Common House Roof Repairs You May Need
Posted on: 21 July 2023
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The roofing of your house bears the brunt of the elements, which will inevitably cause it to deteriorate. Because of this, roof repairs are a necessary part of maintaining a home. Here are three common types of roof repairs you may encounter.
Roof Leaks
One common issue that necessitates repairs is a leaky roof. A roofing contractor will address this issue by looking for the source of the hole, usually by visually inspecting the cladding to see if it's deteriorated. They will also look for clues, such as a sagging roof, suggesting rain habitually pools in a particular spot.
The roofer may also check inside the crawl space and note the condition of the ceiling plaster, as moisture can lead to dark patches. They may use a water hose outside to simulate what happens when it rains if they're stumped. A familiar trouble spot they'll check is the metal flashing around chimneys and other protrusions.
The solution will depend on the source and the degree of damage. While fixing minor cracks and decay may be possible, they may need to replace extensively damaged cladding.
Damaged and Dislodged Tiles
Another common type of roof repair is fixing or replacing faulty roof tiles. Due to wear and tear, they can become brittle and cracked or be blown out of position by buffeting winds, hail and rain. Damaged tiles can also result from tree branches snapping and falling on a house during a storm, in which case the roof will need to be inspected urgently for safety.
The repairs will depend on the extent of the damage. The roofer may be able to repair or replace the affected tiles, or they may have to fix a large section of roofing. If water has infiltrated the cladding or a large object has fallen on it, they may also need to repair the underlying structure and remove a large area of tiles to access the roof battens.
Flashing Repairs
The roof flashing is another area that commonly needs repairs. The flashing is a metal membrane that seals the joints between the roof, chimneys, skylights and other protrusions. Flashing aims to close the joints and prevent water from seeping in.
This metal membrane can deteriorate in different ways. It can corrode due to moisture and crack because of fluctuations in the weather. In these cases, the roofer will likely replace the flashing. However, if the problem is a gap between the flashing and the roof, they could fix it with a waterproof sealant.