Degraded Seams on Metal Roof | Ask The Experts Forum

Cindy Baker 8/7/2011	I am dealing with a seamed metal roof on a mobile home with a low pitch. I have gotten some leaks in the walls and upon inspecting the roof it seems that when originally constructed the gutter was attached directly to the metal roofing panels with an asphalt-type tape, and the tape has degraded (in some parts worse than others). I am thinking that if I could redo the seaming that would solve my leak problem. I would also like to coat the roof sometime this fall for aesthetic & preventative reasons, but I am hoping that fixing the seaming would fix the leaks and give me about 3 months before I would coat the roof. Do you have any advice for me? Thanks!	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/16307/find/
Todd Miller Isaiah Industries, Inc. 8/7/2011	Wow. This is really a unique situation. I would suggest contacting the manufacturer of the home for their input.	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/16308/find/
Eric Novotny An informed customer is the Best Customer! 8/8/2011	That sounds like an odd installation method to say the least. Do you have any pictures you could post up? One of the benefits to metal is the fact that it does not rely on a volatile component to make its water seal in most cases (the exception being sealant around flashing). Connecting the roof to gutters via a bitumen flashing is ill thought out to say the least.	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/16309/find/
Guest User 8/9/2011	Thanks for responding. I really appreciate it. I am out of town at the moment, so I can't take a second look right now, but now that you've commented on it, I think I was inaccurate in describing the gutters as being attached by the asphalt tape. I'm sure that they were attached with screws or some such, but the seal between the gutters and the roof was made with the asphalt material. When I get home I will climb up and take pictures. Having someone to discuss this with is really helpful for building my confidence so I can take care of this problem. Thanks!	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/16310/find/
Eric Novotny An informed customer is the Best Customer! 8/10/2011	Either scenario sounds incorrect to be honest. Using something like bitumen tape to seal the gutter to the roof is a bad idea regardless of application.	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/16311/find/
Cindy Baker 9/22/2011	I was stuck out of town for months, so it's taken me this long to get pictures to post. Also, I'm not sure why, but I was unable to log in as my original log in name, so I've signed up again with a different name After looking at the roof again when I took pictures, I feel kind of silly for thinking the gutter was attached with asphalt tape. It's obviously fastened with fasteners then the seam is sealed with some kind of caulk. The same is true of the seams between the roof panels. I guess I thought it was tape because it looked really straight in some places. So.... the situation is actually that the caulk between my seams has degraded. And I have a few questions: 1. Should I scrape off the old caulk before applying new 2. If I need to scrape it off, do I additionally need to use some kind of solvent to remove all residue from the old caulk 3. What kind of caulk is recommended for resealing Thanks for your time! Cindy	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/16312/find/
Eric Novotny An informed customer is the Best Customer! 9/25/2011	You will definitely want to scrape off the loose material and prep the surface with a some sort of solvent to remove any of the residual dirt, oil, or other contaminants for a proper bond to the new sealant.	Share Or copy this URL: https://www.metalroofing.com/spirit/comment/16313/find/

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