Top 5 Tips for Repairing a Leaky Roof

Keeping a roof over your head is not always an easy task. Depending on where you live, your roof may be regularly subjected to a variety of elemental dangers. Storms and temperature changes can cause significant roof damage that you may not be able to diagnose until you start noticing leaks inside. Keep your shelter strong and secure by following these tips for repairing a leaky roof.

1. Inspect Your Roof Twice Every Year
   An ounce of prevention is worth at least a pound of cure, and this is especially true for roofing problems. Ideally, you’ll be able to find a fix problems in your roof before you start noticing leaks–but you’ll have to look for them. Check up on your roof twice a year. Give it a once-over when autumn hits to make sure that the roof is ready to stand up to winter. When spring arrives, run a more thorough check to see if the cold months have caused any noticeable damage.
2. Approach Leaky Areas with Caution
   If you do spot a damaged or leaky area on your roof, make sure not to get too excited about inspecting the problem. A leak may have been causing problems in your roof for much longer than you realize, and that can lead to rotten wood. When the framework of your roof takes on too much water for too much time, it becomes weak. Treading to heavily on a weakened roof can be very dangerous, so be sure to approach every possible problem area with caution.
3. Repair Damaged Shingles
   Shingled roofs are very common today, and they are thankfully rather easy to repair as well. Overlapping shingles create a sealed surface that water can run off of easily, without seeping into the roof’s framework. When those shingles bend up or become damaged, however, the seal is compromised. Bent or curled shingles can usually be flattened and secured with roofing cement in warm weather. Damaged shingles will have to be replaced completely, which is a slightly more involved project.
4. Look for Flat Roof Blisters
   Flat roofs are sealed differently from shingles–as there is no incline for water to run from, they need to be made completely water-tight in other ways. Most flat roofs are sealed by several layers of roofing felt and tar. These materials generally keep water out, but when they become damaged, blisters can form and fill with water. If you spot a blister in your flat roof, first soak up any collected water in the area. Cut the blister open and pull up the edges to soak up any water inside. After the affected area dries, finish the job with roof repair cement and roofing nails to seal the former leak.
5. Remember to Seal Flashing
   In juncture areas, roofs are often sealed by a material called flashing. Flashing is a metal seal that is used to keep water from getting through roof valleys as well as chimney and window areas. When flashing needs to be replaced, do the job carefully with cement mortar and fresh material. Nothing lasts forever, but careful attention to your roof’s flashing can make it provide several years of secure, dry roofing.