 | Larry Lara and wife Pam are Co-Owners of Premier Garage of Wichita, a firm that specializes in garage floor coatings, cabinets and organizers. Larry has had 32 years of firefighting, rescue experience and working directly with residential and commercial fire codes. Larry, Pam and their three children have been residents of Wichita since 1986. Larry can be contacted at (316) 448-0232, or you may send him an e-mail at wichita@premiergarage.com |
Home Improvement
2005-09-01 14:36:00
Increasing home value - series
: I see a lot of different series that are written in your publication. How about a series on increasing one's home value?
ANSWER: Thank you... we welcome the opportunity. With home values increasing as rapidly as they are, it makes more sense than ever to do all that you can. Quite often, it doesn’t take much expense to make a lot of difference. This month, we’ll talk about the roof.The roof of your home is its "Crowning Glory", but how often do we as homeowners look up? Your home's roof is the first line of defense in keeping the elements out. A common problem among both new and old roofs alike is damaged shingles. Wind, falling tree limbs, or just normal wear and tear can damage shingles. If your roof has Asphalt Shingles, as the majority of homes in our area do, take a moment and check out your roof for any possible damaged shingles. Replacing damaged shingles will prevent more expensive damage from occurring later, and you can Do-It-Yourself.Before You Begin:Because working conditions, safety issues, tools, equipment and skills of the individual can vary greatly. Before beginning any home Do-It-Yourself project, carefully review and understand the instructions or manuals that accompany products, tools and equipment to be used in a project. Make sure to check with the local building department to ensure compliance with codes and regulations related to your project. You should always consult a trained professional with any questions about your specific project's needs or safety concerns. Always know your own limitations and factor in your own good judgment and common sense. This project involves standing on your roof. If you are afraid of heights this might not be the best project for you to attempt. Always keep in mind that roof pitches are very deceiving. What appears to be a moderate slope and potentially easy to stand on might be very dangerous. It is essential that you have a good strong ladder. Do not attempt this project if you are unsure of your ladder's stability.Time Frame:Beginner - 2 hours Intermediate - 1 hour Advanced - 1/2 hourMaterials Needed: Roofing cement (in caulk tube) Galvanized roofing nails Shingles Tools:Ladder Small pry bar Putty knife Caulk gun Hammer Paper towel or ragsThe information provided here deals with replacing a single shingle. The steps are the same for replacing multiple shingles. In order to remove the damaged shingle, you will need to loosen the first row of good shingles above the damaged one(s). Use a pry bar or putty knife to gently pry away the adjacent shingles so that good shingles are separated from the damaged one. Once the surrounding shingles are completely separated, gently rock the damaged shingle back and forth to remove it. Continue this process until all the damaged shingles have been removed. Next, remove the existing nails. Lift the uppermost good shingle, and pry the nails out, being extremely careful not to damage surrounding shingles (a small block of wood under the pry bar will help). Try to remove as many nails as possible where you removed shingles. If there are nails that you simply cannot remove, drive them flush to the roof with a hammer. There should be roughly 4 nails for each shingle. Do not leave any nails raised above the sheathing. Prep the area for the new shingle by patching any holes or tears in the felt underlayment. One of the easiest ways to do this is to apply roofing cement using a caulk gun. Squeeze out some cement and spread it thinly and evenly over the damaged area with a putty knife. Cover the nails that were hammered flush with the roof sheathing and with the cement as well. Have some rags or paper towels available as the cement can be very messy! If you are installing multiple shingles, always start at the lowest shingle removed and work your way up. Align the first shingle with the existing shingles and attach it with 4 galvanized roofing nails (or with the number of nails the manufacturer recommends). Nails should be driven in ¾" above the shingle tabs. Continue applying shingles upwards and being very careful that the new shingles line up properly with the existing ones. Gently pry up the upper most existing shingle, being careful not to crack it and carefully slide the final shingles into place and nail them accordingly. It's always a good idea to put a small dab of roofing cement on the last shingle where the top good shingle will come into contact with the new shingle. Do not be concerned that your new shingles do not stick to each other. The shingles are manufactured with a roofing cement strip, which becomes extremely tacky with a few warm, sunny days and will ensure a tight seal against the elements.More on increasing home values next month.
