If water is leaking into a house through the ceiling during heavy rainstorms, then a common cause is a ripped or deteriorated roof pipe collar. Houston roofing companies see this problem frequently. If this is the case, it is possible to simply replace the roofing collar to stop the leaking, but this procedure must be done according to the proper steps.
The first step to replacing the pipe collar is to access the roof. Safety precautions for this include making sure the ladder is on even ground and that the top of the ladder extends three feet above the edge of the roof. It is always a good idea to tie the ladder onto one of the gutter spikes to prevent it from falling over.
Next, the shingles surrounding the roof pipe collar are pried up with a pry bar. This must be done with care, or else the shingles will be torn. The same shingles will be nailed back down later, so it is important that they remain intact. It's also important that the old nails be collected instead of left lying around on the roof, where they might become a safety hazard.
Then, the old pipe collar is removed.
Roofers from Houston Restoration Services of Houston TX would be happy to answer any question you have about storm damage or remodeling.
The nails holding it down are pried of and then it is simply raised up and over the vent pipe or stack. One of the most common places that a pipe collar will rip is where it meets the pipe. Sometimes, the entire rubber collar simply deteriorates over time from exposure to the elements.
Once the old pipe collar is out of the way, a roughly 16 x 16 inch square piece of self adhesive, weather proof underlayment is attached on to the roof deck. In the center, an X shape is cut beforehand for the pipe to go through. Once the underlayment is in place, a bead of roofing caulk is placed around where the pipe penetrates the underlayment. The underlayment is also trimmed at this point if necessary.
The new pipe collar is now slid down onto the roof. It is nailed down from top to bottom, and caulking is applied on the edges as well as on top of the nail heads. Finally, the shingles are nailed back down. New nails are used, and a bead of caulk is put under each course of shingles for additional adhesion. Sometimes, it is necessary to trim the shingles so that they fit around the new pipe collar. The flat surface of the pipe collar is tucked under the shingles on top and is laid flat on top of the shingles below.
