Besides keeping you safe from the rains, the roof is responsible for keeping the remaining of your house construction intact for a long time. With that being said, we can say that the roof is being the most important part of the house, that needs regular maintenance and repairs whenever there is a leak.
Since the roofing is constantly being exposed to outdoor conditions, some damage periodically happens. When something happens, you don’t need to replace your whole roof since that is a highly expensive project. All you need to do is repair the issue for now, and prolong the replacement process.
Many people want to fix all of the issues in their homes by themselves. If this is something that fulfills you, make sure that you get informed well before you begin working. That can speed up the process, and you will surely do a better job. However, if you are not familiar with repairs, and you don’t own any equipment, hiring professionals should be a better solution.
1. Locating the issue
The biggest problem in this job is finding where the roof has been damaged rather than the fix itself. Sometimes, there may be nothing visible, but the problem that is laying underneath can be big. For that reason, you will need to be extremely careful, and notice every detail that feels odd to you.
You should begin with regular inspection around the plays where you have noticed the leaks. Keep in mind that this place does not have to be precisely over that area, so keep on looking for a wider space.
In case you need more visibility, make sure you get a lamb or a battery with you. Look for any indentations, rotten places, or mold in the approximate area of the leak. If you have found the issue, the repair should be adequate.
For example, if there are indentations, you can add an additional layer of flashing there.
However, if there is mold or the construction of the roof began to rot, the fixes can be a little bit more complex, and that usually requires the help of professionals like mauiroofingcontractor.com that know exactly what to do for mold.
2. How to find unnoticeable leaks
Sometimes, the leaks cannot be spotted right away. Everything looks okay from the outside, but you still have a leak stain on your interior walls. For that reason, you will need someone to help you find the issue.
You should climb up on the roof, and run the hose up. Begin with watering the portions around the leakage marks. The other person should be inside and tell you whenever they notice water coming inside.
Keep in mind that this process can take a couple of hours, so be patient. In case you cannot find the exact place, try watering places around the leak marks. If you still cannot locate the issue, take away some of the tiles or flashing around the suspected area, and see the internals. This should bring you to the damaged part, and you should know the next steps.
3. Take care of the plumbing’s surrounding protective layer
The plumbing pieces are being surrounded by a protective layer that is supposed to increase the waterproofing feature. However, there may be mistakes done when they were installing the protective boot and they have forgotten to add a nail.
In addition, the rubber that fits around the pipe can be damaged by the sun, where you can notice all of the cracks and torn pieces. To fix this issue you will need a replacement boot and a couple of nails. Make sure to check if the replacement of the protective boot has fixed the issue.
4. Make sure the vents are being in a good shape
The ventilation points on the roof have been one of the spots where the waterproofing can go wrong. Depending on the material that your vents are being made of, they should be checked appropriately. They can be made completely from metal, a combination of plastic and metal, and completely plastic as well.
Make sure you do a good observation for cracks and seams that have been broken. If you notice such a problem, make sure you fix it as soon as possible. In addition, you should inspect the protective boot around the vents as well. If needed, you should perform a replacement.
5. Observe for flashing problems
Sometimes the problems can be caused by flashing that has been dispositioned. If they are not being flat on the next flashing or tile, the water cannot slide down, and it will enter the internal portions of the roof. This is usually one of the most common causes of leaks, and fixing it is easy.
All you will need to do is either improve the positioning or fasten it with nails. That way, you are assuring yourself that the problem has been solved.
While observing, make sure to be thorough enough, and notice if there are small punctuations on the roof. They are usually overseen because of their size, so the problems lay in them. all you will need to do is add a flashing piece, and you will be done.
6. Don’t rely on caulk solely
Many people think that the caulk will do everything in repairing their roof. Although it is a useful substance you should not rely on it completely, since it is still a temporary one. That is why you should prioritize fixing your roof mechanically, and add the caulk just for an additional security measure.
7. Insulate the area around the chimney
Depending on the type of your chimney, they can be prone to periodical damage. For example, if you have one made with bricks, the insulation material can ware of. That is where the water can get inside between the bricks. In addition, you should be checking the protective boot around the chimney as well.
Fixing this issue should be straightforward by covering the holes between the bricks and fixing the protective area around the chimney.
8. Consider hiring professionals
In case you are a person who does not want to repair things on their own without expertise, you should consider hiring professionals. These people have been working with fixing leaky roofs for a long time, so hiring them should be the most efficient way.
Keep in mind to fix your leaky roof as soon as you can, since the water can cause greater damages that can cost you a lot. By fixing a problem early, you increase the longevity of your house and reduce all of the stressful periods that can happen otherwise.
