Protect Your Roof From Leaks
Leaking flat roofs should not be ignored, as they can lead to big problems such as structural damage to your property over time. If you spot a leak in your roof, contact a professional roofer for roof repairs or try to assess the damage yourself to see it it’s something you can fix yourself.
To keep your rooftop healthy, carry out regular maintenance work – it only takes a little time to carry out checks of your roof or a little investment in professional roofing that can save you from having to spend serious cash on roof repairs or even a new roof in the future.
You can avoid major roofing problems by checking inside and out for leaking water and damage. Inside, you should check for signs of water damage, such as rust on metal work in the loft, or timber that is rotting. Water spots and dried water on your ceiling are also indicators that water is coming in through a leak.
When you’re checking the roof or your loft for leaking water, it’s best to do this on a rainy day – although you should never attempt to gain access to your roof if it’s wet as this is highly dangerous. Simply go inside and look up – you should be able to see where weak spots where water is seeping through. If it’s not raining but you’re suspicious that your roof is leaking, you can undertake a check by using a hosepipe over your roof.
Sometimes it’s difficult to see where the leak is coming from – water may run some distance from its original point of entry in your roof, in which case you’ll have to do some detective work and trace the water spot back to the leaking point in the roof. Make sure that you check the entire surface of the roof around the leak, as the damage may extend along the entire track of the water.
Leaks can often be found in the same vulnerable spots in your roof. Weaker areas are found along the joins where two surfaces meet, such as:
Dormer Valley
Shingles
Flashings
Ridge cap
Downpipes
Gutters
Fixing Roof Leaks
Now you’ve found the leak, it’s time to fix it. If the problem only affects a small area, you may be able to undertake the repairs yourself. If there’s a major leak, you may do more harm than good by attempting to fix it yourself, so call in a trained roofer who will assess the damage and undertake the necessary repairs.
When you’re carrying out repairs to your roof, make sure you know the basic safety rules. Never attempt to work on your roof in the rain or when it’s wet. Ensure that you use a tool belt so that your hands are free to steady yourself. Use a proper extension ladder and never try to over-stretch to reach an area – go down and reset your ladder safely so that you don’t have to stretch. It takes longer, but your safety is of paramount importance and falls from roofs are all-too easy and very common – that’s why roofing is such as specialised trade.
Shingles You can carry out repairs to shingles by reattaching with roof cement. You can tell that shingles are damaged because they will begin to curl. If they’ve curled up then they’ll start to let in water. You should be able to manipulate the shingles back into shape by simply remoulding them. If it’s could, you’ll need to warm them up so that they’re malleable. Use a propane torch to heat them gently so that you can reshape them – be careful not to use too much heat or you’ll cause too much damage and you won’t be able to reuse them. Reattach the shingles by coating the back with roof cement and pushing back into place firmly. This is a simple job if there’s not too much damage, but if many shingles are damaged it may be time for a roof replacement.
Slate Roofs Fixing leaking slate is similar to fixing shingles – you can replace with roof cement and push them back in, if only a small area is affected. The hardest job with missing tiles is finding replacement tiles to match the rest of your roof. With slate roofs, leaks are often due to worn flashings, particularly on older properties where flashings were often made from copper or tin. Using a special paint to prevent corrosion can often help extend the life of flashings.
Flat Roofing Signs of wear and tear for flat roofs can come in the form of cracks or blisters. You can easily fix blistered flat roofs across a small area by cutting through the top layer of the blister – making sure that you don’t damage the internal layer of roofing. Lift the top layer and mop up all the water so that the area is complete dry. Now paste roof cement on the edges of the loose felt and press it firmly back into place. Secure the area by using galvanized roof nails along the cut and cover the repairs once again with another layer of roof cement.
Professional Roofing in Your Local Area
If you’re not sure how to repair your leaking roof, call in a trained roofer. A trained roofer will carry out a full assessment of your roof and provide you with peace of mind that your roof will continue to protect your property long in to the future.
For professional roof repairs, contact G&A Roofing and Building. We are a leading roofing firm that offers a vast range of roofing services for homes and businesses at affordable prices. Call G&A Roofing and Building for help today on 0800 626430.
