How To Repair A Metal Roof

If the roofer is carrying plastic cement, kick out the ladder and call 911. If all he has is a caulk gun only, shoot him.

Metal roofs turn water like composition roofs but with many less seams. The penetrations count on a sandwiched stack, not sheet on a shingle, with a pipe flashing between two pans. Sure you caulk it but this is just dressing. Gravity is the cure and cause. Water takes the path of least resistance because it cannot choose to do otherwise.

If you have a Gerard, Decra, or Stonehenge roof, the pipes must be disassembled prior to repairing. Counter flashing can be caulked but ordinary caulk is not to be used and this is a chimney repair and not a roof repair.

Roofers, or something akin to one, climb on "R" panel roofs, standing seam roofs, and all kinds of metal and put a little caulk and leave. I call this a seasonal repair. Anybody can do this just like anyone can say he is a roofer.

Imagine an envelope, and please use the "on" version of pronunciation. (The ensemble of entrepreneurs at the encore performance at the enclave opened the envelope. See what I mean. No special dispensation for any words we stole from the French when they came in 1066.) Back to the envelope. The glue is in a very small but effective portion placed between the envelope and the flap. This inter-ply adhesive is better than a topical application on top of both pieces of paper. It is easier to tear the paper that open a properly adhered seam whether it is a roof or an envelope.
The caulk goes between the layers it is intending to fuse. Sometimes it is applied from outside but it must be worked into the seam for it to be effective.

Dallas metal roof jobs have suffered greatly from bad installations. For years people thought they bought permanent roofs and later thought leaks we part of the deal. Metal roofs shouldn't leak.

The exceptions are the flue pipes that need to be caulked whenever the furnace or hot water tanks are replaced and the chimney. The roof is going up and down with wind, snow and rain weight, ground movement, and natural settling. Provisions can be made on the chimney but they should be inspected at least ever five to seven years due to the extremely poor construction methods used by builders today.
We just saw a new low in Arlington. The void between the flue and exterior brick of the chimney was nearly hollow, with loose brick stacked without mortar around the flue to keep the heat from attacking everything. But on either side of the flue was a two foot by two foot hole or void. Across these two chasms on either side of the flue the masons place Temple board, a black surfaced 1/2" insulation board with no structural strength. I guess that was all they had. Then they slopped mortar on it and left. I would have bet it would have collapsed. I'll attach pictures soon.

Dallas Roof
www.jonwrightroofing.com