The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
If the shingles are old and brittle, however, lifting them may break and split the material. Do the job on a warm day when the sun is out, and start about midaftemoon when the shingles are warmest and most flexible. After the cement is applied, press down firmly on the shingle to spread the asphaltum.
The Johns-Manville type of Seal-O-Matic shingles, with the built-in strip of adhesive on the underside of the butt end, will eloquently prove their worth in hurricane-force winds. By sealing themselves together, one layer to the next, they won't be blown off the roof; many and many a record is available where hurricanes and tornadoes have caused serious damage to a house, but this type of shingle kept the roof intact.
If your roof is made of roofing paper covered with asphaltum and gravel, you should check on whether it is split or cracked. These spots should be well cleared of gravel, tarred generously, and then new gravel spread over them again. The gravel serves both as a weight and as a protection against the sun, so "bald" areas should be regraveled.
Facings and edgings are the most vulnerable spots on a tar and gravel roof. Be sure all facings are securely nailed down, and that edgings are not loose or gaping. An extra nail every few feet may make the difference between having the edging stay or loosening it and allowing the wind to whip under the roofing paper—and losing the roof.
Chimneys also suffer in high winds and torrential rains. Flashing may be rusty or corroded and may require a good coating of asphaltum cement to make them watertight. A great deal of water, however, may be absorbed by the bricks themselves. Because of the deposit from fumes and soot on the inside of the chimney, this moisture can become stained and cause ugly, hard-to-remove spots on interior walls.
Seal the chimney with one of the clear waterproof masonry sealers (see section on Waterproofing). A gallon of the sealer may cover as much as 400 square feet of masonry. The bricks must be cleaned, preferably with a wire brush. Then apply two coats of the clear seal. The best time to do the job is in the summertime, when there is no moisture in the brick— and not for at least two weeks after the last rain.
Gutters and downspouts are liable to clog and overflow, often under the eaves and into the attic space. Screen covers for the gutters and basket covers for the downspout openings are the best protection against back-up water (see section on Gutters and Downspouts).
