Sachin

It can be devastating to discover that your roof is leaking and that you will have to make some repairs before the next summer or winter storm comes along. However, there are ways that you can quickly mend the problem if it is a small leak that do not require calling outside help for assistance. Generally speaking there are four main ways to repair roof damage, and here are some of the top things that you can do to mend the leak in your roof.

1. The first way to correct a leak in a roof is by looking for shingles that are damaged and need to be fixed. Carefully look to see where the water is entering in your home and make sure that there is no mold or mildew growing in that location. If there is, this indicates that there is a bigger problem at hand. If not, find where the shingle is that is letting in the moisture and see if you can see with your own eyes the cracked part of it.

A damaged shingle almost always curls up so it shouldn’t be too hard to find. If it is really cold outside you may need to use something like a hair dryer or another source of heat before it will flatten out again the way you need it to. Never use an open flame, because this puts your home at risk of a fire. Once you get that shingle to straighten out, you can apply a generous amount of roofing cement around it to seal it in. If the shingle is brittle and crumbles or breaks, then you will have to get a new one. You can remove the old with something as simple as a nail and replace it before applying the cement as well.

2. The second way to fix a small leak in the roof is for homes that do not have shingles as their outer layer. Sometimes the roofing material is made up some a tar-like substance that is susceptible to acquiring liquid underneath it. If you are getting a leak in your home and get on the roof to find that there is a bubble or blister looking feature on top this is easily fixed by roll roofing it. All you have to do in this situation is to take a utility knife and cut the blister to squeeze out all the liquid inside of it, and allow it to dry before filling it up with roofing cement. Once that is done, drive a nail right in the center of it and coat the outside with lots of roofing cement as well to completely seal it off.

3. For houses that have shakes instead of other material or shingles on the roofs, sometimes in order to repair a leak you will have to remove and replace the shakes involved. Using a hammer and chisel carefully remove the shake that is causing the leak, or use another tool to split it in half and then use the hammer to remove the rest. Take off any extra debris involved with the help of a hacksaw. Then, cut out a new shake from a panel of wood and drive two good hammers into it to keep it in place.

4. Lastly, for people who have stone or brick roofs on their homes it is easiest to repair a leak by caulking the area that is exposed to the open air. Using a putty knife, generally apply some caulk to the areas that need to be fixed and allow to dry. Check on it in a couple of days to make sure that it held and that no other areas need it, as over time these things tend to crack.

Written by Enrich Construction, the best service for roofing in Columbia, MO has to offer.