Maintenance and repair are part of the baggage of owning a home. Regular maintenance is key to reducing the frequency of repair but some repairs are bound to pop in every now and then. While you could get away with putting off some repairs and fixing them later, there are some repairs that have to be fixed as soon as possible and roof repair is one of such repairs.
It makes no sense to postpone repairing your damaged roof – financial or otherwise. Put off repairing your roof and what should have been a straightforward repair job into a more elaborate and expensive one. The saying that a stitch in time will always save nine couldn’t be more true in this situation.
There are several ways your roof could get damaged, from ageing materials to improper installation, extreme cold or hot temperatures, and winds/storms. And you need to get ahead of the roof problems by fixing them as soon as possible.
Spotting Problems Is The Key To Affordable Roof Repair
Roof repairs are generally classified into minor and major repairs. Minor repairs include fixing small leaks, patching a hole, removing pooled water, or replacing old or worn-off roofing material and all these usually cost less than $1000.
Major repairs, on the other hand, cover extensive water damage, roof shrinkage or sagging, or chimney repair. They are usually more expensive than minor repairs. But regardless of the scale of damage, the key to spending as little as possible on repairing your roof is to detect problems early. And you can achieve this by doing the following:
- Conduct Regular Inspection
If you are anything like other homeowners, you don’t think about your roof much. After all, it’s kind of out of your sight. This makes it difficult to detect problems early and get ahead of them. However, this can change if you conduct regular inspections.
Roof inspection should be carried out at least every two years. Get a reputable contractor to inspect your roof for potential issues like missing shingles, roof sagging, cracks, leaks, and moss growth. The contractor can also provide insight into the lifespan of your roof.
- Perform Simple Visual Inspections
You can take a walk round your house and inspect your roof from the ground with a pair of binoculars. Don’t get on your roof unless you know what you are doing. With a pair of binoculars, you can detect small problems before they escalate into bigger ones.
Personal inspection isn’t a substitute for a professional inspection. But it can come in handy, particularly after heavy wind storms, thunderstorms, or other extreme weather conditions that can damage your roof.
Signs Of Roof Damage
While regular inspection is supposed to detect problems with your roof, every homeowner should be familiar with the signs of roof damage in order to fix the damage quickly. One of the most common signs of roof damage is missing or damaged shingles which are usually caused by high wind and can be seen from the ground. The roof may also be more susceptible to damage if the shingles aren’t properly installed.
Another sign of roof damage is water stains which are usually caused by leaks. Water stains can be found in your ceilings or your attic. It’s worth mentioning that leaks can lead to structural damage or mold and should be fixed in time to avoid complications.
Clogged gutters are another type of roof damage that can potentially cost thousands of dollars by flooding basements and compromising the integrity of your foundation. Fortunately, clogged gutters are somewhat easy to detect and a surefire sign that you have clogged gutters is when rainwater is going over the top of the gutter instead of the downspout.
Finding A Reputable Roofing Contractor
If you’ve seen any sign that indicates roof damage, you need to get a reputable roofing contractor to fix the problem. You may be tempted to fix the issue yourself to save money or just for the fun of it. We are all for DIY projects but your roof should be really where you draw the line.
Unlike a reputable roofing contractor, you don’t have the experience and skill to climb up on your roof and safely repair it. This is what roofing contractors are specialized in and you should let the experts do their job.
There’s the risk of injuring yourself if you attempt DIY roof repair. It takes skill and practice to walk on a rooftop and only those who do these for a living can master this. You could also cause further damage in your attempt to repair your roof yourself.
Roofing warranties and homeowners insurance will be violated through DIY repairs. Now, you don’t want this to happen, do you?
