Five Essential Roofing Repair Jobs

As sturdy and strong as it may be, the roof of your home is not entirely maintenance free. The steadfast structure can last for twenty years or more, but it won’t make it without a little TLC. With that in mind, here are five essential roofing repair jobs.

New Shingles

Although tested for 15 to 30 years of life, asphalt shingles often expire long before the structure they protect. The reason for this is simple: they bear the full brunt of Mother Nature’s fury. When high winds, hail, heavy rain, or snow batter them, shingles often sustain serious damage. Whether worn, torn, or missing, new shingles must take their place. Because getting up there with a ladder and tools can be dangerous, most homeowners hire contractors to do the work for them. Unless more than one-third of the shingles are damaged or missing, this roofing repair job is less expensive than replacing the entire structure.

Gutter Replacement

When properly cleaned and maintained, gutters should last for the life of your home. Unfortunately, most homeowners neglect these rain catchers and allow them to overflow with leaves, dirt, and other debris. The inevitable result is gutters that slump, bend, and break due to excess weight. When this happens, the bad stretch of gutter or downspout must be replaced. A relatively inexpensive job, a good contractor can do the work in an afternoon.

Reflashing

If you have a chimney that leaks, odds are the problem is the sheet metal flashing. Whether it’s missing, falling out, or rusted through, this material must be replaced and sealed to prevent water damage. Because it is a time-consuming task, reflashing can be quite costly. The good news is that the results often last many years, even decades.

Leak Repair

Although often easy and inexpensive to fix, finding a water leak can take time. This is especially true if the water is dripping through more than one level, or if the leak is in the walls. Even an experienced contractor can spend hours searching for the source or entry point. We should also mention that roofing repair jobs in out of the way areas can quite pricey. If, for example, the contractor has to tear down a wall to get to a water leak, he will also have to replace it. That said, it is important to address the issue as soon as possible. Failure to do so will not only increase the amount of water damage, it may also result in mold and mildew growth.

Improving Ventilation

The moisture that damages roofs doesn’t only come from the outside. When hot, humid air gets trapped in the attic, it can cause the wood one the inside to swell and buckle up. In order to extend the lifespan of the structure, it is often a good idea to add ventilation to allow the air to escape. Installing gable, ridge, or soffit vents is a relatively inexpensive solution to this common problem.

All of the aforementioned repair jobs can keep your top level in tip-top shape for years to come.