Bitumen roof repair in Miami, FL

Bitumen roofing is most actively used for private housing and other, including industrial facilities. It is a cheap option, installation is simple, and it provides great protective qualities. But if technological demands are not being heeded during installation or low quality material is used, it can lead to various kind of damage. That in turn causes leaks to appear; leaks must be discovered and repaired as soon as possible to prevent the accumulation of excess cost.

Even if you discover a minor defect, you should contact a team of professionals in Miami, Florida – they will inspect both inner and outer sides, detect the current problem and perform the necessary maintenance.

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Features of diagnostics and repairs

To effectively repair a bitumen roof, the cause of damage must be determined first. The type and scale of damage matter as well. That requires a full inspection, and only an experienced specialist is capable of that. He will inspect the roof from both sides. Should punctures or bulges, which can cause a severe leak, be detected, the necessity of repairs will be determined afterwards.

Roofing is usually inspected in two stages. First, the repairman checks the attic; second, he inspects the top of the roof, keeping an eye for areas most susceptible to damage – usually joints of adjacent tiles. If a third of the roofing is considered damaged, current repairs take place. Worn out or damaged spots are being replaced or patched. If it’s more than a half – that requires major renovation and full replacement.

Professional repairs of a bitumen roof step by step

Only in rare cases bitumen roofing is damaged so bad that it requires a full replacement. Usually, if damage was timely noticed, specialists carry out just the current maintenance by removing bloats, cracks and air bubbles. According to an established technology of roof repairs, the following steps will be taken:

  • Thorough cleaning from dust and dirt. Areas that require repairs are degreased using specialized mixtures
  • Damaged tiles are removed by the repairman using a putty knife or a thin chisel
  • Preparation of patches and bitumen mastic. The size of a patch must cover not only the damaged spot but also adjacent tiles. The backside of a patch is covered with the mastic
  • The patch is glued to the damaged area. To fixate it more reliably, the repairman hammers it down using nails
  • Both the patch and surrounding tiles are covered with the mastic again as a prophylaxis of further leaks

Why you shouldn’t carry out repairs on your own

It is important for repairs to be carried out according to the technological process. Only by keeping the repair stages consistent you can ensure a high quality of the end result. In addition, during repairs specialists utilize innovative materials, such as membrane, fiberglass and synthetic felts. They are an effective measure against damage of varied difficulty.

How professionals remove defects in joint areas and near the ridge

After a certain period of time bitumen roofing might be prone to sliding down. It is likely to occur if the initial installation was performed with mistakes in the process or using low quality materials. In this situation the waterproofing simply slides down and that usually causes leaks to appear. The most problematic areas are the ridge and joints near the tubing, the chimney or walls.
bitumen roof repair

Additional use of metallic flashing grants extra leak protection and tighten waterproofing. Usually leaks are caused if the flashing wasn’t a tight fit. This problem can be fixed during repairs. It is important to do a full inspection and discover the cause first. After that, specialists remove the faulty flashing and waterproofing layer, replacing them with fresh parts. The flashing itself can be reused if it did not sustain damage.

If the leak isn’t in the joint areas, the roofing is inspected for defects, like membrane blisters. If it is damaged then the material should be replaced with the same kind.