When it comes to your home, one of the most vital elements you need to care for is the roof. Without a sturdy roof doing its job, you can put all the time, and attention you want into creating a lovely home space; water and other forms of weather are going to be degrading it shockingly fast, leaving you with a Sisyphean task. The following will explore a few of the simpler roof repairs that you can do yourself. Of course, everyone’s mobility and comfort levels vary. You should never take on a task you don’t feel confident in when it comes to home repair, particularly if this task involves you climbing to a height at which you don’t feel safe. 

Why Are Roof Repairs Urgent?

Moisture can utterly destroy a home if it’s given the opportunity. Water can be absorbed by beams, drywall, flooring and furniture, where it can warp and permanently stretch out features of your home. Moisture that isn’t dealt with immediately can result in mould or mildew, which not only looks and smells nasty but also harms the health of every person and animal inside the home. Breathing in mould can cause serious harm to your respiratory system and is linked to many other health problems as its toxic nature can overburden your body’s detoxification system and/or require so much of your immune system’s focus that other bacteria or viruses find their way in and cause you harm. 

Again, given the location of your roof (up high), it’s important that you don’t take on any repair tasks you don’t feel capable of. Be sure to practise proper ladder safety and work with a helper just in case something goes wrong. As well, if you don’t understand what the roof problem is, it’s best to reach out to a professional; roofers from EAS roofing emphasize that sometimes roofing problems can be solved via patching or replacing parts, but in other cases, roof damage may indicate a roof that’s on its last legs. If you’re unsure whether the roofing issues you’re dealing with mean you’re going to have to replace the roof in the near future, reach out to a professional. You don’t want to be wasting time, money and energy repairing something that is only going to fall apart again in a few months.

Identifying Roof Leaks

While not a repair, per se, many roofing problems can be discovered by first identifying roof leaks. Finding problems is often the first stage of repairing them, either by yourself or with professional help. Examine your roof. If there are stains inside or outside your roof, pay special attention to the areas where these have occurred. Look for anything that has penetrated the roof, as this is one of the most common sources of leaks. Things like your chimney, vents or skylights may have weak points between them and the roof resulting in leaks. From within your top floor or attic, carefully peruse the space for hints of water stains, black marks or mould. If you still can’t identify where the water is getting in, consider using a garden hose up top on the roof with a helper in the room with the leak. As you move slowly across the roof, letting the hose run on one area for a few minutes at a time, your helper can shout up when the water runs through. This can help you identify the weakness in your roof.

Freshen Caulking On Walls And Dormers

If you have walls or dormers protruding from your roof, take a look at the state of the caulking. If the caulking is old and cracking, it might be time to replace it. This is a task that is pretty easy to do, even for a beginner. Dig out any problematic caulking before applying a nice, even row of new high-quality caulking. It’s important that you don’t rely on caulk for other roofing problems. It is hardy stuff, but it’s also specifically designed for certain situations. This task can be done every year before the rainy season.

Use Roofing Patch To Fix Small Holes

Small holes in your shingles can take a while for you to notice them. It’s a good idea to do a regular roof inspection for this reason, as tiny holes can do a lot of damage, only they do it slowly. If there are any nails exposed, make sure they are tight against the roof. Use a roofing patch (a liquid-ish product specifically designed for this purpose) to cover any smaller holes. Once it dries, you have the option of painting the spots with a safe, approved-for-outdoors paint if the colour of the patching doesn’t suit the colour of your roof.

The above information should have given you an idea of a few easy roof repairs you can do on your own. It’s a good idea to examine your roof yearly to help identify and anticipate any issues rather than waiting until there’s water in your attic. You also want to follow appropriate weather precautions for your area regarding storms and winter months.