The next time you walk outside, take a moment to gaze up at your roof. What do you see? Do you see even shingles that are all laying flat? Or do you see shingles that are starting to curl and that are covered in moss? You can tell a lot about the condition of your roof just by looking at it. If you are at all concerned about the state of your roof, then your first call should be to a roofing contractor. They can evaluate the situation and recommend repairs or replacement as needed. Learn more about roofing and roofing contractors here on this website.
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Up on the Rooftop
Roof Repairs For Cracked Or Chipped Wood Shakes
Lori Silva
Wood shakes can sometimes be damaged because they swell and shrink, and that can lead to cracking or warping. Plus, storm damage is always a possibility with any type of roofing. If your wood shake roof is leaking or has other problems, call a roofing contractor to make repairs before the damage gets worse. Here are some roof repairs they may need to do.
Replace A Few Wood Shakes
If a wood shake is loose because it has lifted from the roof deck, the roofer might be able to secure it with new nails. However, if some shakes are cracked due to age or an impact, the roofer may recommend replacing the shakes. This can be done by splitting the shakes and pulling the pieces from the roof.
The contractor then needs to find replacement shakes of the right size to slip in the openings. This might require sawing the new shakes so they fit. Once they're placed in the opening, the roofer can use a mallet and wood block to drive the new shakes under the old ones just above. The roofer can tap the wood block instead of the bottom of the shake to prevent damage to the shake while installing it. Then, nails can be driven in the top to hold the shakes in place.
Repair A Chipped Edge
If the edge on a wood shake wears off or chips off, the sun can deteriorate the felt paper under the shake. If the paper dries out, it can crack and lead to a roof leak. A roofer can replace a shingle that has a chipped edge or they can use a roof repair technique instead. This involves taking a wood shingle and tapping it up under the chipped area of the shake.
The shingle slides under the chipped area and covers the felt paper to protect the paper from sun deterioration and to protect the roof from a leak. Most of the wood shingle is hidden underneath the two shakes the shingle is driven under. There will be a small strip exposed where the chip was located, but the strip will weather over time and not be noticeable.
Wood shakes can be repaired or replaced to prolong the life of your roof. However, if a damaged shake isn't repaired quickly enough, damage can be done to the roof deck. That's why prompt roof repair is important.
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