A roof is one of the most important structural features of a house. An inadequate roof means the rest of your house may be subject to damage during a big storm. Regardless of whether you have a flat roof or a slanted roof, ensuring that the roof is waterproof is an important step in making sure your home isn’t damaged by water. If you want to know how to waterproof a roof, don’t worry – it’s not too difficult.
How to Waterproof a Roof
1. The first thing you want to do is gather the necessary equipment and the materials: find a ladder, silicone sealant or something similar, and a caulking gun.
2. Climb the ladder to get onto the roof and try to identify any spots on the roof where it may be most susceptible to water damage. This means any points where water may slip under the shingles and any places where shingles have been damaged or displaced.
3. Once you identify these areas, seal the three open sides of the shingles using the can of silicone sealant and caulking gun. Make sure the sealant actually seals the openings to ensure no water can get through the roof. If it doesn’t work on your first try, continue sealing the gaps of space under the shingles to waterproof the roof. If there are any gaps left, water can seep into these spaces under the shingle and cause water damage to your roof and in your attic.
4. In addition to the shingle openings, you want to seal any other openings you may see. Check the flashing used around the vents and chimneys to determine if there are any poorly sealed areas. If there are, seal them tightly with the silicone to protect against leakage.
Additional Help
If you would prefer professional help, consider using TalkLocal to find a roofing company for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable roofing professionals in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.
These tips for waterproofing a roof seem really simple, just make sure you have a silicone sealant and caulking gun. I would imagine that sealing around vents would be easy enough to get the job done. I would want to hire a professional to do it, maybe they have a trick to make sure the seal is water tight.