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How to Get Rid of Moss on Your Roof

You may think a bit of moss growth on your roof adds character to your home, but that green carpet covering your shingles can wreak havoc on your roof. Moss grows in areas that get little to no sunlight but a decent amount of moisture buildup. This is why you will typically see moss growing on the north side of trees, fence posts and yes, roofs.

But no matter where you see moss growing on your roof you should address it as quickly as you can to avoid damages.

The Dangers of Moss Growth

In nature, moss plays its part. But on man-made structures, moss can have a devastating effect. Moss grows in blankets and establishes its roots on the shingling of your roof. These roots can actually start to lift your roofing shingles and deteriorate them over time. This will result in the immediate need to spend money and replace broken or damaged shingles.

In the long run, though, shingles that have been lifted up by moss roots can expose the underlayer of your roof to moisture which can cause even more damage. This is the beginning of roof erosion.

This exposure to moisture can cause mold and bacteria growth, which can eat away at your roofing and cause leaks and holes. Not to mention the respiratory health issues caused by breathing in mold. The exposed roofing can allow water and moisture into your inner roofing structure and even your home.

Besides the structural and health dangers that moss can lead to, it is dangerous to walk on a roof that is covered in moss because it can be very slippery. If you feel that moss on your roof has already caused significant damage, reach out to a roofing company to check it out for you. On the other hand, you just need to get the moss off your roof but no damage has been done, keep on reading!

Getting Rid of Moss and Dispelling Popular Misconceptions

So you are aware of the dangers and are ready to get rid of your moss but which method should be used. First, some misconceptions about getting moss off your roof should be addressed:

  • Bleach – It is often recommended that homeowners use bleach to weaken and wash away moss. This is a method that needs to be executed very carefully for it to be a viable option. That’s because bleach is very corrosive and can eat away at your flashing, which can cause leaks in the future. Bleach can also discolor your shingles, making them look uneven or older than they actually are. Your vapor barrier can be compromised if you spray your roof with bleach and there are broken or cracked shingles. Bleach will kill moss, but it can also kill other plants and vegetation that you did not intend to kill.
  • Pressure Washing – Pressure washing your moss away should only be done if you are very experienced with the practice. Pressure washers can cause more damage to your roofing and shingles than moss and in much less time.

Both of these methods are still technically viable, but you have to be way more careful with them than other methods such as:

  • Hand Scrubbing – You can start by gathering your garden hose and a sturdy scrubbing brush and wetting down the moss affected areas moderately. When the moss is good and soft, you can go to work on them with the scrubbing brush.
  • Roof Cleaning Solutions – If scrubbing isn’t enough, you may want to consider a ready-made roof cleaning solution. Many roof cleaners are moss and mildew specific. Some can be mixed with water and applied to the affected areas without having to rinse. They work by killing the moss so that it deteriorates and fades away altogether. Other store-bought solutions can be hooked up to your hose and sprayed on the moss-covered section of your roof. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, see if you can find a roofing contractor near you to clean it professionally.
  • Home Made Solutions – There are also safe home roof cleaning solutions you can make. One of them is a mixture of 8 ounces of dish soap (you can replace the dish soap with 1 and a half to 3 and a half cups of vinegar) and 2 gallons of water. You can apply this mixture with a garden sprayer or backpack sprayer.

Keeping Moss off Your Roof

Now that you have the moss off of your roof, it’s time to think about prevention, so you don’t have to tackle this chore again. Here are some ways you can prevent moss from growing on your roof:

  • Trim Trees – One of the simplest ways to ensure that moss doesn’t grow on your roof is addressing a root cause: lack of sunshine. Moss can’t grow where the sun goes so make sure you trim overhanging limbs from trees and branches that are blocking direct sunlight from your roof.
  • Zinc and Copper Strips – Applying a bit of science can go a long way. Zinc and copper are the natural enemies of moss. Pick up some zinc or copper strips from your local hardware store and place them under the uppermost layer of shingling on your roof.
  • Clean you Gutters – Gutters that are clogged with leaves and plant debris are a breeding ground for moss. Keeping your gutters clean will lessen the likelihood of moss growing on your roof and soffits.
  • Clean your Roof – Moss needs a substrate, such as dirt, to grow in the first place, so cleaning your roof once or twice a year is a great way to prevent moss growth. After each cleaning, you can also put some baking soda on the ridgeline of your roof since the baking soda will make an unsuitably high pH condition in which moss cannot grow.

Common Roofing Problems & Their Solutions

Your roof is one of the most critical parts of your house because it’s your first line of defense against the elements. If your roof is in tip-top shape, you’ll be well protected against rain, hail, snow, and ice. However, when your roof becomes damaged, you’re likely to experience water leaks, mold, mildew, and other problems. Also, a roof that’s in good shape helps the resale value of your home.

Lastly, your roof keeps your energy costs down. If you have an efficient roof, you can save money on your heating and cooling bills, however, an inefficient roof is going to cost you year in and year out.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at the most common roofing problems, and how to fix them, so your roof remains in great shape and continues to offer superior protection year after year.

A leaky roof is one of the most common problems affecting roofs everywhere, and the symptoms are readily apparent with just a visual inspection. If you see stains across your ceilings or running down your walls, or if you notice the buildup of mold and mildew, chances are a leaky roof is the culprit. Roof leaks are caused by many factors, such as age, the slope of the roof, damage due to severe weather or debris, or improper sealing of roof vents.

roof repair

Roof Leaks

Once you’ve seen water damage, you’ll have to trace the stains back to the source, which often is in the attic. If you’re able, run water over the roof with a hose and see if you can spot where the leak is occurring.

Once you’ve determined what is causing the leak, repair it. In some instances, a leaky roof can be repaired by merely replacing damaged or missing shingles with new ones. Cracked asphalt shingles can be repaired with roof sealant as a temporary fix until you can replace them. If you’re using wood shakes, replace any that are damaged.

Flashing That Are Incorrectly Installed

Flashing seals the roof where it’s been penetrated with things like vents, chimneys, and cooling systems. If the flashing wasn’t installed correctly, the seams would open and allow water to come in or shingles to blow away.

Repairing roof flashing isn’t too difficult, and if you’re handy, you can do it yourself. Small holes can be quickly patched with roofing cement, and more massive holes can be repaired by using a patch of the same material the original flashing is made from.

However, in cases where the flashing is severely damaged or if the hole is too large, it will have to be replaced. In this case, you may want to call in a professional roofer to do the job and get a guarantee that the job is done right.

Damaged Soffit

Soffit is the material that connects your roof’s overhang with the side of your house. This material is both functional and aesthetic, but it’s vital to your roof’s function and the protection of your home.

Like many roofing problems, soffit becomes damaged due to water, and improperly installed gutters are a significant cause of this water damage. When the gutters aren’t properly removing water from the roof, the water sits on the edge of the shingles and eventually drips down to rot the soffit.

If the soffit is severely damaged, you’ll be able to see the rot plainly. However, early signs of soffit damage are bubbles under the paint and watermarks.

To replace the damaged soffit, you should call in a professional to replace the rotted wood and design the soffit to match the style and look of the remaining soffit and house.

Animals

Yes, animals are also a significant problem when it comes to roofing problems. Even if your roof is weatherproof against hail and driving winds, they’re often no match for the critters that like to nest there.

Common animals that cause roofing damage are:

  • Squirrels
  • Birds
  • Mice
  • Raccoons
  • Rats
  • Bats

Most of these animals seek the warmth and shelter provided by the attic, and they’ll use any means necessary to burrow in through the roof to get there. Animals can also find their way in through damaged soffit or vents.

And damaging your roof is only the beginning. Once inside the house, the animals can damage wiring and chew up wood.

To protect your roof against animals, make it tough for them to get onto the roof in the first place. That means trimming any branches that hang over the roof and make sure your gutters are clean to prevent birds from nesting there.

Also, inspect your attic regularly and look for signs of animals such as droppings or nesting material.

Depending on the type of infestation you have, you may have to call in an exterminator for help and repair the damage once the animal has been disposed of.

Damaged Shingles

Since roof leaks are a major headache for homeowners, damaged shingles are one of the major causes of a leaky roof. Shingles become damaged due to age or due to weather.

Depending on the type of shingle you have, the years of heat and cold can cause them to blister and crack, which leads to water leaking in. If you have an older roof, it’s vital that you perform regular inspections to ensure that the shingles are intact and in good shape. If you find any that need repair, take care of that at once because letting it go can lead to more significant, more expensive repairs down the road.

Lack of Maintenance

As with anything, problems arise and get worse because people don’t perform proper or frequent maintenance. Your roof can last a long time if you take time once or twice a year to inspect it and fix those little problems now.

The more attention you pay to your roof, the longer it’s going to last, and the less you’re going to have to spend on it throughout the years. And the less you have to deal with any roofers

Common Types of Roof Damage to Look Out For

Your roof is one of the most critical parts of your home because it’s the barrier between you and the elements. Because of its importance in protecting your home, and because it’s constantly exposed to the weather, your roof will wear out in time and become damaged.

Knowing that your roof will become damaged, it’s essential that you conduct regular inspections to assess that damage and catch and rectify small problems before they turn into massive, expensive fixes.

In this article, we’re going to look at several types of roof damage and how to know when it’s time to call a roof repair company.

 

Cracks in Your Roof

If your roof is comprised of wood, tile, or asphalt shingles, then it’s more likely to develop cracks than roofs made from other materials such as slate or metal.

Roofs made from these materials suffer cracks mainly due to high winds, so if you live in an area that’s affected by storms in the summer months, it’s a good idea to perform regular inspections after the season to see if there’s any damage due to flying debris that’s impacted the roof.

To look for cracks, get up on the roof and note any damaged or missing shingles. This damage can be shingles that are split, curled, or blown entirely away.

The good news is that if there’s light damage (a few shingles), then the roof repair won’t be that expensive.

The key is to assess the damage regularly and not wait until a few small cracks that are easy to fix becomes an entire roof replacement that can cost in the thousands.

 

Roof Damage Due To Heat

If you live in a hot climate or a region that experiences hot summers, then your roof is susceptible to heat damage. Find professionals that are experienced with hot climates, like a Plano roofing company.

 Intense heat from the sun beating down on your roof for days on end causes cracks and curls in your roof’s shingles depending on the material used. Asphalt shingles and wood are among the most susceptible to heat damage, while metal, rubber, and clay are your best bet if you live in a hot climate. 

As with damage due to winds, you need to inspect your roof for damage regularly. Look for shingles that have shrunk due to the heat; you can spot this by seeing any nails that have popped up from below causing blisters to the shingles. Also, be aware that intense heat can affect the wood rafters, causing the joints to expand, which can lead to leaks.

 

Water Damage on Your Roof

Your roof bears the brunt of everything Mother Nature has to throw at it, which includes heavy rains and storms. Water is an incredibly destructive force when it comes to roofing and wreaks havoc on your home once it gets inside in the form of mold.

If the area in which you live gets heavy rain and snow on a regular basis, then it’s vital that you conduct periodic inspections on your roof.

What to look for when it comes to water damage is pooling water or water accumulation after heavy rain. This pooling occurs mainly in the attic. Also, check the ceilings for any sign of discoloration, which may indicate a water leak. Water spots can also appear on the exterior walls of your home as well, so when inspecting your roof, also do a quick walk around the house and look for spots.

If you do find any water in the home, or signs of damage outside, it’s vital that you call in professionals to do a more thorough inspection and recommend a roof repair as quickly as possible.

As mentioned, water damage can lead to serious health problems with mold and mildew, and it gets more expensive to repair the longer you wait.

 

Object Damage

When we speak of object damage, we mean physical objects that strike the roof due to high winds or an accident.

In most cases, object damage is caused during storms when tree branches and other objects are blown against the roof, but sometimes repair crews can inadvertently cause damage by dropping tools or being careless with equipment.

As before, it’s a good idea to check your roof for signs of damage at least once a season. Do a thorough inspection inside and outside and look for cracked, loose, blistered, or missing shingles.

It’s important to remember that most roof damage — when caught early — can be repaired quickly and at little expense. The last thing you want is to wait until the problem gets big enough that you need an entirely new roof.

 

Neglect

As much as all of the above can lead to roof damage, perhaps the number one cause is neglect. With proper maintenance, regular checkups, and repairs, your roof should last up to 30 years depending on the materials used.

Neglecting your roof when it becomes damaged radically shortens its lifespan and leads to more substantial expenses down the road. Even if your roof came with a warranty or if you have homeowners insurance it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Many warranties and policies don’t cover things such as damage due to having a dish or cable installed.

Also, remember that many insurance companies require you to do regular inspections on your roof to ensure it’s properly maintained.

Take care of your roof, and your roof will take care of you.

As mentioned, your roof is on the front line of protecting your home and bears the brunt of all types of weather and climate. While it’s a pain in the butt, and a job that no one likes to do, it’s vital that you regularly inspect your roof and repair small problems before they become large ones.

Your home’s roof not only protects your entire house and its contents, but it also protects your family too. Having a beautiful, well-kept roof enhances your home’s curb appeal, and makes it more attractive to potential buyers should you decide to sell it down the road.

 

 

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Detecting Roof Leaks: Fixing it Yourself vs Hiring a Professional

Of probably all components of a home, the roof often gets ignored the most. That is likely because they last very long, with most of them lasting 25 years or longer. So it makes sense that many homeowners ignore the condition of their roofs until they encounter a massive leak which they need to then hire somebody to fix. Then, the problem goes away for a while, but because the roof has not been repaired completely, another leak (or three) occurs. And then the cycle repeats: You get somebody to fix this newer, more intense leak, then you finally realize that you probably need to replace the entire roof.

All of this could have been stopped if you just knew how to detect a leak in your roof and fix it before additional problems arise. This will save you quite a bit of time and money in the long run. Some leaks need to be fixed by a professional, but some can be fixed by yourself.

In order to determine if you can indeed fix a roof leak in your home by yourself, you first need to learn how to detect it. There are numerous causes for a roof leak, but most of them revolve around the same issues and that is a combination of normal wear and tear as well as damage caused by acts of nature, trees or animals and other wildlife that may be on the roof of your home. Now the common roof is fairly strong, and it is not necessary for you to check the roof of your home every week for leaks. Once a month could be excessive for some, but it is ideal if you want to prevent a leak from happening.

What Exactly Causes Leaks?

According to some experts in the field, roof penetrations are the biggest source of leaks and, of course, they are likely the most overlooked. Water stains, mold, and black marks in the plumbing, roof vents, chimneys or dormers in the roof can cause a leak. If it is not fixed properly, the leak could spread and become something much worse. If could lead to mold which can infect the roof penetrations. Approaching these penetrations through the attic is the best way to find these leaks. If that is not possible, you will need to approach the leak from the roof itself.

That describes how to find a leak and where most of them come from. The specifics of these are also useful in detecting roof leaks and then figuring out if you can fix them yourself or if you should hire somebody. Roofing Calculator has listed ten direct causes of roof leaks. There are some similarities within them, but they also exist some differences as well.

Roofing professionals say normal wear and tear, eroded brick chimneys, missing shingles, vent boots between the roof and the piping, roof holes, outdated architecture, clogged gutters, and frozen nails in the attic (known as “shiners”) can all cause roof leaks. These are easy to check for, and you can fix most of them alone. However, there are tasks that require the service of a roofing company.

When is it Possible to Fix Leaks Yourself?

It’s not always necessary to hire a professional for every small repair your house needs to make after detecting a leak. Sometimes you can fix the problem yourself, which saves you money. Any leak that is caused by deterioration, erosion or any kind of break down due to wear and tear can usually be fixed on your own. It’s only a matter of gathering up the proper materials and putting in the time and effort. If a leak is caused due to a lack of cleaning, then you should definitely handle the task yourself. Something as simple as cleaning out a gutter costs nothing except a few moments of your time.

The roof leaks that require a professional roofer are often the ones that require multiple repairs. Old, worn down shingles are a great example of something that would likely require you to hire roofers to either repair the shingles or, in most cases, install a completely new roof. Missing a few shingles is alright and you can often replace them yourself. But if there are any missing shingles or shingles that are torn up, it would save you more money, in the long run, to get a new roof installed.

Another instance where you will eventually need to hire a professional to fix a leak is if the repair is only a temporary fix. A good example is if the flash metal around the base of the chimney, or any structure on the roof, that needs to be resealed. It is possible to reseal it yourself, but this only serves as a short term resolution. Unless you want to keep making these changes over and over, it would be best just to pay a professional and replace the entire roof.

Small leaks are usually solved by making repairs yourself. The best example of this involves shiners. Recall that shiners are nails in the attic that have been frozen over. When it gets warmer, the formerly frozen nails melt, producing condensation and causes leaks. This is easily solved by clipping the nails while they are frozen. This will permanently solve your shiner issue causing leaks.

When you see a leak in your home, the very first thing that you should be thinking about is when you are going to get a new roof. Because the majority of house leaks can only really be eliminated on a short term basis, the long term solution to (more or less) any house leak is to prepare to get a new roof installation. Just consider that the reason these leaks exist is because of important foundational parts of the roof that are transitioning from experiencing normal wear and tear to completely falling apart. To prevent this transition from happening, it would benefit you to start saving up enough money and allowing enough time to get a new roof installed.

Hurricane Season: What to Check for and How to Prep Your Roof

People who live on the coast know all about hurricane season and all of the damage these storms can do. The common home is no exception. How many times have we heard about a hurricane ripping apart a whole neighborhood of houses? Who hasn’t seen footage containing the aftermath of such hurricanes? During hurricane season, your home is in danger. This is a fact almost everyone has to deal with. It just comes with the territory of living on the coast.

However, a silver lining does exist. While your home is in imminent danger during hurricane season, there are numerous ways to prepare your home for when these storms hit. There are many methods that exist which will cost little money and time. As many who have dealt with hurricanes would say, there is no such thing as being “too prepared” for hurricane season. And the roof of your home, and other things involving it, is no exception.

What to Expect During Hurricane Season  

This section is for anybody who is not familiar with places that are frequently hit by hurricanes. Hurricanes contain intense high powered wind, followed by heavy rain. This wind can take debris and throw it into your car or home. Anything and every car or home you own, no matter what, is suspect to getting some semblance of damage when a hurricane hits. It cannot be avoided, but the damage that your home, roof in particular, can be drastically lessened if you just prepare properly.

The Most Common and Popular Ways to Prepare Your Roof for Hurricane Season

Preparing your roof for hurricane season is not as difficult or as time-consuming as you may think. There are many things that you can do to make sure that your roof can survive as much as it possibly can during hurricane season. Although it can be a nuisance, and most roof work is, if you do these things, they will ensure that your roof will be protected as much as it can be. Certain things are only ideal for certain rooftops, and this will be mentioned in the list below.

  1. Use roof tie-downs: While this is not easy nor time-consuming, it may be necessary if you live in a crowded area that could be affected by a hurricane. A roof tie-down will essentially lock your roof in place, this way it doesn’t get blown around as much as the same roof would if a strong hurricane hits.
  2. Update the shingles on your roof: Compared to using tie-downs, this is much easier to do and can save quite a bit of time. If you do not live in a crowded area or you have a relatively new roof that may just need some of the shingles re-tightened. This is fairly easy to do. Just apply roof adhesive to any loose shingles. If this is done 2 to 4 weeks before hurricane season begins, it will ensure that the shingles on your roof do not fly off of your roof during hurricanes.
  3. Trim the trees around your house: This is another method that is very simple. It is almost necessary to do this if you live in a place that has a lot of trees. If you forget or just decide to ignore this task, these trees could get blown apart during a hurricane, landing on your roof and then damaging your roof.
  4. Clean the gutters and drain systems: This is not pleasant work. It can be time-consuming as well as dirty. But it is a very important thing to do to prepare your roof for hurricane season. If you do not clean the gutters and drain the system, you run the risk of backing up water from entering the drains. This can overfill the gutters and cause them to tumble down. Being from a place that is privy to hurricanes, I have actually witnessed this happen. While cleaning out the gutters, look for granules, which are fragmented shingles. Unless you have a brand new roof, granules in the gutter is usually a sign that a roof needs to be replaced.
  5. Reinforcing the roofing system (if necessary): This is an unconventional, yet efficient way to prepare your roof for hurricane season. There are two methods of doing this: The first is to just hire a roofer to do it. The second way is to attach and overlap 2×4 pieces of wood along the trusses of the roof, leaving roughly 11 and ½ feet of space in between each piece of wood. This method can cost some time and money, but it will protect your roof from a hurricane.
  6. Using hurricane straps: What does everyone do to their windows during hurricane season? That’s right, they place shutters in front of the windows. Would it not also be a good idea if you could place shutters on your roof? Hurricane straps function as shutters, but for a roof. They will protect the roof from everything involved in a hurricane.

Routine Roof Maintenance Should Never be Ignored

Among the aforementioned preparation procedures, some of them do indeed require you to hire a professional roofing contractor to do work. But there are certain things that do not require hiring a roofer that you can do to prepare for hurricane season. Things, like trimming the trees around the house and cleaning the gutters, can go a long way in making sure your home will be as protected as it can for the hurricanes to come.

The reason why these kinds of things are ignored is that they are not part of a routine. When something is not part of a routine, it can be ignored for weeks, months, or even years. Making sure your roof is in decent condition and ready for hurricane season would seem like it should only be a preparation to make once a year. But if you do this once a month, it will become a routine, which will then become a habit. If you do not want to spend a lot of money on repairing a roof after a hurricane, then you should consider inspecting your roof at least once a month.

This begs the question: How does one inspect a roof? Are you supposed to just walk around on the roof looking for torn up shingles, nails that can be hammered down, and rust on the flashings? According to some professionals, it is dangerous to casually walk on a roof. Most experts suggest climbing above the roof of your house, and with a pair of binoculars, seeing what needs to be taken care of. Then hiring the necessary crew (if any) after that.

Preparing for anything, let alone a roof for hurricane season, can be tedious. It can appear like a waste of time and something that is permissible to be ignored. However, long term consequences should be considered, especially when it comes to something like a home that you own. The few hours that you spend every month to make sure that your roof is in good shape will ensure that you will not need to spend as much money preparing your roof down the road.

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How to Detect Roof Leaks

When it rains, it pours. But, you don’t want to feel those raindrops in your humble home. Roof leaks are a problem that homeowners are bound to deal with at one time or another in life. The trick is to catch the roof leak early so you deal with the situation in the best way possible, and get back to loving your home. Here are the ins and outs of dealing with roof leaks, from finding the source to choosing whether to DIY the solution.

Signs of a Roof Leak

Finding a roof leak is often the hardest part of the process. It can start from an incredibly small crack in the infrastructure and turn into an emergency situation. Some of these super small leaks can cause rot and other damage throughout your roof before you notice the leak. So, the moment that you notice a water stain in your home is the moment to take action.

There are a couple of places in the roof that water might be able to get into. It could be coming through worn, broken, or missing shingles. Nails throughout your roof might have gotten loose, leaving a space for water to get into. If your roof isn’t sealed correctly around vents, skylines, or chimneys it can get through in between the wood. The leak might be a couple of layers below or off to the side. Try to think about the way that water would flow through a roof, and search for the leak with that thought in mind. Once you find where the leak started, you have to go on the hunt for moisture.

If that’s not a possibility, you can use a garden hose to try and create a man-made leak. Have a helper stay inside the house and begin to soak different areas of the roofline along with the chimney or a vent. Make sure that the hose is running for several minutes before you move on to the next area. That’ll give enough time for the hose to start making a leak of its own. Tell your helper to yell when they start seeing the physical appearance of a leak. After this process, you’ll definitely have a solid starting point to find the source of the leak.

Finding a Roof Leak

Take a look into your attic during the daytime, and make sure that you bring a bright flashlight with you to make sure that you don’t miss a drop. Be sure that you’re only stepping onto large support beams. Don’t step onto the insulation or the top part of the ceiling. They’re not built to support your weight, you will fall through. You definitely don’t need a hole in the ceiling, along with a leaky roof. Try to go shortly after heavy rain. Start your search above where you noticed the leak, and keep looking up for wetness along with the framing members. If this isn’t a new phenomenon, look out for watermarks, stains, or discoloration that moisture would cause. There might also be mold lying around, so make sure that you’re protected with a mask and some gloves. If you can’t find these factors then, try to turn off the light and see if you can find a hole where daylight is shining through. No matter how small, that hole might be the place that the water is getting into.

If you don’t have attic access, you might have to head onto the roof and look for these warning signs on the other side. This is a dangerous decision to make, so you might want to call a professional to go on the hunt for you. If you choose to go by yourself, be sure to go on a dry day. Moisture makes the shingles slippery, and you surely don’t want to deal with all of that. Ask someone to be your “spotter” on the ground. If an accident occurs you need to have someone that you trust looking out for you to take the next step.

D.I.Y or Call a Professional?

Knowing which leaks you can fix yourself and which leaks you have to call a professional on can make the difference between completely getting rid of the problem or creating a new, more serious problem into the future. If you can easily find the source of the leak then it might be a good candidate for a D.I.Y project. A good example of a possible D.I.Y project would be a fresh, new leak that didn’t cause any long-term problems to the shingles around it.

On the flip side, you should call a professional if the leak has caused some serious damage to the surrounding shingles. If you can’t easily find the source of the leak there may be a bigger problem lies on your roof. Calling a professional and nipping it in the bud now will definitely save you some of your hard-earned cash in the future.

Unless you are super confident in your abilities as a roof DIY’er, it may be worth it to call a professional in either one of these situations and at least get a repair quote so you can be aware of your options as a homeowner. Most roofing companies will provide quotes for free or at a low price, so it would definitely be worth it to get a professional opinion as soon as you can identify the leak.

Leaky roofs cause anxiety and fear for homeowners across the nation. But, if you’re proactive about finding the leak you can make the right decisions for you in order to fix the source of the leak as soon as possible. No matter if you call a professional or choose to handle the situation all by yourself, you should do as much research as possible in order to educate yourself on the situation and give your roof the TLC that it needs in order to get back to tip-top shape. The quicker that you notice the leak the more money you save and the less stress you’ll have as a homeowner. Once you patch up that leak, you can stop worrying about the leak and get back to enjoying your beautiful home.