How to Apply Roofing Tar

Roofing is a skill that can takes years to master depending on what you want to do. Tarring a roof is a project that can easily be managed by the novice. Knowing how to tar a roof can go a long way to saving you a lot of time, money and headaches. Tarring a roof is done to protect it from the elements. It is usually applied to a flat roof because, unlike a slanted roof, the flat roof is exposed to all of the elements. The sun beats down on it for hours a day and rain can collect and hang around for weeks at a time because it does not drain off like it would on a slanted roof. You can apply roofing tar to a slanted roof if you want but there typically is not much need for it. Feel free to consult with a roofing specialist about your options. The following article will help you understand how to apply tar to your roof.

Step 1: Picking the Best Time to Tar

Once you decide when you want to tar the roof the actual time it takes to tar is not long at all. Choose a time of year where you are not expecting rain or snow for a number of days as the tar needs time to set and cure in order to be effective protection against those very same elements. Tar can be applied to a roof in temperatures as low as 40 degrees F. The tar, however, will not properly seal until the temperature is at least 70 degrees F. You should also not apply the tar when it is overly hot as the high temperature can cause the tar to drip.

Step 2: Purchasing the Tar

When you go to the home supply store; make sure you ask a lot of questions about the kinds of tar available. Measure the dimensions of your roof and purchase enough tar to cover that area plus a few feet.

Step 3: Where to Begin Tarring

The important thing about tarring a roof is to not paint yourself into a corner. Planning is as important as doing the job. Decide where you want to start your job. Always begin this roofing job in a corner and set your ladder in the corner furthest away from your start point. This is how you can cover the roof in tar while moving away from it. You will find your escape route is there for you.

Step 4: Tarring the Roof

Begin your tarring in the corner of the roof you chose to start in. Keep your tar bucket close to you and use the roller to begin applying it to the roof. Use small amounts of tar and apply it with the roller in short and smooth strokes. As you apply the tar you move back taking the bucket with you. Continue until the entire roof is covered and you are ending in the corner where your ladder is.