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05 May 2014

Roof Repair Tips You Should Know

By Eloise Hewitt


Let us be honest, not many of us allot a part of the family budget for home maintenance, especially when it is for roofing repairs. Instead, we try to play the part of the handyman and fix the damage ourselves. Well, if you are on a fixed budget and choose to do things yourself, read on and find out how to repair the leaking roof.

This is an excellent financial strategy, of course. But since most DIYs tend to bring more problems than solutions, one should always equip himself with the right tools and the correct information for the task to be successful. Well, now you can do roof repair marble falls tx the easy way which will yield excellent results.

Before you start anything, bear in mind your own safety. Avoid unnecessary medical bills by wearing the correct outfit and by the use of sturdy ladders and safety ropes. A rubber soled shoe is best for fixing your roof to avoid accidents.

Once you have all the tools ready, the next thing to be done is to find out what caused the leak. Common causes include aged roofs, clogged gutters due to debris like pine needles, dry leaves and twigs, and poor workmanship. Clean out clogged gutters and sweep out all the dry leaves. Very old roofs should be changed.

Once you are finished with your diagnosis, the tricky part is to spot the site of the leak. For starters, ceiling stains are obvious clues of roof leaks. You can also go up the attic during a heavy shower to indicate the problem areas. If you do not have an attic, you can go look for leaks in common locations like the gaskets, shingles, ridge caps, valleys, and gutters.

Most roof leaks can be remedied easily. Small holes in flashing can be patched up with roofing cement. Damaged shingles can be answered by roofing cement and a some flashing. All you have to do is cut the flashing so that it is an inch narrower and four inches longer than the damaged shingle. Slip the flashing underneath, apply cement under the shingle and on top of the flashing, and press the tab down. Straighten curled shingles while you are at it, too.

Leaks are also prone in parts where the planes connect, examples of which are chimneys and vent pipes. In cases like these, look for any signs of damage in the caulking. Remove impaired caulking and apply new one on the same line. To apply thoroughly into cracks, an applicator may be used.

If the problem area is the holes in your valley, you can cut patches that are two inches bigger than the holes. Be sure that the patches are of the same sheet metal as the valley, otherwise the patches and the part of the valley can corrode, leading to bigger difficulties. Put roofing cement on the holes and position the patches in place.

These tips remedy only the small damages in our roofs. In the event that your worry is more than a mere leak, you can always hire the services of a professional roofer to fix it up for you. You can always post queries to friends and neighbors who may know good roofers who can provide good service at an affordable price.




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