Repairing a Valley on a Shingle Roof
Valleys on between two slanted roofs causes leaks very often
We have been in the roofing business for 25 years. We may not know how to spell, but roofing we know best.
Most roofers know how to install shingles, but many have no clue how to do a valley. The materials they use in valleys are inferior. We use rubber roof membranes. Because of our experience in flat roofs we use better materials and techniques.
In the following pictures, we show the process of repairing a valley area. When a valley is flat like this one in the image, it is more problematic. Water like to follow the valley to the edge and flow back under the valley.
Valley areas are prone to leak due to the lack of using proper materials. Most roofers that do shingles will use a heavy base paper instead of a rubber membrane.
Most shingle installers will use a thick 30 lb paper as a base for the valley. Most roofers that install shingles will not have rubber membranes with them to do such areas. Rubber membranes are on flat roofs only.
When workers have to get on a roof to do some work like installing cables or antennas, they will very likely walk in the valley. That’s when a valley gets damaged.
When two panels meet to form a valley, care must be taken to secure the area with material that can support a person weight when stepped on.
Some areas of birds made nests. Just not suitable for the roof.
The best path on the steep roof to the top is the valley area. Workers will use that to step up and therefore must be tougher material than the rest of the roof.
When workers walk on a roof, they always find the most natural way up or area to secure themselves. A valley is a perfect place for that.
We had to remove shingles to make way for a broader rubber roof membrane. The wider membrane prevents leaks when ice builds up. Has to be high enough to stop water pouring in.
Modified Bitumen Membrane is the best rubber to use for a roof valley. The rubber membrane is tough enough to withstand foot traffic.
A metal flashing was installed to give the rubber support for when people walk on the roof this will be the place where they step. A metal lining under the membrane secures that the valley will never puncture again.
The small areas are always tricky to work on and are still a place to rest also when working on a roof. Whenever people have to walk on a steep shingle roof, they will always look for the valley area. That is the easiest way up and down a steep roof.
A metal liner was installed to support the rubber membrane. Roof repairs are time-consuming, The best is to do right from the start.
We found a rubber membrane that matched the color of the shingles. Making a roof repair, you need the proper material for every repair.
The valley was finally done and well repaired. Repairing a roof leak takes experience. If the installer had experience, then this roof repair would not have been necessary. The result is everything blends in, and no one can tell a repair was done.
The roof repair was so well done that you could hardly see what was done. Although nobody will see this roof repair up high on a roof, we still take pride in doing an excellent job.