Sometimes it feels easier just to “live with” a roofing problem needing to be done. But that can eventually lead to bigger, and more expensive, problems later on. If you have shingles that are needing to be replaced or a small leak coming into your home, you might be able to fix them yourself with some simple DIY techniques.
What is a home without a working roof? If you find yourself dealing with missing or damaged shingles, or minor leaks, then you might just be able to fix them yourself. In our experience, we’ve found that two common problems people run into, that they can often fix themselves are minor shingle replacement as well as minor leaks.
Here we’ve provided some solutions to those problems that you can easily do for yourself:
Roof Shingle Replacement
When wind, hail, or other inclement weather hits, often your shingles will take the beating. It’s not uncommon, especially when one of Utah’s popular windstorms come through the valley, for shingles to be completely torn off.
Thankfully, however, replacing small patches is not overly difficult. In the case of a major job, where a shingle overhaul might be necessary, it is often best to call in professional roofers to invest the time and effort so that you aren’t taken away from other important things in your life.
To replace shingles, there are a few things you will need:
- Something to remove shingles (if needed)
- Hammer
- Roofing nails (1¼”)
- Roofing sealant
- Shingles that matches yours (if you can find them)
Replacing a shingle can be done in four easy steps:
- If there is still a seal attached to the shingle, break it
- Remove the nails that are holding the shingle down, then you can remove it
- Set down the new shingle in its place
- Nail down and seal
If you don’t feel like you have the time, or else you don’t want to take the risk of having it not work, then by all means contact a professional roofer to take care of the job for you.
Common Causes And Solutions For Leaking Roofs
Minor leaking can be fixed relatively inexpensively, if costing anything at all. But for being easier to prevent, leaks can cause major damage if left neglected. Not only would you be risking water damage, but also potentially mold, ruined furniture, or more. The longer it goes unrepaired, the more expensive it could become, so the sooner you can respond (or better still, prepare) the better.
Roof leaks can be caused for a number of reasons, but here are a few of the more common reasons we’ve come across.
Clogged Gutters
Let’s be honest, gutters are one of the unsung heroes of keeping your house protected against water damage. But to do their job properly, they require some maintenance. As fall comes around and the trees shed their leaves, a fair number of those are bound to end up in your rain gutters. From there, they’ll inevitably dam up and block rain from being able to drain.
Eventually, that water buildup begins to creep into your home, which can potentially cause damage as extensive as it could be expensive.
Thankfully, defense is the best offense and you can be proactive about protecting your home and spare yourself lots of work and money later on. Simply grab a ladder and some gloves and begin clearing away the debris.
(Please be careful on that ladder. Never strain to reach when you can simply move it to the side.)
Skylight Leaks
Skylights are awesome. Natural light is less of a strain on the eyes and head, as well as giving you a good source of vitamin D.
But while skylights are great at letting in light, they also can let in other elements as well. If you have a skylight, then there is the chance that water can leak into your home by getting trapped and then seeping through the seams.
- Make a habit of checking your skylights to make sure they’re not trapping water.
- If there is a crack, then clean the area and then patch with silicon sealant. The majority of the time that will provide protection against leaking.
Ice Dams
These are formed when ice melts then refreezes on a roof, it will prevent snow from escaping from your rooftop. Aside from water damage, this can also create enough weight to cause damage to your rooftop.
The two best solutions are either:
- Use a roof rake to remove snow from your eaves. That will clear the buildup and reduce
- For a more effortless solution, consider installing a roof heat cable. This will preemptively keep ice from forming before it even has a chance to arrive.
Don’t Want The DIY? Out There Roofing Has Your Back
Sometimes DIY is not for everybody, and that’s totally all right. Whatever reason you might not want to undertake a roofing project for yourself, Out There Roofing is ready and prepared to step in and take care of the job for you. We do everything from common shingle replacement to full-on roofing overhaul, so that whatever your needs, we can best help you.
We go so far as to do a free consultation, inspecting your roof and giving you an estimate of potential costs, time required, and repairs needed so that you can be in the know before we even get started.
To give yourself a free bid, call us at (435) 344-4320 or email us at outthereroofing@gmail.com. We’d love to answer any questions that you may have in order to give you a hassle-free experience.
Go with Out There Roofing today and skip the DIY. We’re there to make sure that the roof over your head is there for a long time to come.
