It is a good maintenance culture to try and inspect your roof at least once a year before the rainy season commences. This is recommended because a damaged and leaking roof might cause a lot of problems for you. Water leaking into your home will spoil a lot of things. As a result, taking the time and effort to fix any leaking roof will save you some money in the long term. Repairing a roof, however, is no child’s play, especially if you do not have the right experience. If this is the case, you will need the services of a professional to help you with the inspection and repair.
This, without a doubt, will translate to a lot of money. However, by engaging a professional for a total restoration, for instance, you will be able to prolong the life span of your roof. You should read the article found at this URL to learn more about what a roof restoration process entails. Another plus about roof restoration is that since it doesn’t involve totally taking down the roof, you will not be in need of any temporary home for yourself, family or if you are a business owner, you will not need to temporarily close shop. You can, however, save money by learning and understanding the simple basics of roof repair. We have compiled some techniques from the pros that can help do simple roof repair jobs yourself. The following tips will guide you in fixing a roof like a pro:
1. Consider the Age of the Material
There are various materials used in making a roof. These materials all come with age and lifespan. In time as the years go by, these materials will lose their integrity and strength gradually. As a result, in repairing your roof, the age of the material is essential. The roof is usually exposed to the worst elements and varying temperatures. Hot sun, frigid weather, etc, causes various roofing materials to lose their integrity in time. When the sunlight gets tough, it could melt the paint used as a coat. Materials like shingles tend to be affected easily, which you should consider replacing if old.
2. Check the Brick Chimneys
When looking at a brick chimney, they could appear strong. The reality, however, is that the brick joints lose their integrity easily, which allows water to leak inside. This is not surprising as the chimney has to survive extreme hot and cold temperatures, sunlight, and rainfall, etc. In time, the chimney gets compromised, which makes it ineffective. All you need to do is put a little pressure, and it will crash easily. There is also a possibility of the decay of the joints attached to the shingles from the chimney. There will be cracks that will allow water to enter the house. You can use a rubber patch to fix the cracks and close up the gap.
3. Are There Missing Shingles
Wind and heavy downpour at times can pull the shingles down. As a result, seeing any of the shingles on your lawn or backyard could point to potential water leakage in the roof. You need to replace the shingles, which is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is remove the broken shingle and add a new one. Put the new shingle down and link it to the next shingle. The way shingles are designed, they grip each other tightly using neighboring ones. In addition, it is a recommended idea to always have spare shingles at home as extra to repair any damaged ones.
4. Look For Holes In The roof
This is one of the most common roof damage issues many houses face. While you can easily detect big holes, it is not usually easy to detect the small ones. Yet, these small ones will be leaking water into the house. This is why you should form the habit of inspecting your roof closely. Many times, the eyes might not detect it until there’s a raindrop in the house. Missing shingles is one of the most common causes. When the downpour is heavy, it could cause a shift in the shingles, creating a hole in the roof. On detecting a hole in your roof, fix it by using cement or aligning the shingles with the neighboring one to close up the gap.
5. Clear Blocked Gutters
This is also one of the reasons you can have leaks in your house. It is always a good idea to clear out the gutter before the rainy season begins. Leaves, mud, tree branches, etc., can affect the pipe, causing a blockage. This might cause water to store on the roof. When the water gets too much, the roof can lose its integrity which could cause a leak. With a steady ladder and a hand glove, you can clear out the gutter. Get rid of all blockages in the pipe, which should allow the free flow of water.
Maintaining and having simple roof repair done on your house is not a hard job. These repair tips will go a long way in keeping your roof in good condition without costing you much. However, do not hesitate to call an expert if the job is beyond you. One thing you should know is that there are many roof repair experts who will get the job done easily and won’t cost you too much money.