When you think about repairing your roof, trying to find the fastest and cheapest option is always a priority. Roof cement is perfect for minor, short-term repairs. It is made out of plasticizers, reinforcing fibers, mineral spirits, and asphalt. To save time and money you need to know how long your specific roof cement will take to dry.
Generally speaking, roof cement take 8-12 hours to dry and about 24 hours to fully cure. The time span difference depends on weather conditions. Dew and high humidity will cause the cement to take longer to dry. Hot temperatures with dry weather will allow the coating to dry at a much faster rate.
How Warm Does It Have to Be to Tar a Roof?
To tar a roof, the temperature needs to be between 40- and 70-degrees. While you can use the tar in lower temperatures, it won’t get fully dry until about 70-degrees. However, you also need to avoid applying tar in scorching temperatures, such as during the summer.
How Do You Know If Roof Cement is Dry?
You will know if roof cement is dry when it is completely solid and not wet. Touch the surface and see if it dents. If a dent is created, the roof cement is not dry. It should be dried within 24 hours, but in some instances, it might take longer. You can keep checking the surface until it’s dry.
How to Make Roofing Cement Dry Faster
There isn’t much you can do to speed up the drying process of the roofing cement. You need to make sure you apply it in the proper conditions and temperature. Applying to a dry roof in warm weather will be the best option to get the cement to dry the fastest.
Roofing Cement and Weather Conditions
Roofing cement is a material that is used on the roof to repair it. This means that it is designed to be used and stand up against multiple different weather conditions. It can easily adhere to wet surfaces, making it great for emergency repairs because you don’t need to wait for the roof to dry.
However, just because it will perform well under inclement weather conditions, that doesn’t mean it always should be. If it is not an emergency, it is always best to use roofing cement when the weather is dry. This will allow the cement plenty of time to dry and become sturdy.
Roofing cement will also be safer to use when it is dry. If the roof is wet, there is a much higher chance of slipping and falling and injuring yourself. If the repair can’t wait, it is best to hire a professional to repair it.
What is the Best Roofing Cement to Use?
There are so many types of roofing cement, but they all contain the same key components. The components include asphalt, plasticizers, reinforcing fibers, and mineral spirits. There are specific formulas designed for use in wet and dry situations and different colors to match your roof.
It is best to work with a roofing professional to determine what is best for your situation, but one brand stands out against others. The most recommended roof cement is the Henry brand.
Henry has gallons of roof cement available as well as in a caulk-like bottle. This makes it easy to cover large surfaces or small cracks. This brand stop leaks instantly, is flexible and adheres completely to wet surfaces.
When to Use Roofing Cement?
Certain times using roofing cement will be perfect. First, you can use roofing cement if there is a hole or a leak in your roof. It will work to patch small holes and cracks on just about any type of roofing material.
You can also use roofing cement to repair metal parts of your roof. This can be gutters and trim that might be starting to rust. Using roofing cement can slow down the rusting until you can replace the metal parts completely.
This product is also great for sealing the flashing around chimneys. This will prevent water from leaking into your fireplace when it rains. You can also repair cracks in a concrete roof, reattach shingles that become loose, or replace a single shingle.
Roofing cement is extremely versatile and can be used for multiple different reasons. It can be used as needed to fix minor problems and prevent further damage until you can replace what is damaged.
How to Use Roofing Cement
Using roofing cement is a pretty easy process. First, clean the areas you are going to work on. You will want to get rid of all the dirt, debris, and dust on your roof. If any of this is on the surface, the roof cement won’t stick to the roof properly.
It is also important to keep an eye on the weather conditions. The roof needs to be dry, and the weather needs to be warm but not too hot. If you have to repair a leak in the roof and the weather isn’t ideal, you will need roof cement to be used on wet surfaces.
With a putty knife, apply the roof cement into the hole or crack until it is filled. Use a thin coat that is about one-eighth of an inch thick. You will not need to thin out the material or smooth it unless it is a wet formula.
You can apply more than one layer if the hole is not completely covered the first time. You will need to wait for each layer to dry before adding another layer completely. This can take as little as twelve hours or as long as twenty-four hours.
Roof Cement is Not a Permanent Fix – When Should It Not Be Used?
It is easy to get wrapped up in the cheapest, quickest fix. It is also easy to forget that roofing cement isn’t a permanent fix, and it can end up causing more damage the longer it sits on your roof. If you don’t want to repair your roof again soon, you shouldn’t use roof cement.
It would help if you did not use roof cement as a permanent fix for a hole or leak, as an alternative to nails, as a replacement to the underlayment, or to avoid having to call a professional. Your roof needs every layer to be intact to work correctly and protect your home. If you use roof cement to disturb the roofing, you can experience more leaks, and it will cost more to fix.
Roofing cement is also not compatible with every type of material. For example, you can’t use it on PVC or EPDM. These materials can be easily damaged by the chemicals that make up the cement. EPDM is rubber and needs to be used with a silicone-based product.
It would help if you didn’t cover large areas of damage with roofing cement either. Consider this like patching drywall inside your home. Small holes that come from nails are easy to fix with spackling but will not effectively repair larger holes.
You also should avoid using roofing cement if you have an open insurance claim, such as if your roof was damaged by wind, heavy rain, or hail. If you repair the damage with roof cement, you can impact your ability to get insurance to cover the cost of repairs.
Removing Roofing Cement
Taking roofing cement off your roof is also pretty easy since the material isn’t permanent. Start by pulling away loose pieces of the cement. Using a wire brush, get rid of any debris left on the surface from those pieces.
You will need to use a razor or chisel to pry apart any remaining cement that is stuck to the surface of your roof. It is also a good idea to lift the shingles and scrape off any roof cement that might have gotten underneath when you were applying it.
Roof Cement Alternatives
If you have an area that needs more intensive repair, you will want to consider an alternative. Depending on the amount of damage, you might need to replace your roof entirely. You can also consider hiring a professional to do a full inspection and do any repairs properly.
Conclusion
If you need to fix a leak or a hole in your roof, using a cheap and quick option will be your first choice. Using roofing cement is ideal for short-term repairs and holding your roof over until you can repair it properly.
Roofing cement only needs a short time to dry, taking less than 24 hours. It isn’t best to use this product as a long-term solution or a solution for large areas that are damaged. You might need to replace your entire roof or hire a professional to do the repairs.