Your roof can be exposed to many issues over the years or after a powerful storm. However, some roof repairs aren’t hard to conduct independently if you are used to them. However, generally, you should always contact a roofing contractor to take care of it.
According to Clear Vision Construction, LLC, you can void your roof warranty if you damage it while trying to fix it. Your warranty is there for a reason, and you should use it when appropriate. Roof repairs should only be conducted by professionals to avoid injuries and further damage to your roof.
Yet, there are some things that you can do if you are handy, aren’t afraid of heights, and take responsibility for what might happen. With that being said, here are 10 roof repair tips:
Match Your Shingles
If you know how to replace shingles and want to replace one or two damaged ones, always be sure to get the proper shingles to match your existing ones. You must match the colors appropriately because different ones will stand out and make your roof look goofy. Try to find the same colored shingles, brand, and product as the ones on your roof.
Wear the Proper Clothes
If you want to conduct roof repairs on your own, it is imperative that you wear the proper attire for your safety and not to impress your neighbors with your physique. Roofs aren’t safe, and you should wear a pair of shoes built for gripping and good traction, long-sleeved shirts, and long heavy-fabric pants.
Act on Roof Leaks Right Away
When it comes to roof leaks, you should contact a professional roofing technician right away because this isn’t an issue you can solve on your own. However, you can locate those leaks by regularly inspecting your roof and attic.
Keep in mind that roof leaks often indicate big problems and can lead to even bigger ones, such as rotting wood, mold, mildew, and electrical or foundation issues, among other things.
Accept a Replacement Over a Repair
Although some roof repairs are minor and you can solve them on your own, some of them aren’t and require professional help, and this is where you should come to terms with the situation. Major repairs are often a solution to outstanding problems, yet in certain cases, a roof replacement is needed, especially if your roof is old.
Call a Professional When Needed
When you are dealing with many missing shingles, roof leaks, curled shingles, attic insulation problems, granule loss, or anything that isn’t minor, do not hesitate to call in a professional roofer. Roof problems often come with unforeseen complications that cannot be solved in a DIY fashion.
Flatten Curling Shingles
When shingles deteriorate, they curl. If you have only a couple of curled shingles, you can fix them through the use of roofing cement tar and flattening them. This will prevent water from getting inside your roof.
Fix Your Gutters
Many water-related issues to your roof are coming from your gutters because they cannot function appropriately in transporting the water away from the roof. To solve this, you should regularly clean your gutters of debris, such as leaves.
Don’t Leave Nailheads Exposed
If you use nails on your roof for any repair, you should secure them and make sure they aren’t exposed. Otherwise, they will fall out, and water can get inside your roof through those nail holes. Cover the nails with caulk or roof sealant.
Perform Regular Maintenance
Most major roof repairs can be avoided by performing regular maintenance by yourself or contacting a professional. Sometimes, all you have to do is check up on your roof for holes, leakages, debris accumulation, missing shingles, or the presence of granules in your yard.
If you have plenty of leaves on your roof, you should remove them with a broom immediately because they can accumulate water and damage your roof. If you observe moss, algae, or lichens on your roof, you should remove them as well because they can extend rapidly and damage your roof even further.
Secure the Flashing
If you observe any gaps in your flashing while you inspect your roof, you have to secure it back with nails and roof cement because otherwise, you will deal with a leakage sooner or later. As mentioned above, ensure the nail heads aren’t exposed and tightly secure them.
Let’s say you had to deal with a storm recently and observed your caulking has cracks. Any fractured caulk needs replacement right away, but you can also use roof cement on small cracks. If you have any issues around your vents, seal them around to make them watertight.
