Roof Repairs

One of the most common and costly issues homeowners have to deal with is calling on a roofing contractor for a roof repair to fix a leaky roof. And as you would expect most home owners do not have the tools or knowledge (nor desire) to get onto their homes roof and look for problems themselves, not knowing what they are looking for in the first place. In some cases even for a professional roofing contractor, the source of the leak can be difficult to locate because the point of entry into the roof system rarely lines up with where the water is detected getting into the home. Roofing contractors like Home Improvement Guyz have to almost be detectives to correctly locate and identify the source of the leak and the proper roof repair to be made to correct the problem. Yet all of this pain can be avoided with a commitment to a scheduled roofing maintenance program like those offered by our company. Even the National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that roof inspection and maintenance be performed regularly to help avoid future problems.

After all, you wouldn't expect:

A furnace to perform efficiently if was not maintained and the filter was never replaced
A car to run if did not have regular tune ups and oil changes
Yet, most have a roof installed and then put it on the “pay no mind to” list.

Before an inspection, we look around from the ground and ask the homeowner if there has been recent extreme weather, animals invading the home, falling debris from trees, satellite or cable work done recently, or any accident they think could have caused damage to the roof.

These are some tips that can help locate future leaks when you are on the roof, and show how a regularly scheduled roof maintenance program can help identify potential problems before they cause damage and turn into bigger problems.

If it looks like its popping through the roof, inspect it.

Penetrations of the roof are the most common leak sources and will change the natural water flow off a roof and into your home. Look here first for these potential sources of the leak:

Chimneys: The top leak source. Does the chimney have a cricket, is it properly flashed with metal baby tins or does it need to be resealed?
Skylights: Water gets trapped behind them. Is the flashing in good repair? Is the skylight itself leaking?
Plumbing Vents: Do the vent stacks have neoprene or rubber that has cracked with age? Do they need to be sealed or painted? Have critters chewed on the pipe or flashing?
Is the satellite or cable flashed properly?

Living on the edge without drip edge..

A drip edge is not just for aesthetics, they help to ensure water is kept away from the fascia edge and channeled off the roof.

A common leak source in the eaves and cause of fascia wood rot is due to missing drip edge. Extreme weather brings wind driven rain with it and will enter any gaps between the roof decking and fascia board.
A drip edge also helps keep out bugs, vermin, and snakes. Makes sure to inspect for missing drip edge when investigating for leaks.

Step Flashing, with every step you take

Some of the common areas where step flashing is installed are common leak source and roof maintenance item and should be inspected for damage

Dormers
Roof to wall transitions
Where ever evidence of sealant or mastic has been used in the past

What's in YOUR attic?

Homeowners have a tendency to think the roof is to blame; however a lot of problems can come from improper roof ventilation, plumbing, air conditioning, condensation, vent fans and animal or bug infestation in the attic. Be on the lookout for:

Algae stains on interior plywood
The "M" word: MOLD
Wet insulation when it hasn't rained
Black rings or rust around nail, which is the first sign moisture is condesning in attic spaces.
Is there a lack of ventialtion that is causing the attic to overheat or accumulate moisture?
Are the intake vents clogged with paint, spider webs, dust, or insulations?

Get your mind in the gutter.

Many homeowners do not realize the importance of the gutter system in its role in the removal of water from the roof. The gutters need to be installed and sloped properly to drain towards the downspouts, tightly fastened, and free of debris. We stress to all our homeowners that spring and fall gutter maintenance should be left to professionals due to the risks involved in climbing onto a ladder.

This is a basic list of our roofing maintenance suggestions. All our roofing repair estimators explain to our customers new and old that a preventive roofing maintenance plan consisting of periodic inspections (generally in the fall and spring), routine roofing maintenance, and minor roof repairs can help avoid more costly roof replacement problems down the road. A thorough roof inspection, performed regularly by a professional roofing contractor like Home Improvement Guyz, can monitor the roofs condition and help prevent small problems from becoming big problems and causing major roof leaks.