If your roof is in need of repairs, a roofing contractor can help. Before climbing on your roof, you need to make sure you have the right ladder and safety equipment.
During a storm, wind can blow shingles off your roof. Replacing a damaged shingle or two is pretty simple if you have a little bit of DIY in you. First, determine the extent of the damage. If the shingle is simply cracked or torn, you don’t need to replace it. Apply a thick bead of roofing sealant (about $4 per 10-oz tube) over the crack and spread it with a putty knife. Weigh it down with a brick and leave it in place for 24 hours to ensure the sealant sets.
If the shingle is missing, loosen the nails holding it with a flat bar or pry bar. If the shingle is missing the entire top tab, you will have to remove the whole shingle and replace it with a new one. If the shingle is only partially missing, remove just the damaged portion and replace it with a shingle strip or tab.
To prevent further damage, re-seal the area of the roof where the shingle was removed. For example, if the nail hole is exposed, fill it with roof cement using a caulking gun. Also, re-caulk around chimney flashing, vent pipes, and any line of roof cement where two surfaces meet.
The lifespan of asphalt shingles is about 15 to 30 years. But if you are not diligent about routine roof maintenance, you might have to repair it more frequently.
When you notice that shingles are damaged, it may indicate that your roof is overdue for an inspection and cleaning. A damaged roof is a serious problem, especially since moisture can cause structural damage to the house and mold problems in the walls, ceilings, and furnishings.
If you have a roof that needs repairs, it’s best to hire a professional. A quality contractor will inspect the roof and provide you with a quote. It’s important to choose a reputable company with experience and good references. Also, don’t forget to get several estimates. By doing your research, you can make the right decision for your home. A high-quality roof can protect your home from the elements for years to come.
Leaking Gutters
Gutters serve a vital function by collecting and dispersing rainwater to prevent water damage to your roof, walls, windows, foundation, and more. But when your gutters themselves start leaking, it can lead to serious problems.
Gutter leaks often occur at joints and seams where the gutter material has come loose due to expansion and contraction or where there is a hole in the gutter material. Leaking gutters are easy to repair, but you need to have the damaged area cleaned and prepped for a sealant application. This includes scraping and scrubbing away any rust spots, spraying down the gutter with a water hose, and wire-brushing the area to ensure that the caulk or tape adheres well.
Depending on the extent of the gutter leak, you may be able to patch up the hole with a piece of metal roofing patch or a metal-repair tape designed specifically for use in gutters. For more severe holes, it may be necessary to replace the entire gutter section.
Another common cause of leaking gutters is standing water that clogs the gutter, leaving no place for the water to go other than down the side of the house. This can lead to rot and sagging of the gutters, as well as stains on siding or other exterior surfaces. This can be prevented by installing gutter aprons, which are L-shaped lengths of metal flashing that attach to the edge of the roof under the shingles and angle down over the inside of the gutter, eliminating any gaps between the wall and the gutter and channeling the water into the gutter.
It’s also important to check your gutter fasteners regularly, as they can become loose or even pull away from the house fascia for a variety of reasons. This is especially true for older homes with deteriorating gutter hangers, which are usually made of galvanized steel and can corrode over time. To help prevent gutter hanger failure, have your roofers inspect the hangers and re-tighten them as needed. In addition, improving attic insulation and ventilation to prevent ice dams will help reduce the risk of leaky gutters from snow-related ice buildup in the winter.
Damaged Ridge Caps
The ridge cap is an important part of your roof because it helps protect it from water leaks. However, because it is located at the top of your roof and cannot be easily viewed from ground level, it is also one of the first parts of your roof to show signs of deterioration or damage. Therefore, it is important to have it regularly inspected by a roofing professional.
The most common reason for damaged ridge caps is because they were not properly installed when your roof was built. If the ridge cap is not properly attached to the rest of the roof, it can be pulled loose by high winds or by debris that gets blown onto your roof during storms. This can cause water to leak through the roof, causing severe problems for your home or business.
Another common reason for a damaged ridge cap is that it was not made of the proper materials. Ridge caps should be made of a thicker material than the rest of your roof shingles in order to hold up better against heavy rains and winds. Therefore, it is important to have your roof inspected by a professional roofing contractor in order to make sure that your ridge cap is constructed of the right materials.
Ridge cap shingles can be easily repaired by a skilled DIYer or by hiring a roofing contractor to perform more extensive roof repairs. In addition, the direction in which you nail ridge cap shingles is also an important factor in how long they will last. Therefore, it is important to have your ridge shingles nailed in with a longer roofing nail than you would use for other shingle types.
When you are installing a new ridge cap, it is recommended that you apply roofing cement to the underside of the shingle before you nail it down in place. This will help to ensure that the ridge cap is securely fastened in place and will stay on your roof for a long time. In addition, it is a good idea to install your ridge cap shingles in a pattern that matches the existing shingles on your roof in order to keep the appearance of your home or business uniform.
Damaged Roof Tails
The most vulnerable part of any roof is the area around the ridges and hips. During high winds, these areas can be lifted and displaced from their original positions. This leaves gaps and holes that expose the underlayment to moisture and can significantly reduce the lifespan of your roof. These holes and cracks should be repaired as soon as possible to avoid costly damage to your interiors and the structure of the building envelope itself.
These gaps can be filled with plastic roofing cement mixtures. They won’t be as decorative as full replacements, but they will stop the water, wind, and cold from damaging your internal walls and furniture. If the damage is extensive, a roofer may need to replace the damaged tiles.
Hairline cracks in your roof are not only unsightly; they can also decrease the insulation value of your home and contribute to energy loss. These tiny cracks can be caused by a number of factors, including debris falling on the roof, freezing weather, the stresses of water or snow, and even human error such as people stepping on the tiles or spraying salt to try to melt ice.
When a tile is damaged, you can repair it by pushing up a piece of metal flashing and securing it with shingle cement. Then, take a cup of colored granules and sprinkle them over the repaired area to camouflage the repair.
