DIY Roof Repair

Nothing is more stressful to a homeowner than noticing a leaking roof. A leaking roof can cause a lot of damage to your house and lower its value. However, not all leaking roofs require experts to fix. Most of the cases you can take a DIY approach, and within a short time, your roof will be restored, and all your worries will dissipate.

Why Does A Roof Leak Occur?

A roof leak occurs whenever a roof that is designed to keep water out fails to do the same and instead lets the water in. Usually, the leaks vary; they may be slow or fast, big or small or a mixture of any of these.

Roofs can leak because of several reasons such as architectural design, age or the materials used. Usually, the vents, flashing or a skylight are some of the problematic areas that make a roof to leak due to the materials used.

If you notice that your roof is leaking, you need to take action immediately to avoid further deterioration of your house. If the roof leak is too big give us a call and give you a free consultation.

How Can I Establish The Location Of The Roof Leak?

If your house is leaking, you’ll find it hard to determine where the roof leak is located. Often, the water dripping down from your house ceiling is not a good indicator of where the leak is. There is a very high chance that though water is leaking from a particular point of your ceiling, the real source of the leak is far away.

When you are trying to establish the source of the leakage, begin by looking at the roof uphill from the strains. Specifically look at the roof penetrations, which are typically the primary sources of roof leakages. Focus on chimneys, dormers, roof vents and any plumbing spot. Ordinarily, even in older roofs, it’s scarce to find leaks in open areas of uninterrupted shingles.

For homeowners with attic access, you can use it to go up and track the leak using a flashlight. You will find evidence in the form of mould and water stains that will help you locate the source of the leak.

If you don’t have attic access, use a ladder or with the help of binoculars, try to see if there are any cracked, curled or missing shingles. Note that leaks can also be found at points where shingles butt, where flashing and caulking have deteriorated, or through end caps and tent-shaped shingles

What Should I Do If My Roof Is Leaking?

If you notice that your roof is leaking, you need to take action immediately to avoid further deterioration of your house.

If you see that the shingles have curled, flatten and secure them using adhesive compounds in a caulk gun or, using a brush, apply a coat of asphalt roofing cement. Ensure that you hold the shingle edges and corners when applying adhesive to impede them from lifting. You can read more about roof leaks here.

If you find that the shingles are damaged, missing or rotten, raise the edges and, using a pry bar or hammer, remove the nails. The shingles will automatically slide out so that you can now slide in the new shingles and align them with each other. When aligned, fasten the shingles with galvanized roofing nails on each corner of the shingle.

As mentioned, sometimes the leaks could be emanating from the penetrations such as chimneys. If that is the case, use a caulking gun and roofing cement to reseal the joints of the metal flashing.

Will My Roof Need To Be Replaced?

Not all leaking roofs need replacement. Sometimes, what may appear as a massive leak may only require minimal external roof repair. It’s not possible to tell whether a leaking roof requires a replacement or repairs unless you get a professional to assess the details.

Well, sometimes, you may decide to do so anyway with the entire roof and have a new roof replacement. Replacing a roof is a preserve of professionals because it requires skill and expertise. However, you can ease the process by removing the roof shingles yourself. You can then consult roofing professionals on the roof you want and agree on how you want it done.

As roofing professionals, we are always ready to offer you free quotes. Contact us so that we can help you with roof related issues especially with roof leak repairs.