Let’s be honest, most people really don’t think about their roof until a problem arises. And by the time it’s become noticable, it’s often too late to turn around without costing you money. In our experience, we’ve found that the most common roof damage is water infiltration, which can lead to a host of other problems (like mold and rot). So what should you do when you start to notice that leak? Here are six steps towards turning it around:
1.) Inspect The Roof For Signs Of Damage
There are 4 major ways to know for sure if your roof is leaking:
- Dripping: As obvious as it sounds, the most obvious sign of a leaking roof is just that – leaks. If you’re noticing dripping water coming from above, then that is a surefire sign that something is wrong.
- Dark spots forming: If you notice dark spots, usually in the shape of puddles, appearing on your ceiling, then there’s definitely water coming from somewhere.
- Damaged shingles: This requires actually climbing on top of your roof and examining the shingles to see if any are suffering damage. If you notice curling among them especially, then that’s a large opening for water to get through.
- Mold or fungi: Look around the eaves of your home outside. If you notice the growth of mold or something similar, that is usually a sign of concentrated moisture, which in turn points to leaking
2.) Repair Damaged Shingles (If Any)
If your shingles are damaged, then it’s almost a guarantee that they are letting water in. You will want to inspect your rooftop, first seeing if any shingles are missing, and then seeing if any of them are curling or buckling. Even a little lifting of the shingles opens up your roof and ceiling to water damage. Moisture getting trapped beneath the shingles will either seep down or get trapped and turn into mold or rot.
Thankfully, repairing damaged shingles is not difficult at all.
First, you’ll need to grab a few things:
- Something to remove the damaged shingles
- A hammer
- A box of roofing nails (1¼”)
- Roofing sealant
- Shingles that match yours (if you can find them)
From there, follow these steps:
- Break any seals still attaching the shingle to the roof
- Remove the nails that are holding the shingle down
- Replace the old shingle with the new one
- Nail down and seal
This works for smaller jobs, but in cases where the shingle damage is extensive, it is much more cost-effective (and safer) to have a professional take the job. That way you can be absolutely certain that your roof is watertight and installed correctly.
3.) Seal Around Vents, Chimneys, And Other Openings
Sometimes water slips in through aging seals surrounding fixtures through the rooftop. Vents and chimneys are common, but a surprisingly common one are also skylights. Usually some sort of cracking will happen around the edges and rain or snow has a nasty habit of finding them.
Luckily, fixing the problem will only cost you the price of sealant. Simply clean the area around your vents, chimneys, skylights, and other areas where there might be opening. Make sure debris and dirt are cleared away, then use the sealant as normal.
4.) Install A New Roof If Necessary
In some cases, water damage can get so extensive that an entire roof overhaul will need to be made. While more uncommon, it does occasionally happen.
If you are worried that you might need an entirely new roof, err on the side of caution and contact a professional roofer. Get an inspection done so that you can know for sure if an overhaul is needed or if there is a simpler fix. If one is required, then it is best to let the professionals take care of it.
With Out There Roofing, you can get a free roof inspection along with an estimation of work required and costs. That way you can make whatever plans you need to in order to get your roof back to its former glory.
5.) Check Your Gutters
One of the most common sources of roof leakage is caused by overflowing gutters. While not something we always think about, preventing flooding in your gutters is a relatively simple task with big results, including deterring water infiltration.
If you notice that your gutters are clogging up, then cleaning them out is your next best step.
- First you’re going to want a sturdy ladder to stand on. Try and avoid using one that is too short, causing you to stretch. Make sure that you don’t set it up anywhere that it will be unstable either. Getting a better ladder for the job is a small price to pay for your safety.
- Make sure the attire is right for the job. For the sake of cleanliness, dress in a long sleeve shirt, jeans, and rubber gloves.
- Remove the buildup in your gutters with a gutter scoop or a small sandbox shovel. (There are places where you can even buy a gutter cleaning robot to do it for you!)
- After you’ve done an initial clean, use a garden hose to spray the inside of the gutters and wash out any remaining debris.
The upside to gutter cleaning is that you only have to do it 1-2 times per year and yet it comes with the added benefit of preventing leaking caused by excessive flooding.
Have A Leak? Out There Roofing Is There!
If you’ve noticed that your roof is leaking, now is the time to get it fixed before any more damage can happen. The longer you put it off, the more it’s going to cost you in time, effort, money, and headaches.
Here’s the upside: with Out There Roofing, you don’t have to do this yourself. Our team of tried-and-true repairmen have dealt with their fair share of roof leaks. We’re there to take care of the job so that you can have peace of mind.
Call us today to get a free estimate of what will need to be done and how much that will cost. We’ll send a professional over to examine your roof and perform a detailed report, so that you can know just what you’re up against. We’ll be right there to get started so that you can let go of the stress.
Get started today with Out There Roofing.
