Repairing your roof can seem daunting, but the job may be easier than you think if you have a rolled roof. Follow our guide to learn all about rolled roofing and how straightforward it can be to repair it with just a few simple tools.
What Is Rolled Roofing?
Rolled roofing, also known as MSR, is a mineral-surfaced oil-based roofing material that comes in rolls (hence the name). Rolled roofing may be the solution for you if you’re not a fan of the cost and intricacy of roofing your property with shingle-type materials. Rolled roofing comprises a unique method of roofing using organic materials and asphalt. It is a cost-effective method, and when you overlap layers, you enhance durability compared to using flat roofing methods.
Rolled roofing is an affordable option available in most hardware stores, making it a quick and easy roofing solution. Because this roofing material is considerably thinner than other, more complex options, the material may become torn or cracked. For this reason, you must know how to repair rolled roofing material, and most importantly, you can do it yourself!
Where to Use Rolled Roofing
Using rolled roofing on residential properties is tempting, though not advised. We don’t recommend using rolled roofing for your home because it is a less durable material – it would not last as well as other roofing materials. However, rolled roofing is perfect for installation on the roofs of functional buildings like shops, sheds, garages, barns, and other outbuildings found around a property.
Rolled roofing is ideal for installing on roofs with low slopes, like garden sheds or playhouses. The safest minimum roof pitch for rolled roofing is a 2:1 pitch.
Repairing Rolled Roofing
You can repair old rolled roofing yourself with relative ease, and if your roof surface is in good condition, you will have an easy job of repairing your rolled roofing. The first step is identifying the damaged area. Once you locate the area, determine whether it is small enough to fix or big enough to replace. You can get away with covering the tears and cracks with liberal amounts of tar or roofing cement for small areas of damage, but ultimately, replacement patches are better long term.
Before starting your roll roofing repair, make sure your roof surface is dry to minimise the risk of accident or injury! Let’s look into the simple steps of the process of repairing your rolled roofing.
- Remove the roofing nails keeping the damaged rolled roofing material in place with a cat’s claw nail remover. Lift out the old material and discard it.
- Clean the specific area before applying the new piece of rolled roofing – mastic adheres much better to a clean, dry surface.
- Slide the top edge of the new roll under the existing rolled roofing to create an overlap – this helps prevent leaks.
- Apply roofing cement or tar to the exposed roof surface with a wooden stick and set the roll in place on top of it.
- Drive nails around the edges of the new material to secure your rolled roofing patch. Use several roofing nails, about one nail every 12 inches.
- Apply roofing tar or cement again where your new piece of material meets the existing roofing material for extra waterproofing and to prevent further damage.
Are There Any Drawbacks of Rolled Roofing?
Rolled roofing is typically a less durable material than other examples, sacrificing longevity as a compromise for the simple and affordable installation! Rolled roofs don’t last as long as other roofing materials without further repairs, even when using the best materials.
Many people choose to paint roof materials after installing them, as many do with shingles, so they match existing materials or designs at their home and increase resale value. Unfortunately, rolled roofing only comes in black, which may prove difficult to paint over and may not look appealing on your roof.
How Long Does Roll Roofing Last?
When you use high-quality materials, you can expect your rolled roofs to last up to 20 years. To get the most out of rolled roofing, you must install it correctly and carry out regular roof maintenance. Painting your rolled roof also helps with longevity and may help with the overall appearance of rolled roofing material.
Rolled Roofing – A Quick and Easy Repair Job
Rolled roofing is certainly an accessible and affordable roofing solution, and with such ease in the repair process, durability is a worthy compromise. Though cheaper to buy, you can paint rolled roofs just like you can paint roof materials like flashing, meaning you can improve the appearance if you want to.
Identifying areas of a rolled roof that need repairing is simple. With the help of a few simple tools, you can quickly and easily complete the process yourself, eliminating the time, money and effort in sourcing a professional. Check out our mixing tray for your tar or cement and our trusty ladder roof hook for safe climbing onto your roof!