No one wants to deal with roof repairs. It is an expensive and time-consuming problem that can cause havoc in your house, especially if it leads to internal water damage. If you want to prevent roof repairs, check out the quick facts below. We will be introducing some ways to find damage, what to look for, and how to apply quick but satisfactory fixes to help you keep your roof functioning optimally.
Inspect For Wear & Tear Regularly
Roof wear and tear can be anything from missing granules, moss growth on the shingles, mold under the shingles, cracks, rips, and punctures from flying debris. Since the roof is the most exposed portion of your home, it will receive damage over the years. Because of this, you should be checking and maintaining your roof at least twice a year—once in the spring and again in autumn. If you find any serious damage, be sure to call a professional roofer to help mend the problem.
Finding Difficult Leaks
Although it doesn’t sound like the most rational of ideas, you might need to employ the use of a garden hose to find a difficult crack. Only wash the roof briefly to see where the water is going. Watch how it soaks into the shingles. Someone else should be inside your house to see where the dripping is coming from. Sometimes you will have to be patient, depending on where the crack is and where the water is showing up inside your house.
Seal Cracks Correctly
Did you find a clean crack? You don’t have to automatically replace the shingle if the tear is slim and clean. Grab some roof sealant and apply it to the inside of the crack with a caulking gun. Press the shingle down and together to form the bond between both sides of the tear. Once the shingle is staying down, you can add another bead to the sealant, over the crack. Use a knife to smooth the bead.
What To Do For Blisters
Blisters happen when air and water collect under the shingles. You will need to cut the blister open carefully. Never cut into the substrate or fiberboard that is underneath the shingles. If the blister releases any water, you will need to wait for the surrounding area to dry. This may take 12-24 hours. Once the blister has tried, you can fill it in with plastic roof cement.
Use Step Flashing Wisely
If you find that there is damage around places where there are intersects, you can use step flashing. Pieces of flashing are used to shuttle water downhill. Check to make sure the flashing isn’t rusting through or has come loose, because this will let water trickle down behind the pieces and into deeper sections of the roof. Replace rusted flashing as soon as you can. You may have to pry off shingles to do this.
With all this said, if you have a leaky roof and expect extensive damage, you can skip these tips and go right to contacting a professional roofing contractor to help. Use this tips to repair tiny damages whenever you are checking your roof for problems. These quick fixes will keep your roof stronger for longer.
0 Comments