All About Roofing

Roof Leak Repair - How to Stop the Drip!: "To stop a roof from leaking the first thing you have to do is to find the leak. This is not always the easiest thing to do. Some leaks are easy to find, while others may be inches away from the stain on your ceiling. This may take some private-eye work for you. Roof leak repair is not as simple as most people think it is.

Many things can cause a roof to leak. Lack of maintenance is one of those things. If you suspect you have a leak, check it out and trace the source back as soon as you can. This will cause you less stress and the least amount of time and money in the long run.

Some roofs leak because of missing or damaged shingles. Shingles are easy to replace. Some of the tools you will need are a pry bar, scrapper, the new shingle, utility knife, roofing nails, hammer, roof cement and a trowel. Now you are ready!

Carefully remove the nails with the pry bar. Slide out the old shingle, scrap off any old, leftover cement. Slide the new shingle in and line it up with the remaining shingles. Use a roofing nail in each corner and cover with roofing cement. This type of roof leak repair is a simple fix.

On a flat roof leaks usually occur in low areas or when the felt has been damaged. Roof leak repair can be done on the felt of a flat roof. You will need these tools - utility knife, clean rags or towels, asphalt roof cement, nails and a hammer. Look for a blister in the felt. Make a small cut in the blister, but not down to the good felt underneath.

If there is any water in the blister press it out gently and use a towel to dry the area. Use a thick amount of roofing cement and firmly press down both sides of the felt. Close the blister for good with a row of nails along each side of the cut. Then use the roofing cement over the whole area.

A roof leak repair is for the most part easy to do. There are many how-to guides that can walk you step-by-step through the specific processes. Some leaks, however, will require a professional for the job. So don't hesitate to call one. If your whole roof needs to be repaired it would be best to call someone with the experience and license to do the job.

Do not be afraid to ask questions and talk to friends and neighbors who have had their roofs repaired. Compare prices between companies. This way you can be assured to get the most reliable contractors for the job."