If You Are Having Roof Leaks Through Your Asphalt Shingles Don't Panic, This Is What To Do

Probably the most dreaded day in the life of a homeowner is the day when that brown patch or spot shows up on a ceiling or in a corner of a room. The very first warning signs of a leaky roof are small, but you can't fail to see them. And you know that when you first notice it, it's a condition that will not go away by itself. Often the leaks in your roof are not directly above the spots where they show up on your ceiling. Repairing a leaking roof can sometimes require a good deal of detective work on your part. The water that leaks in under or through the shingles might run all the way down rafters or the chimney and then show up in your ceiling at a completely different location. Before you start looking for the leak, decide whether or not it is time to replace all your shingles, or simply repair the location that's leaking. Do You Need A New Roof? If your asphalt shingles have gotten to be more than 15 or 20 years old then it might be time to put on a brand new roof. If your shingles glance really worn and you see areas that are buckling or cracking, or if you see a good amount of granules from the shingles in your rain gutters and the shingles look aged or threadbare, it might be time to simply put on a brand new roof. In the event your house is fairly new, it is possible to add a new layer of shingles right on top of the old ones. If this looks like the case you can save a good deal of money on the roof replacement cost. On many houses, you can put up to three layers of shingles on the roof before they have to be entirely torn off. In the event you curently have two or three layers of shingles on the roof, then the job becomes more complicated because it will be necessary for someone to tear off the existing shingles completely before installing the new ones. Should this be the situation, make sure to look for and fix any of the roofing materials or boards that show water damage or rotting before you put on the new roof. If Your Current Shingles Are Good, Here's How to Fix the Leak: If you're able to fix your leak you can save yourself the cost of a new roof. The first thing you must do is actually figure out where the water is getting through the roof. Go up inside your attic space with a good flashlight and then try to figure out where it's leaking. Search for signs of water; discoloration, dampness or moldy patches. Pay specific attention to areas where there is flashing over you on the roof such as where your chimney or any other plumbing vents go up through the roof. Once you find the spot from where the water is getting in, go outside and get on the roof to find the spot from the outside. If the spot is difficult to find on the outside, you can easily pound a nail through the roof from the inside so you can find the location to fix. When the leak is caused by troubles with loosened flashing near a chimney or vent, make use of rust proof screws to tighten and secure any loose flashing. Then simply apply roofing tar over the area you have repaired. When the problem is caused by a bad shingle or shingles, you can change out those that are bad. It's not necessary to completely replace the roof if you happen to only have to change out a couple of shingles. If you find shingles that are damaged or cracked which you believe are the cause of your leak, be sure to replace a somewhat larger area around them to be sure you have the problem fixed. It is not a difficult job to lift up the top row of good shingles, and then cut out and change out the bad ones. If you have to leave any exposed nails, be sure to cover all of them well with roofing tar. Be sure that you don't leave any places that water can stand or pool. Find Help If You Need It: If you do not feel comfortable doing roofing fixes on your own, get in touch with a roofer for help. But if you take time to figure out where your leak is, and what the extent of the problem may be, you will be much better prepared to speak with them. And once you find the actual leak and understand the problem, you may want to take a stab at it yourself and save much of that new roof expense for yourself. Stop by the website to learn more about handling your own home repair and maintenance work. And keep in mind that home repair jobs can easily generate a large amount of garbage and debris you need to dispose of. Making use of portable and roll off storage and containers is economical and is becoming more and more popular. To find out more about portable storage containers, roll off containers or roll off dumpsters, don't hesitate to check us out.