fixed with just caulk.

Well that wasn't so bad! You are done with a fairly easy and cost effective project--with energy and time to spare. Clean up is a breeze and having extra patches and caulk is not a bad thing. Label a small corner of your workbench or cabinet and store your items with this handy instruction sheet for future use. Congratulations, it is time to relax and get ready for your next project.