Posts Tagged ‘leaking roof’

Skylight Repair

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Skylights are perfect for adding height to a ceiling; they can make a small cramped room seem 10′ larger and 100 times more inviting. However, skylights are one of the most commonly mistreated items on the roof.

The picture below shows how a remodeling contractor installed a new skylight; instead of using proper and time proven techniques he smeared tar wherever he could. His work lasted about six months before the first leak occurred.

skylight repair

After; I repaired the skylight with new aluminum flashings and replaced all of the tar contaminated shingles. The roof looks better, the skylight doesn’t leak and my metal flashings will keep on doing their job for as long as the roof shingles will last.

skylight flashing repair

Flashing and waterproofing skylights isn’t difficult if you have the skill and the tools, I’ve installed at least 600 skylights in the past 14 years; none have leaked yet. Avoid anyone who says they can stop your leak with caulk or roof cement; it won’t last.

If your skylight is leaking give us a call

Thanks for reading

703-299-8888

Roof in a Can

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

This is one of those classic examples of a “Roof in a Can”.

Roof in a Can is a term we came up with when describing a repair job we’ve seen; it’s when the person working on the roof can’t figure out the right way to do something so he just squirts caulk over the problem. I have a collection of these pics somewhere, I’ll put them up someday.

Before:

Leaking pipe collar and caulk

Leaking pipe collar and caulk

These plumbing vents are really close together; too close for the installer to use two pipe collars. The pipe collar is installed on the pipe on the left, the pipe on the right got the Roof in a Can treatment.

I would love to know how the person decided which pipe got the collar and which one got the caulk. Flip a coin? Did he ask a coworker? Did he think the larger pipe was mocking him?  Maybe he just wanted the smaller pipe to have the collar, pulling for the underdog on the roof.

copper pipe flashing

copper pipe flashing

This took me about thirty minutes; it’s made out of 16oz copper and will last for the next three roofs. No caulk to dry out and crack, just copper and lead solder. Solid.

IMG_4451

There they stand ready to face the weather again. Both pipes treated with practical dignity; flashed with copper and installed with pride.

Caulk is not a roof and caulk doesn’t last, don’t let someone “repair” your roof with a caulking gun.

If you have leaking pipes on your roof give us a call.

Tom