Rain diverters for roofs are crucial because they direct water away from your house, protecting the siding and keeping your walls dry. Unfortunately, diverter installation is occasionally impossible, owing to a home’s architecture. So you’ll need something else to replace it, whether practical or ornamental.
What are Rain Diverters?
Rain diverters for roofs are metal strips tucked under the roof to send rainwater sideways. They are frequently put on roofs above entryways to direct water away from the area where people enter and exit. They are made in either a J or an L profile.
Despite their superiority over gutter replacements, rain diverters also have several disadvantages. Diverters especially give ice dams a footing in colder areas. They may also be ugly, particularly given how they tend to disrupt the uniformity of a roof’s look.
However, rain diverters might be a fantastic option if they don’t bother you. They’ll be able to provide your walls and siding with some protection, preventing the need for siding repair in the future.
The Purpose of Rain Diverter
- Moving Water Sideways
Rain diverters are straightforward, shaped strips of metal installed beneath the roof’s surface to move water in a different direction. Homes often place these over their entrance doors. When it rains, the diverters keep water from entering the house by diverting it away from the doorways.
- Rain Diverter Profiles
Pre-fabricated rain diverters are available in either the J-profile or the L-profile. Under the shingle course above, they are screwed down and sealed with sealant. The course slopes and allows proper drainage with the tapered top edge tucked into the ground. A thicker profile on each panel might stiffen it. You require a qualified roofer to assist you in installing them for this.
How to Install a Rain Diverter
If you’re unsure how to install a rain diverter, you should consider your available tools. The project’s complete set of tools is shown below:
- Flat pry bar
- Aviation snips
- Hammer
- Caulk gun
- Ladder
Your roof rain diverters, roofing nails, and silicone caulk are a few supplies you must have in addition to the necessary equipment.
- Install your ladder so you can access the roof.
- To remove obstructed roof shingles, use a flat pry bar.
- Lift the shingles, slide the diverter in, and secure with roofing nails, being sure to tuck each nail under a shingle.
- Apply a 1/4-inch thick bead of silicone caulk on the bottom of the drip edge.
- Use caulk to secure each shingle.
- Use a garden hose to spray water over the roof to evaluate the rain diverter’s performance.
Your project is complete if your roof diverters pass the test.
Tips On Installing Rain Diverter for Shingle Roof
You will need to loosen up a few shingles to install rain diverters for your roofs. You may gently and slightly lift them with a pry bar. Please take caution not to peel or tear any obstinate shingles. Engaging a specialist for this work is preferable because it can require some accuracy.
Additionally, the rain diverter for a flat roof needs to be fastened. The diverter’s back should be where the nails are placed so the shingles will cover the nail holes. Finally, experts advise coating the nails with liquid cement to stop leaks.
Bottom Line
After reading this manual, you should understand how to install rain diverters for roofs. Even though installing a rain diverter may appear complicated, you can complete the task in about 20 minutes if you take the proper procedures.
Gutter installation is crucial in addition to rain diverters, as was previously stated. With both, you can protect your property from freely falling rain.
