Roof protects the house from the climate conditions. That’s why it has to be built properly using high quality materials. Regular maintenance is also very important and it depends on the type of the roof. However, during the time roofing material changes and deteriorates and that can cause water leakage at the beginning and some more serious problems later on. First thing you will have to do if you want to repair roof leaks is to find the leakage. In order to do that, go to the roof and inspect the surface very carefully. Always keep in mind that water can travel in different directions through the roof structure; that means that leak can be far from that stain on your ceiling. You should inspect not only the shingles but all the elements of the roof – flashings, chimneys, vent pipes, gutters and downspouts.

If there are missing or broken shingles on the roof, you have to replace them with new ones. Replacement depends on the type of the shingle. If you have asphalt shingles on the roof, first you will have to lift up the shingle above the damaged one. Do that using pry bar and applying moderate pressure. Cut the nails, remove the damaged shingle and replace it. Put the new shingle in place; make sure that the bottom part is even with the other shingles in the row. Secure it with galvanized roofing nails.

If you have wood shingles on the roof you will have to split the damaged shingle first. Use hammer and chisel and carefully remove broken pieces. Cut off the nails with hacksaw. Measure the gap and cut new shingle 3/8 inch smaller. This ensures enough space for wood expansion. Place new shingle and nail it with two galvanized roofing nails.

Blisters and cracks cause leakage of the flat roof. This is something you can fix yourself. Make X cut over the blister surface. Open the flaps and dry the surface beneath. Apply roofing cement, press back the flaps and cover the area with patching fabric. Add new layer of the cement and make sure the patch is sealed all around the edges. If you need to repair the crack, follow the same procedure.

You can find flashing around the valleys, over the windows and around chimneys and vent pipes.

If there are thin spots or gaps along the flashing joint, apply thick layer of roofing cement over the damaged area. It is good to check flashings every time you clean the gutters. You should do that every time after a rain, of course. It is important to keep the gutters and downspouts clean from leaves; if they are clogged, they won’t work properly.

As you can see, regular maintenance and inspection of the roof are very important. You can repair roof leaks yourself but if you think your roof is too much damaged consider re-roofing instead of repairing it.

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