Should I Caulk a Roof Pitch?

Caulking During Construction

• Caulking is a major part of the process of installing a new roof. Caulk, which resists moisture and serves as an adhesive, is especially useful around the flashing that covers corners and joints around the edge of a roof's pitch. Individual sheets of metal or synthetic flashing are caulked to one another and to other roof layers to hide seams and conceal gaps that would otherwise allow water into the roof's lower layers and, eventually, the home's attic.

Caulking Repairs

• Routine roof pitch inspections can reveal the need for additional caulking. Any time you remove or add shingles on the pitch, you can caulk around the damaged area to create watertight seals. In many roofs, old caulk will dry out over time and become brittle. Peeling it away and applying new caulk increases the roof's durability and extends its life. New flashing and gutters around the pitch present additional sites that require caulking to control the flow of water down the pitch's slope and into the drainage system.

Products

• You should only caulk the pitch of your roof if you have the right type of product. Caulk along a roof's pitch may be exposed to the sun, rain, snow and extreme temperature variations. This means you need a caulk that is specifically formulated for outdoor use. Many caulk manufacturers offer products designed for roofs. These caulks use natural rubber, naphtha, butyl and polyurethane compounds. Different caulk densities are appropriate for different uses, with thicker formulations able to fill gaps as wide as 1/4 inch.

Considerations

• Applying caulk to your roof's pitch is as simple as dispensing the caulk from a tube or gun directly onto the area you want to seal. However, working on the pitch of your roof is not so simple. If you have a roof with a steep pitch, you may need to work from a ladder rather than walking on the roof itself. In some cases, you won't be safe unless you have a harness and other roof safety gear. If your roof's pitch is inaccessible, hire a professional to perform inspections and apply caulk as necessary.