Help with mobile home addition roof!?
Question:it keeps leaking really badly. Whoever built did a terrible job. My husband is up there right now tearing the old rolled roofing off. We can't afford to hire someone so we need to do it ourselves.
What should we do first? it's 8.5 x 25 feet.
There isn't even even tar paper over the boards and the boards are only 1/2 and inch thick. Is that too thin?
I know we need the tar paper at least and new flashing, then the rolls. anything else?
There is also a large gap between the trailer and the addtion (they just stuffed styrofoam in between).
Thanks for any help!
Answers:
I assume that the roof over is made with a pitch in it.If the gap does not cause a leak I wouldn't worry about it...
All you are going to need are:
Tar paper
New roll roofing.
Wax headed roofing nails.
Make sure they will go all the way through the 1/2" plywood+the layers of roofing)
Run the tar paper opposite from the direction you intend to lay the rolled roofing and overlap it about 1/2"...(Don't nail it down-If you do use very few nails)
When you lay the rolled roofing do the crown piece (Very top) last. Start at the lower edge of the roof and lay down the first piece. Nail it down except for the top edge...The next piece should overlap the first by about an inch-two inches.
This is called a rain lap and any rain can not seep under the first piece...Always rain lap each piece all the way to the top.
Then at the top after you have layed the rest of the roof. Take a whole strip and lay it all the way down the roof point...This will be a single large rain lap..
Oh and 1/2" plywood is good...
If its below the home roof then I assume that its for a patio or other use (Add on etc.) . Then the drop down should be OK...The rain will just fall from the roof onto the add on...You might want to be sure to have good rain guttering on the home..
If its a really old home with tiny guttering you can buy good cheap replacement guttering at a mobile home supply near you...
First thing I have to ask is.. are both sections level? It is quite probable that when the addition was built, it was built up against the home side... but settling may have pulled one, or both, apart.
I realize he may have a hole in the roof right now... but this is something that needs to be checked on. You may be able to relevel the sections, to close that gap, and make it easier to weather seal it.
I would suggest a wide aluminume flashing (you dont want an ice dam backing water up under the flashing to drain into the home). Seal everything with a good heavy caulk, or roof tar (the roof tar/cement comes in caulk tubes too). A heavy felt would be good, and top it off with shingles or rolled roofing. Make sure you get a good seal with either one you use.
And -- for the future, you might just consider raising the roof pitch to help it drain better.
Good Luck
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