Many roof repairs aren’t for the do-it-yourselfer, but some are, and they can be done fairly easily with the right tools and a little bit of knowledge. The tools are important, but the knowledge is the most vital. If you don’t understand what you’re doing and why, you could do more damage to your roof, necessitating a contractor to come and repair not only the original damage but the damage that you caused, as well. Naturally, this can be very costly, so you’ll want to avoid it if at all possible.
What kind of repair you’ll have to do and what tools and materials you’ll need generally depends on what kind of roof you have. It might be shingle, metal, tile, slate, or something else. Some roofs are also much steeper than others, and some are completely flat. No matter what kind of roof you have, you can learn about how to fix it carefully and for far less money than a contractor would charge you. The main thing with any roof is that preventative maintenance is important. If you can catch a developing problem before it becomes a leak you have likely saved yourself a lot of time and effort, as well as a lot of aggravation and the money that can come along with repairing water damage in your home.
In order to prevent problems or fix the ones that are already there, you’ll need to inspect the roof. Do as much of that as you can from a ladder, because walking on the roof can sometimes damage it and it can be dangerous. You could slip and fall off, or you could bump into the power lines that run to your home. Neither one of these scenarios is a good one. When you do walk on the roof, wear rubber-soled shoes and move slowly and carefully. Look for evidence of leaks such as missing shingles, cracked tiles, or areas where debris such as leaves has built up.
It may be stopping the water from leaving your roof, which can cause it to back up and get under the roof coating, resulting in leaks. Damage to the flashing around the edges of the roof can be a problem, too, as can damage to the flashing around pipes and vents that come up through the roof of your home. These are all suspect areas that should be closely inspected. If you have a fireplace, carefully examine the area around the chimney, as well. Finding problems before they start is the best choice for protecting your roof and the rest of your home.