Roof Leaks

A perfect gutter system can’t fail you in terms of redirecting water away from your house as much as possible. As long as there are no leaks, there can be no water seeping through the fascia and soffits. However, no matter how good your gutter system is, there could still be a way for water to get inside your home. Even though it’s more common on older homes, a roof leak can still occur on newer houses.

Though it’s commonly believed that roof leaks are hard to find, it’s easy as long as you know where and how to look for them. However, you can’t just go up on top of the roof where you want to. Aside from ladder accidents, roof accidents are also common. It’s important that you have the right shoes, brands like Cougar Paws and Thorogood are a good choice. Surprisingly, even gym shoes provide the grip and traction you need. For snow-filled roofs, shoes like those from Yaktrax will help keep you safe.

A good place to start checking for any roof leak is around your chimney. This usually occurs when caulking around the chimney leaves small holes and the water gradually seeps it’s way into your roof. You can use your garden hose and let water flow around the chimney to determine if anything noticeable comes up. The shingle area is another place to look at. Check for any loose nails, missing pieces and cracks.

When you spot the sources of the leaks, you can just use a caulking gun to seal most of it. If it’s one the shingles, you can replace the loose nail with a new one and caulk it. If a shingle is loose, you can use roofing cement to reattach it properly. If the shingle is cracked (usually from the weather), replace it with a new one right away and use an adequate amount of roof cement. There may be times when you’ll be in doubt about doing this yourself so it’s best to refer to a roofing professional.

A roof leak is something that needs to be fixed right away, so make sure to have it fixed as soon as you see any water seeping through your ceiling. Leaving it as it is can lead to big repair costs! How do you check your roof for any leaks?

How do you have it fixed? Do you always leave it to the professionals? Join the discussion at Hallett Gutter Cover’s Facebook page and at their website.