Gurrs Roofing Heating 
and Sheet Metal 
CALL US TODAY!
"Above All A GURRreat Roof!"
Serving Reno, Sparks, and Northern Nevada since 1965
Blog Post

Tips on Temporarily Fixing Your Roof

  • By Admin
  • •
  • 25 Oct, 2018
  • •
Hail Damage — Roofer builder worker in Sparks, NV
Did a big storm come through your area and damage your roof? If so, you'll be wondering what steps you should take to get your roof repaired. It may be a while until you can get a professional roofer out to your home to repair the damage, and during that time, more water may come into your home. Here is what you need to know about temporarily repairing your roof until a professional can fix it.
Safety Tips
Making a temporary repair will involve getting up on top of your roof, which is why it is important to be safe when doing so.

Know About Ladder Safety

The first step to getting onto your roof involves ladder placement. There are actually a few things you need to know to be safe when it comes to how you place the ladder against your home.

To determine the angle of the ladder, it should be about one foot away for every 4 feet of ladder length. That means if you are climbing up 32 feet to get to your roof, the ladder should be about 8 feet away from the house.

In addition, the height of the ladder should extend about 3 rungs past the top of the ladder. You don't want the ladder to barely go up to the gutters or positioned against the home below the gutters.
Know Where to Step
Avoid walking on any part of the roof that you think is damaged. There is always a possibility that shingles could become loose and you will lose your footing on the roof. For your footwear, you'll want to wear shoes that have a rubber bottom on them that will help give your feet a good grip on the roof's surface.
Repair Tips
If the damage is bad, you'll need to take some steps to prevent water from getting into your home between now and when a roofer can come out to fix the problem.
Use Roofing Tar
There may be small holes that formed due to roofing nails being ripped out of the roof deck. You can temporarily patch these up by using roofing tar, also called roofing cement, which can be found at a home improvement store.

The material is sold in a tube and can be applied using a caulking gun. Just squeeze the trigger to get apply a small amount of tar to the area and you should be good to go. Don't worry too much about making it look pretty since this is only temporary until a roofer can come do the rest of the repair work for you.
Use a Tarp
Roofing tar is not going to cut it for major damage to a roof. You will need to use a tarp to cover a large section of the roof that was damaged. Thankfully, applying a tarp is pretty straightforward if you know the right steps to take. The tarp should be long enough to cover the damage and stretch over the opposite side of the roof, even if there is no damage on the other side.

Start by cutting some 2x4 beams that are the same length as the edges of the tarp. Then take the tarp and loosely place it over the roof. Wrap the top and bottom edges of the tarp around the 2x4 so that it goes over the beam instead under it, which will prevent water from getting trapped against the beam when it rolls down the roof. Secure the top and bottom edges of the tarp the roof with screws by placing screws through these beams.

Next, place 2x4 beams on top of the tarp around the edges. This will prevent wind from getting underneath the edges of the tarp and help hold is in place.

Now all you have left to do is wait for a company like Gurrs Roofing Heating and Sheet Metal to come to your home and perform the necessary repairs.​

Tile Roofing: What You Need to Know

By Admin • 25 Oct, 2018
Tile Roofing: What You Need To Know

Numerous roofing systems are available to meet your budget and design needs. Roof tiles have a long history but they continue to be a popular choice in the residential and commercial markets due to their long-term performance.

Whether you are installing a roof in a new-build or you are undertaking a re-roofing project, read on to learn more about roof tiles, their advantages, and considerations for selecting the right tiles for your roof.

The Benefits of Designing a Roof With a Larger Overhang

By Admin • 25 Oct, 2018
Many roofing terms may sound esoteric or confusing, but the overhang of a roof is at least easy to understand. A roof's overhang is the amount of edge, or eave, protruding out past the walls of the home. A minimal overhang amount has become a modern design feature, but the streamlined look can actually damage your home, or at least increase the amount of maintenance.

A large overhang on a modern residential roof serves many functions, which is why they were so common in past building styles around the world. You might decide to incorporate one into your new roof's design after learning about these valuable benefits.

Home Buying: 5 Questions to Ask About the Roof

By Admin • 25 Oct, 2018
Buying a new home can seem like an endless game of 20 Questions. You need to know more than a few things that about your potential new home before buying it. Along with how old the home is, the functionality of the plumbing, heating, and AC systems work, and major problems that could pose health or safety risks, you also need to ask questions about the roof.

What are the need-to-know facts about your potential new home's roof? Take a look at the questions that you should consider asking the seller before signing any contract.

Need Roof Replacement? What to Know About Using Cedar Roofing

By Admin • 25 Oct, 2018
Is your home's aging roof in need of replacement? If so, you'll be wondering what material you should replace it with. You're not limited to replacing the roof with the same material since you'll now have many options available to you. Here are a few things to know about using cedar roofing for your home.

Re-Roofing? What You Need to Know Before Making a Decision

By Admin • 25 Oct, 2018
Your roof won't last forever. Even the best quality products, installed with the highest craftsmanship standards, won't continue to function properly for an infinite period of time. At some point your roof will leak, shingles will curl and buckle, wood will rot, and the repair costs will start adding up. When this happens, it's time for a new roof.

Re-roofing a home is a major home improvement that you want to be done right the first time around. That means preparing for the project. What steps do you need to take before the first shingle, piece of metal or other roofing product goes on to your home? Take a look at the major factors that go into the planning process.

Roofing Repairs and Replacement: What Do You Need to Know?

By Admin • 25 Oct, 2018
Your roof does more than simply sit at the top of your home. It keeps the elements out and helps the whole house function. When your roof starts failing, you can feel it everywhere. There are drafts, leaks and possibly damage to other areas of your home.

Replacing a roof is a major home-improvement project. That said, not every leak, crack or chipped shingle requires a full tear-off. Some types of damage and wear are easy to fix with a repair — from a qualified roofing professional, of course.
How can you decide whether you need a full roof replacement or just a repair? Take a look at some of the signs that your roof is in need of a repair and what you need to consider. Even though you can certainly replace your roof if you see some of these signs, get an expert's assessment before making any major decisions. The pros can tell you what's in your roof's best interest and what they can do to fix it correctly the first time around.
Share by: