A long winter can do a lot of damage to your home’s roof. Wind, water, and cold can cause many needed repairs.
If you’re gearing up for a repair this spring, then here’s our list of the top roof repair materials you’ll need!
1. Fall Protection Kit
Approximately 50 professional roofers are killed (and hundreds more are seriously injured) each year from falls. 97% of ladder fall-related injuries occur in our own homes.
It is absolutely essential that if you are going to be doing any work on your roof that you use a fall protection kit. Most kits include an anchor, tether, and harness that will prevent you from falling past the edge of the roof.
The tethers can often be adjusted to several lengths to meet your repair needs. Whether you’re cleaning out or repairing a gutter or replacing shingles, safety should be your first consideration.
2. Roofing Nail Gun
If you’re only replacing a few shingles, then a hammer will do. But using a hammer to attach a full roof’s worth of shingles will quadruple the amount of time spent on your DIY roofing project.
Invest in a roofing nail gun and the appropriate nails to minimize the time spent and improve the quality of the work. A nail gun quickly attaches specialized roofing nails to the shingles to ensure that they stay in place for longer.
The nailer will range in price from about $200-$400 on top of the nails. So if you’ve got a small job, it may be more cost-effective to hire a professional rather than invest in the tools.
3. Waterproofing Materials
One of the most important parts of a roof repair is making sure that your work is waterproof. Without waterproofing materials, the wood beneath the shingles will rot and require repair, grow mold, etc.
Underlay Material
Sealant
Sealant should be used on all roof seams (flashing, roof vents, skylights, and chimneys). It creates a waterproof seal that will prevent the wood from rotting.
Tarp
Check your weather forecast. If there’s any rain, snow, or heavy wind in the forecast make sure to invest in a large, durable tarp to protect any projects in process.
4. Measurement Tools
You’ll need various measuring tools to make sure that your shingles are arranged in even, straight lines.
Chalk Line
A chalk line allows you to create a long, perfect line on wood so that your shingles are placed evenly.
Long Tape Measure
Tape measures are handy for cutting shingles around odd corners or edges. You’ll need to measure as precisely as possible so there aren’t any uncovered areas.
Utility Knife
You can use a utility knife to quickly cut shingles that aren’t the right size.
5. Other Common Roof Repair Materials
Here are a few other tools we recommend that you have on hand.
Crowbar
Crowbars are one of the quickest ways to remove stubborn roofing nails.
Flat Head Shovel
Flatheads can be used to remove shingles quickly without causing damage to the wood beneath.
Hammer
Hammers are useful in securing nails that don’t go in properly and removing a few shingles at a time.
New Year, New Roof!
If you’re feeling brave enough to tackle your own roof repair, then you know the roof repair materials you’ll need to do the job right.
For jobs that need a professional hand contact Fitz Roofing!
