DIY Roof Repairs

While major roof repairs and installation should be done by professional roofing contractor, there are some minor repairs that you can easily do yourself to save money. For instance, there are some leaks that you can repair, which is also going to extend the life of your roof and keep you from having to get more expensive repairs later on.

Here are some easy do-it-yourself roof repair tips that every homeowner should know about:

Finding Leaks

If you notice that there are water stains on your ceilings, chances are that there is a leak somewhere in your roof. You don't always have to call someone in to find out where the roof is leaking. First, get up on a ladder and take a look at the roof with a pair of binoculars. With the binoculars, scan the roof to look for damaged or missing shingles, damaged flashing, damaged or missing caulking, and damaged end caps. Don't forget to look around the chimney and any dormers to see if there is any wear in the flashing.

Flattening Shingles

If the problem is curved shingles, you can flatten them out rather than replace them. You will need to use roofing cement, and apply it with a paint brush. Hold down the shingles as you seal them into place to make sure that they don't lift up and curl again. You may have to hold the shingles in place for a minute or two in order to be sure that the cement has set and they aren't going to curl again.

Replacing Damaged Shingles

Another roofing repair job that you can do yourself is replacing damaged, missing, or rotting shingles. The first thing you need to do is to use a pry bar or a hammer to lift up the original shingles. Once they are lifted, you should be able to slide them right out. Then, all you have to do is put the new shingles in place, and secure them with roofing nails in each corner to make sure that they stay in place.

Resealing Chimneys

If you have chimneys and/or dormers, and there are leaks around them, you will need to reseal them to stop the leaking. This can easily be done with some roofing cement and a caulking gun. Apply the cement in any spot where the joints aren't secured, and make sure that all of the joints in the flashing are sealed.

Contact a company like A.C.R. Roofing Pty Ltd to learn more.