How to Repair Your Roof in 5 Easy Steps
Some people will tell you that it’s better to leave your roof repairs to professionals. However, if you have a toolbox nearby and you’re pretty handy with it, you might as well try and repair it yourself. Still, it depends on the extent of the damage.
No matter what you do, always remember that your roof needs constantly love. Each summer, prior to the rainy season, make sure to climb the roof, check the shingles, gutters, chimney and other parts of it. There is no need to wait for first leaks to appear as they will sooner than later. Instead, it is much better to be proactive and address these issues before they happen.
Here are 5 pro tips coming from the Vancouver roofing experts at Do It Right Roofing that will help you do just that!
- Locating the source
Needless to say, you always have to start by locating the source of the issue. In most cases, all you will have to do is stand beneath the place from which the leak is coming. Sometimes though, you will have to get on the roof and find it yourself. Roof leakage always causes stains on the ceiling. Still, these stains may not appear instantly which is why you need to check your roof every year. It is common for leaks to appear in the places where caulking and flashing has deteriorated. Sometimes, the cause for it will be shingles. Make sure to check whether or not some shingles have fallen off to the ground and whether there is some damage around the chimney.
- Taking care of shingles
In most cases, the shingles are the main culprit behind any roof issues. Oftentimes the whole area will be compromised while in rare occasions, it may just be a few shingles. No matter what, there are several ways to approach it. Check shingles whether they’re stable and if they’re moving. If they are, make sure to remove them. Discoloration can be another indication there is an issue. If they are curled, you are able to flatten them by using a coat of asphalt roofing cement or you can use a strong adhesive. Make sure to hold them as you don’t want to flip them and move them from their place.
- Damage to shingles
If you can’t simply repair the shingles, you will have to replace them. Keep in mind that you will have to find a suitable replacement both in color and design as you don’t want your roof to look bad. When removing them, make sure to raise the edges of all the shingles around the damaged one. Remove their nails as well. After that, shingle will easily slide out. All you have to do is get your newly purchased item and put it in place of the previous one. Then, you can use a nail gun to attach it. Each side of the shingle should be nailed so it doesn’t move around.
- Fixing chimneys and dormers
Besides shingles, you might also have issues with chimney. Oftentimes, the issue will be with flashing that is surrounding it but your chimney may also show signs of deterioration as well. By using a caulking gun and cement, you can easily eliminate the leaks that are affecting the surrounding area.
- Roof removal
In the worst cases scenario, you will have to remove the whole roof. While it’s possible to do it yourself, this is usually a very extensive process. My recommendation is to hire a professional company for this endeavor. One of the main reasons for this is because they will give you a guarantee which is something you cannot give yourself. Unlike DIY projects, professionals will make sure that everything is in place for a longer period of time and that you don’t have to make any adjustments going forward. If you do decide to replace the whole roof, at least call a few friends and try to get them onboard. The process will take some time so better have more hands doing the job.
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