Getting your roof fixed should always be a high-priority project because while your personal situation might dictate a pressing need to act on other things first, it’s never a good thing to put off getting your roof fixed for too long.

Why?

For starters, having postponed getting your roof fixed, it’s easy to forget that there’s a problem. Unless the damage is one that you see all the time, like in the case of a leak that just won’t go away, you could go on day in and day out without being reminded that your roof needs attention. That is, until something really bad happens and you can’t ignore the problem anymore.

There’s also the fact that water damage is insidious. Ignoring that leak can easily lead to damage to other parts of your home, giving you more to worry about that the initial problem, like:

Attic Damage

Water seeping into the attic can damage not just the room but the items stored in it as well. Paint and plaster on walls and ceiling can also peel and blister when subjected to moisture while electrical damage may also be imminent on ceiling-mounted fans and lighting fixtures.

PART 1: WHY “NOW” IS ALWAYS THE BEST TIME

Fire Hazard

Water causing a fire? It’s possible! Electrical wiring in your ceiling or attic can short out due to leaking water, which can cause sparks that can ignite flammable materials like wood and insulation.

Structural Damage

Chronic leaking will allow moisture to seep into wooden structures, weakening the material and facilitating deterioration that can lead to your roof collapsing, a problem that can involve the entirety of your property.

Mold and Mildew

Over time, water seepage can lead to the formation of mold and mildew. This problem is mostly an aesthetic concern for your home but it can also be a health hazard for your family when left alone.

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In the next part, we’ll be talking about spotting roof damage so you’ll know when it’s time to take action. Read on for more!

PART 1: WHY “NOW” IS ALWAYS THE BEST TIME

While it’s recommended that you have your roof inspected regularly, if only to nip potential problems in the bud, it’s just as vital to have your roof inspected each time extreme weather passes. After all, storms can do a real number on your roof.

So what should you look for? Concentrate on visible damage. While nothing beats a professional eye when it comes to spotting roof problems, there are things that you can identify yourself that might indicate that a professional inspection is not only in order, but may be urgently needed.

Take after storms and tornadoes, for instance. The most common sign of damage after these hit are sections of missing roof. Strong winds can tear shingles and tiles off so it’s not unusual to see them littered all over the ground after bad weather makes its way through your area. It’s possible for the torn-off shingles and tiles to not have come from your roof but that doesn’t always mean that your property got out of a storm unscathed. To be sure, get a pair of binoculars and check for bald spots on your roof from the ground.

Hail damage is another kind damage you can check for yourself. However, damage due to hailstorms may appear differently depending on the kind of material your roof is made of.

PART 2: SPOTTING ROOF DAMAGE

Asphalt Shingles. Look for dark spots, similar to a bruise, where impact has knocked shingle granules away. A large amount of shingle granules in your gutters or downspouts are also indicative of wear and tear so take note of that as well.

Wood Shingles. Wood splits when damaged by hail. Look for those that expose brown or orange areas in the wood and those with dents or sharp corners or edges along their length.

Cement and Ceramic Tiles. These resist hail damage well, needing large hail stones before damage appears. Look for hairline cracks on the tile, which are more likely to occur on the edges. If hail stones are large enough though, the cracks can be observed anywhere on the tile. Bigger cracks that go all the way through to the bottom or large missing pieces of a tile are indicative of more severe damage.

Metal. At the most, many metal roofs only show dents after a bad hailstorm. Only in severe situations will a roof become deformed so bad after being hit by hail that it will leak or lose wind resistance and be blown off by the next storm.

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Now that you know how to spot potential trouble, let’s learn how you can keep damage at bay until a roofing professional arrives. Head on over to Part 3 to learn more.

PART 2: SPOTTING ROOF DAMAGE

Sometimes, there are moments when you have to take matters into your own hands to prevent further damage on your property while waiting for a roofing professional to come in and fix the problem completely. As a roof leak is one of the most common problems your roof will be facing, finding it is one of the best ways you can keep water damage at bay.

Finding a leak can be tricky but here are a few tricks you can try to help you out:

• Take advantage of the day by using daylight to spot a leak. Instead of looking for a hole in your roof, look for light streaming in.

• If it’s raining and you have water visibly leaking from your ceiling, follow the trail of water to get to the source.

• If the rain has stopped but you no longer have daylight on your side, do a water test by having someone spray water onto your roof while someone observes indoors where a leak will spring from.

EMERGENCY LEAK REPAIRS

If you must do your own temporary repairs, do NOT, by any means, go up on a roof while it is still raining. There is no reason big enough to warrant putting yourself at risk. Once the rain has stopped, you can now go about addressing your roof leak. Consider the following:

PART 3: EMERGENCY LEAK REPAIRS - WHAT TO DO

The Sheet Metal Fix

Take care of a leak on a shingle roof by tucking a 12-inch piece of galvanized metal flashing under a damaged shingle. Make sure the sheet of metal is covering the hole before fastening the flashing to the roof with a nail or two.

The Plastic Sheeting Fix

Use enough heavy polyethylene sheeting to cover the leaking area on your roof, measuring from from eaves to the peak and adding around four feet in extra length. Wrap one end of the plastic around a two-by-four piece of wood as long as the plastic is wide and attach the sheeting to it. Sandwich the sheeting with another two-by-four wood piece and nail the two boards together. Stretch the sheeting from the eaves to the peak, going over the top of the ridge and coming down the other side. Sandwich the top end of the sheeting with two more two-by-four wood pieces.

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Once you have your temporary fix in place, don’t forget to schedule a roof check with a local contractor immediately. The sooner you get your roof fixed properly, after all, the better.

PART 3: EMERGENCY LEAK REPAIRS - WHAT TO DO

Affordable Roofing Systems

12573 N. U.S. Highway 301 Thonotosassa, FL 33592

813-986-6683(813) 400-2515

AffordableRoofingFlorida.com