It helps to know how to fix a leaky roof, provided you can safely reach and address the issues on top of your home. Sometimes, this is impossible, especially for homeowners with complex roof systems, the ones with lots of slopes or hard-to-reach areas. That’s when you have to contact a reputable roofing contractor.
We’ll show you a few temporary solutions for roof leaks and offer our services when you need better than a stop-gap solution for your property.
Ways to Fix a Leaky Roof (When It’s a Minor Problem)
As long as we’re discussing minor roof leaks, there are a few DIY things you can explore. Be mindful, however, that most of the time, the small leaks are a harbinger for larger problems later down the road.
If you’re able to get to your chimney, for example, you may be able to handle some of the smaller leaks in that area. This assumes you know how to remove and replace the surrounding metal flashing since that’s usually the culprit. It’s also possible to cover a flat roof with new EPDM, a heavy-duty rubber solution (though this is best left to the pros).
Then, there are some cases where you can remedy minor disrepairs on a shingled roof. Let’s say you have a roof that’s less than 10 years old, in decent shape, but the most recent storm revealed a few cracked shingles. Unless it’s really extensive, homeowners can probably use a reliable roof-grade sealant to address cracks that are less than a quarter-inch wide.
How to Fix a Leaky Roof (When It’s Serious)
When there’s much more serious trouble, you should call a professional for an inspection. We can fix moderately severe leaks with roof coating (something we often do for multi-family homes), but larger leaks would require a roof replacement.
Fortunately, if we need to go this route, we can install something that won’t leak again for multiple decades. This is a terrific investment that will get you out of having to do patchwork all the time. The Roofing Center installs several roofing materials that provide years of protection and make your roof look better than ever.
Our Outstanding Replacement Roof Solutions
- Stone-Coated Steel Roofs
- Shingled (Asphalt) Roofs
- Metal Roofs
- Specialty Material Roofs
The stone-coated steel and metal options have the highest costs, but will get you the best bang for your buck. We’re also certified to install premium shingle brands like Owens Corning and Malarkey.
Review of Common Leak Causes
We’ve talked about common leak causes in some of our other posts. It helps to know these, so you can take proactive measures to fix them before incurring an expensive repair bill.
- Ventilation
- Water intrusion from worn-out vents, specifically the plastic material around them, can wreak havoc on your roof.
- Skylights
- Skylights are a beautiful way to adorn the top of your home, but their raised edges are a magnet from water accumulation, which will then erode the roofing material.
- Chimneys
- Like we said already, the chimney perimeter is a common source of roof leaks. You’ll know you have a problem if the chimney masonry gets too thin, causing the bricks to separate.
- Pipe Flashing
- You can use caulking as a temporary stop-gap when pipe flashing degrades, but this problem will return later. It can get even worse if the flashing nails rust, and become yet another opportunity for water intrusion.
Call The Roofing Center for Help With Any Roofing Issues
Hopefully, this shows you that roof leaks will get worse if you stick to band-aid solutions for too long. Once you hit a plateau, and the leaks won’t stop, it’s better to call The Roofing Center for an inspection, and go from there. Our team will investigate every angle of your roof and determine the most cost-effective solution.
Contact us today and let us help you fix a leaky roof for good with our fail-proof repair methods.
