Your roof is a shield that protects everything inside your home from the elements. However, it can be damaged by a variety of factors.
While saving money by attempting roof repair yourself might be tempting, this could void your insurance coverage. It also could lead to costly mistakes and a longer repair wait time. Visit http://www.fresnoroofingexperts.com/ to learn more.
When shingles or tiles are damaged, they can expose the roof structure to moisture. This can lead to rot, structural damage, and mold growth. Water leaks can also reach ceilings and walls, causing stains or watermarks. It’s important to repair these issues before they get worse.
If you have an asphalt shingle roof, it’s possible to glue and seal damaged shingles. However, this is only effective when the surrounding shingles are still in good condition. Otherwise, it’s best to remove all damaged shingles and re-roof the home.
Start by inspecting the area where the shingles are damaged. If a large section is missing, you’ll want to replace this shingle or tile. You can find replacement shingles at most home improvement stores. Look for shingles that match the texture, color, and design of your existing shingles.
To make the repair, first lift the course of shingles directly above the damaged one using a catspaw pry bar or utility knife. Then, slide the pry bar underneath the damaged shingle and loosen the roofing nails. Pull up the shingle and remove the nails, then cut around each nail head with a utility knife to prevent them from rusting. Afterwards, apply asphalt roofing cement to the underside of the replacement shingle. Then, place the new shingle in place and nail it down with roofing nails.
Missing shingles can be more difficult to repair. Inspect the surrounding shingles to see if any are also damaged or need to be replaced. If the surrounding shingles are old, brittle, and dry, it’s best to remove these shingles and re-roof your home.
If you only have a few missing shingles, you can try to patch them with tar. This isn’t a long-term solution, though. It’s a better idea to replace these shingles or tiles with new ones.
Damaged Flashing
Roof flashing is a thin strip of metal or rubber used to prevent leaks around chimneys, vents, skylights and other roof penetrations. It can be damaged by several factors, including corrosion, weather damage, and improper installation. If left untreated, flashing can eventually crack or even fall off. Leaking caused by flashing is one of the most common causes of home roof leaks, so it is important to recognize and repair this type of damage as soon as possible.
Some of the most obvious signs that flashing has been damaged include water stains on ceilings and walls, especially during periods of rain. If you notice any of these signs, it is time to call a roofing professional to inspect the flashing and make necessary repairs.
Leaking flashing is not only a major problem for the integrity of your roof, but it can also lead to other issues throughout your home. Water leaking into attic spaces, for example, can cause wood rot that can eventually weaken the structural framework of the house. It can also be a serious health hazard, causing mold growth and allowing toxic substances to enter the living space.
Flashing failure is often the result of the freeze-thaw cycle your home experiences each winter. As the ice in your gutters melts, it can expand and force its way through any gaps or cracks in the flashing. This is why it is so important to have your gutters and flashing inspected after every severe storm.
Fortunately, flashing is relatively easy to repair if you spot problems early on. If you catch a small hole or corroded spot in your flashing before it becomes too big, you can make a temporary patch with some caulk or roof cement and get the issue under control.
In more severe cases, it may be necessary to remove and replace the entire piece of flashing. This is a more involved job, and it will require the removal of some roof shingles. However, this is a better option than trying to repair the flashing while it is still in place and causing more damage to your roof and your home.
Sagging Roof
A sagging roof isn’t just unsightly; it can be dangerous and compromise the structural integrity of your home. If you suspect that your roof is sagging, it’s important to have it inspected by an experienced professional. This is especially true if the sagging is localized and concentrated in one part of the roof, as it could indicate structural problems that need to be addressed immediately.
Generally, sagging is the result of an insufficient amount of support for the weight of your roof. This can happen for a number of reasons, including damage to the structure or a lack of support from underlying framing. In most cases, a sagging roof will be able to be fixed by adding support beams or jacking up the loose rafters. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to replace the joists or trusses.
In a stick frame (non-truss) sloped roof, the most common cause of sagging is a weak or damaged rafter or truss. The most effective way to fix this issue is to jack up the sagging area of the roof and add angled braces to shore it up. This should be done with a great deal of care, as doing so improperly can lead to additional damage and serious safety hazards.
For a sagging roof with a more uniform appearance, installing additional joists or trusses in the affected area can help to restore a more even plane. In addition, a sagging roof that dips between rafters or trusses is typically caused by sheathing that is too thin for the span. Replacing this with thicker sheathing can solve the problem.
It’s always best to let an experienced roofing contractor perform any roofing repairs, especially ones that require jacking up the roof and working in the attic. This is a job that requires extensive knowledge of roofing and building construction, and can be particularly hazardous if you’re not familiar with working in attics. An experienced contractor can rely on a combination of tools and techniques to assess the extent of the damage, determine the root cause of the sagging, and provide the appropriate repair solution.
Water Spots or Discoloration
A splotch on the ceiling that appears after a rainstorm is not only an eyesore, it’s a sure sign of roof damage and a potential leak. Whether it’s from an aging roof with cracks, or maybe a chimney that has deteriorated flashing, it’s essential to check and repair these not-always-noticeable gaps before water can seep through and stain your ceiling.
A commercial roof typically has a vast system of air vents, plumbing vents, and skylights. They need roofing material to be cut around them, so these areas are susceptible to leaks. If you have a splotch on your ceiling that hasn’t been there long, it’s likely caused by a commercial roof leak.
If the splotch is a dark color, it is probably from water that has evaporated and left behind minerals. In this case, a good scrub down with equal parts white vinegar and warm water should remove the discoloration. However, it’s still a good idea to call in a professional roofer to inspect the area and make any necessary repairs.
The darker stains are the most common and usually indicate a leak in the ceiling, or in a pipe. If the stain is located in close proximity to a sink, toilet, or shower, there may be a problem with the plumbing above. If the area is near the attic, there could be a clog in one of the attic vents or the attic door.
Many homeowners will paint or bleach the water stains on their ceilings to hide them. This is not a good solution because it will only mask the stain and will eventually appear again, as well as cause other structural or electrical damage to your home.
