A roof leak should not be left unaddressed because water can cause mold, rot, and drywall collapse. Collapsed ceilings and walls are obviously not a good thing. The damage from mold and rot can be equally impactful–mold spores are harmful to breathe in, mold can make surfaces slippery fall hazards, rot ruins structural supports, and rot attracts termites.
But do you need to call a roofing contractor for repairs? Maybe not. There are some things a homeowner can try before calling in the professionals.
Repair or Replace the Shingles
Using a caulking gun, apply roof sealant under the edges of curled or cracked shingles. Although not a permanent solution, the sealant should stop the leak and buy some time.
Replace missing shingles with new ones purchased at a home improvement or hardware store. Try to match the color as closely as possible to the existing shingles but know that you probably won’t get a perfect match.
If a shingle is broken, you’ll need to remove it before replacing it. Carefully lift the shingle edges to pull up the mat and the nails. Scrape off the roofing cement under the old shingle. Fit the new shingle into place, nail it, and place roof cement over the nail heads and shingle edges.
Replace Cedar Shakes
A cedar shake that is damaged needs to be removed and replaced. Remove the shake by placing a chisel against the lower edge and striking the chisel with the hammer. This will split the shake and allow you to wiggle the two halves out. The nail has to come out before you can slide a new shake in. Sometimes the easiest way to remove the nail is by sawing it off as close to the deck surface as possible. With the original nail removed, slide the new shake into place and attach it with two galvanized nails. Then seal the head with roofing cement.
Repair Roll Roofing or MSR
Asphalt roll roofing is usually used to cover low-sloped roofs. Similar in composition to asphalt shingles, roll roofing consists of an asphalt-soaked organic felt or fiberglass mat plus a layer of aggregate granules. Roll roofing, also called MSR, comes in rolls that are about 36 feet long and 36 inches wide.
Leaks in roll roofing often occur where there are cracks or blisters in the material. A blister may contain water. Carefully slit the blister to release water and air and flatten it as much as possible. Cut a patch of roll roofing to cover the flattened blister and use a small trowel to apply roofing cement over the patch. Fix cracks in roll roofing by applying roofing cement under the cracked area and over the entire crack to seal it.
Shore Up Joint Areas
The areas where two roof planes come together, or where the roof meets the aluminum flashing around a chimney, are common leak locations. Maybe those places were never sealed properly to begin with, or maybe time and weather exposure has caused flashing and seals to pull away. Regardless of why the seal is compromised, it needs to be shored up to stop leaks.
Fix these vulnerable areas by placing roof cement under and over the roofing material. Ensure that the joint area is covered with cement for a secure seal.
Call Your Georgia Roofing Expert
A motivated property owner can get up on a roof and make minor repairs to stop leaks. This can save time and money by doing it solo. However, some roof leaks are best addressed by roofing professionals. Elevated Exteriors in North Georgia are experts in roof leak detection and repair.
Call Elevated Exteriors if your Georgia roof repair job is bigger than you want to take on alone! Here’s our number: (770) 750-5294.