There’s nothing worse than when your San Antonio, TX, roof begins to leak. Not only is it unpleasant, but a leaky roof can invite pests and mold growth to your home. Furthermore, a leaky roof can cause higher utility bills and damage your home’s interior structure.
Suffice to say, don’t delay repairing a leaky roof. Check out these tips for damage control while you wait for help from your nearby roofing professional.
1. Find the Source
While this may sound obvious, finding the source of the leak may be harder than you think.
More often than not, you probably realized there was a leak based on a water stain forming on your ceiling. To find the source of the leak, follow the water stain vertically until you arrive at a spot on your roof.
The water could be coming from underneath shingles, so some water spots may be difficult to find. If you have trouble finding the leak, recruit a helper to pour water on the roof. Once you see the water drip down in the attic, tell them to mark the spot on the roof.
Of course, climbing on top of your roof comes with inherent risks. For the safest way to identify the source of a leak, call a professional roofer to climb on top of your roof instead.
2. Never Use Caulk
A tool that many homeowners reach for when attempting repairs is the almighty caulk. While caulk is great to use in a variety of circumstances, roof repair is not one of them.
Usually, when there is a leak in your roof, it’s a significant structural problem, and caulk is a quick fix that won’t last too long.
If you have a significant leak, the best chance you have is to call a professional roofer to lay down new shingles. However, caulk is a great way to stop the leak until you can call a local roofer company to fully fix the problem.
3. Repair Curled Shingles
Curled shingles are perhaps the most common reason why roofs leak water. When your shingles have not been installed properly or when there’s too much moisture trapped underneath the shingle, it can cause the shingle to lose its seal and curl upwards.
As a result, more water can get underneath the shingle and leak through your roof.
When this happens, it’s important to repair these shingles. If your shingles are curling due to bad installation, you may want to hire a reputable roofing company to reinstall the shingles the correct way.
You can also purchase roof cement and apply a generous amount underneath the curled shingles, pressing them down flat and gluing them to the roof. However, keep in mind that this is a quick fix, which may not last long.
For long-lasting solutions you can count on, call a professional roofer company.
4. Replace Missing Shingles
If it’s been a long time since you last replaced your roof, your shingles will degrade. Sometimes they curl, rot, or fall off altogether. When this happens, you’ll need to replace your missing shingles.
If your shingles need to be replaced, this is a big indicator that you will need a major roof replacement. Contact a San Antonio, TX, roof replacement company to get an assessment.
5. Be Cognizant of Color
If you’re replacing a few shingles here and there, you may not think that it’s a big deal if the replacement shingles are a couple of shades lighter or darker than your current shingles.
However, you will be dismayed to find that once you step back and look at your work, your roof’s new shingles stick out like a sore thumb.
Mismatching colors can be a significant eyesore and may drastically lower your curb appeal. Before your San Antonio, TX, roofer comes to your home, make sure you have an idea of what color you need to match the new shingles.
6. Don’t Get in over Your Head
As empowering (and cost-effective) as it may be, repairing a leaky roof is a formidable endeavor. Each year, hundreds of ambitious homeowners climb on top of their homes to perform DIY roof repairs, only to make the problem worse or sustain severe or life-threatening injuries.
A roof is replaceable: your safety and body are not. If you’re ever in doubt about repairing a leaky roof, don’t hesitate to call for help.
Contact a Nearby Roofing Professional
If a leak is too extensive, it’s smart to contact a nearby roofing professional for repairs.
Your roof is nothing to take shortcuts with. If you’re not 100% confident in your repair skills, the problem will likely keep coming back, or you may even make the problem worse.
Don’t chance it. Call Bondoc Roofing for leaky roof repairs in San Antonio, TX. Our highly skilled roofers will assess your property and advise you on the best course of action. With upfront pricing, integrity, and award-winning service, we’re the best roofing service around.
Call Bondoc Roofing today to get started on repairing a leaky roof!
