Imagine this: you’re sitting inside the comfort of your new home when raindrops begin to fall on your head.
This can be a problem after buying a home with a bad roof. What this means is that it’s now too late to worry about roof-leak prevention. You now have to concentrate on repairing your roof.
Otherwise, you’ll end up with more severe damage when a greater storm arrives.
Think about it. You may have only one leak right now, but what if your battens become damaged? What happens if your roof shingles and tiles fly off your roof? You may end up with entire roof portions missing. You end up with wet furniture.
Even worse, the water may seep into the electrical wiring, which becomes a fire hazard.
The worst-case scenarios are endless. Your roof’s timber structure can become damaged. This then jeopardizes your house’s structural integrity. You may end up renovating not just the roof but entire portions of your home.
This is why when you find problems with your roof–regardless of the severity of the damage–you must act quickly and be fully prepared for the next major storm.
You don’t always need a contractor if you want to repair your roof, though. You can opt for other solutions, especially if you want to manage your finances well. Budget is usually a cause of concern when dealing with home repairs.
Instead, you can take steps to take matters into your own hands.
There are two things that commonly cause leaks: damaged shingles and clogged gutters.
Here are the ways that you can solve roof issues and take matters into your hands:
Replacing Damaged Shingles
Sometimes, you may experience many different leaks but only one shingle on the roof has been damaged.
When even just one shingle is damaged, your roof’s impenetrability to water may become compromised. This is why immediately replacing damaged shingles is essential. One sign that a shingle needs to be replaced is when you notice black residue appearing inside the drains. This indicates that the shingle or tile is damaged and “bleeding,” meaning that water is seeping into parts that shouldn’t be wet.
How do you begin repairing a damaged shingle by yourself?
If a shingle is missing, then look around the area first. You’ll probably find it on the ground near your home. Next, go up to your roof. If the damage is near the end of the roof, then you can repair it without stepping onto the roof itself. Otherwise, you need a long enough ladder to reach the area.
If the damaged shingle that is still attached to the roof, then lift the edges of nearby shingles first. Then, pry out the nails holding the damaged shingle to the battens. This is when you can now slide out the broken shingle.
Afterward, scrape out any excess cement that still lies beneath it. You also need to take out all the protruding nails. This is because they can obstruct the way, preventing you from sliding the new shingle in.
Installing a new shingle is easy. You can use a sharp and durable knife to slightly round the corners of the replacement shingle. This will allow you to slide it in more easily. After it has been placed on the area, use roofing nails on all of the shingle’s corners so you can securely attach it to the roof. For more info, read here about the basic tools used by a roof repair specialist.
You should also be mindful of avoiding oxidation and weather damage. You can do this by covering the nail heads with cement or caulk. Afterward, spend some extra time smoothing down the overlapping edges of shingles so that your roof will look more visually pleasing.
Clearing Out Clogged Gutters
When most people say “roof,” they usually only think of the roof shingles. However, a roof is much more than what you see from above. It’s actually composed of numerous parts.
Roof gutters are one aspect of the roof that many people overlook. Their purpose is to direct rainfall away from the roof and into the drainage beneath the ground.
Most gutters are formed of sheet metal, which can then corrode over time. This is why after a few decades, gutters can rust, which then leads to holes.
Why do roof gutters corrode? The answer is because of debris.
For example, falling leaves can land on the roof and into the gutters. When they begin to rot, they can oxidize and lead to corrosion.
They can also clog the gutters, which means that the flow of water may become interrupted. For you to better understand, you can imagine that a little pond starts to form on top of your house. This then puts your roof’s waterproofing to the test.
The water that has accumulated on top of your house will eventually have to give way. This is why water will end up inside your home.
To prevent this from happening, grab a broom, go up to your roof, and begin clearing out your roof gutters. You’ll have to clean every inch of guttering around your roof. Make sure that the entire roof system is clear from debris.
You need to do this regularly if you want to protect your home.
Final Thoughts
Any form of roof damage is no joke. Even the smallest leak can lead to a complex set of problems. However, you don’t always need to wait for a professional to come over if you need your roof repaired.
You can take matters into your own hands. The two most common types of roof damage are related to missing shingles and clogged gutters. Now that you know how you can better maintain your roof, you can also take comfort in the fact that you can reduce the chances of sitting under a dripping roof.
