The most common problem that contractors are called upon to fix is a leaky roof. Unfortunately, this serious issue is not a cheap fix either, so any measures that homeowners or building owners can take to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place will be well worth the effort. The following are a list of simple tips and tricks that can help you to prevent roof leaks.
1) Check your chimney
The most common problem area is around the chimney. The caulking around the chimney will eventually have some cracks just from day to day wear and tear from exposure to the elements. If you can get up on your roof safely and do a thorough visual check of your chimney for cracks, you could learn about potential damage before it worsens or causes serious problems.
2) Check skylights or other protrusions
Anything that sticks out of your roof including skylights, plumbing vents, or even cable satellites can possibly allow for leakage. Sometimes these protrusions are not properly secured or again sometimes the sealant becomes cracked. If you live in an area that experiences frequent harsh weather conditions you will definitely want to examine these areas of your roof more often. Depending on how confident you feel, you can examine the roof yourself, or for a more extensive examination call a contractor to take a look for you.
3) Keep your trees trimmed back
This might seem obvious or maybe just insignificant, but do not underestimate the effect that overgrown trees can have on your roof and ultimately your wallet. Roofs are meant to wear down gradually from weather, but when you include additional things that irritate and wear on the shingles, you are bound to find leaks much faster. The tragedy with these situations is that they are easily prevented, so do not procrastinate trimming the tree branches away from your roof and house.
4) A drip edge
Another common cause of leaks is from rotten wood underneath your shingles. If water is left on your roof for an extended period of time with nowhere to go, it can soak into the wood and into the eaves and create a leak source. A drip edge not only cleans up the side of your roof, but also keeps water moving in a desired direction rather than allowing it to pool in one location.
5) Replace missing shingles
Depending on the age of your roof, you might find that some of the shingles have been disrupted and are either broken or missing altogether. Especially in areas with high winds, this is a common problem. It can be easy to ignore these missing shingles from an aesthetic point of view, but when it comes to roof maintenance you will definitely want to get these shingles replaced as soon as you notice the problem. Patches of missing shingles leaves the interior of your roof exposed to elements that can easily soak through and create problematic leaks.