A roof is the most important part of your house, and if the roof leaks or break down starts, you need to take care of it right away. Unfortunately, roof repair can be complicated because many different types of roofing materials do not all behave similarly. This blog post will walk you through how to repair your roof in The Bronx by showing you the best practices for common roofing materials like shingle roofs, tile roofs, metal roofs, concrete roofs, and flat roofing.
When To Repair VS Replace Your Roof?
The type of damage and the overall proportion of the entire roof surface needing repair will determine whether you repair or replace your roof. Here are some indicators that your roof requires repair:
- Curled, cracked, or missing shingles indicate that they are nearing the end of their useful life and should be replaced. This is a common issue with older roofs.
- Dirty or dark shingles—This shows moisture trapped on your roof and could imply mold or mildew.
- Shingle fragments or granules in gutters—As asphalt and composite shingles age, their granules fall out. These granules will appear in your gutter as coarse, black sand.
- Deteriorated flashings—Look for evidence of damage or degradation near the roof’s borders, as well as around skylights, chimneys, and plumbing vent pipes.
- Interior ceilings or walls stained with water—Water stains on the interior walls or ceilings are classic symptoms of a leaky roof. This could be due to water trapped in the underlayment of your roof.
- Damage in the attic— Any evidence of water damage, visible light in the roof, or sagging decking or rafters are all examples of attic damage.
- Higher energy bills—If your monthly energy expenses are significantly higher than usual, it’s time to have your roof inspected for damage.
How Much Does Roof Repair Cost?
Keeping your roof in good repair can help you avoid having to replace it entirely. An asphalt-shingled roof can cost $300 and $1,100 to fix on a moderately sized home of 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. Other elements that influence the final roof repair costs include:
- Where you live, zip code
- Type of roof
- Size of roof
- Pitch and slope of the roof
- Underlayments and flashing
- Existing water damage
- Chimneys and skylights
- Cost of permits
As with any DIY home repair, it’s not always possible to know the entire amount of the damage before you begin. Water damage is the most expensive hidden expenditure. Unfortunately, water damage is frequently overlooked until the shingles are removed, and the deck is revealed.
Perform a thorough assessment of the damaged area before attempting a repair. Do you notice any flashing? Are there any missing or damaged shingles? Examine your attic for any evidence of roof leak.
Taking the time to assess the damage will establish whether or not the project requires the services of a professional.
The roof and other architectural aspects determine the cost of repairing a roof.
How To Repair Your Roof?
Throughout its lifetime, a roof will endure natural wear and tear. You may avoid significant structural problems in your home by keeping up with roof repair maintenance. On the other hand, some repairs are better left to the pros. Slate, composite or rubber roofs, wood, and metal roofs require specialized tools and knowledge, so it’s best to engage an expert, such as TCI Bronx, to fix them.
Asphalt shingles are the most often utilized roofing material in homes. The good news is that you can undertake a few small roof leak repairs yourself on an asphalt roof. You’ll only need an afternoon to perform modest repairs like replacing a roof or mending a hole.
Have an expert inspect your roof before you start any repairs. This will assist in determining whether the underlayment or decking has been damaged. It’s more cost-effective to replace the entire roof if the damage is severe.
What Are The Materials Needed?
- Ladder
- Roof jack and harness
- Tool belt
- Hammer
- Pry bar or shingle ripper
- Asphalt shingles
- Shingle/roof cement
- Cement adhesive
Safety Tips
- Never work on a roof by yourself.
- To avoid injury, make sure you’re dressed properly.
- To avoid awkward body positions, keep your instruments close at hand.
- When climbing to the roof, use a secure, robust ladder and have a helper secure the ladder at the base while you’re standing on it.
- When walking on a roof, do it slowly and make sure your footing is stable before taking another step.
- It’s hot on the roof, so if you can, work on a chilly morning (or at a time when the weather is cool).
Common Roof Repairs And Costs
Here’s how to replace a shingle that’s been damaged:
- Before stepping onto the roof, make sure your ladder and roof jack are both level and secure. Before you start working, be sure your roof jack is in place.
- Assess the damage—Find the shingles that have been damaged to determine how many replacement shingles are required. Examine the entire roof for any damaged or loose shingles. Use a cement adhesive to hold them in place.
- Check the affected areas for signs of seepage or pooling water in the damaged area.
- Start two rows above the damaged roof region to loosen the glue. To loosen the tabs, use the pry bar.
- Remove the exposed nails by loosening and removing them with a pry bar or hammer.
- Continue to loosen and remove shingles until you reach the ones that need to be replaced, then work your way to the damage. Remove the damaged shingles until all of the shingles that need to be replaced have been removed.
- Inspect the underlayment—Make sure the area beneath the shingle doesn’t have any significant water damage.
- Install the new shingle—Instead of the shingle you removed, install a new shingle. Push the shingle into place by gluing or removing the adhesive strip from the back of the shingle. For maximum sturdiness, nail the shingle to the roof (most shingles have pre-cut holes for nails.)
- Continue shingling—Repeat until all of the damaged shingles have been installed, as well as the shingles in the two rows above that you removed.
When To Hire a Roofing Contractor?
Choosing the best roof repair companies isn’t always a simple decision. Whether you fix or hire is determined by several criteria, including the location of the damage, the time and talent required to repair it, and the overall amount of damage. Most insurance companies recommend that if more than 25% of your total roof surface is damaged, you should replace your entire roof (which will require a contractor).
If you don’t take the time to choose the best contractor, you could end up with a shoddy job and expensive roof repairs. So before making a hiring decision, think about the following:
- What is the entire name and address of the roofing company? A credible business will have a physical address.
- Does insurance cover the roofing firm? To safeguard the homeowner in an accident, the roof repair contractor should have both workman’s compensation and liability insurance.
- Is the contractor working with subcontractors? Find out if a subcontractor will be performing any or all of the work. If this is the case, the subcontractor must be insured.
- Is there a list of references for the roofing company? A trustworthy and affordable roof repair contractor will gladly provide you with as many references as required.
- Is there a warranty on the roof included? A good roofing firm always backs up its work with a warranty.
How To Keep Your Roof in Good Repair?
After it has been roof repaired or replaced, you should conduct routine roof inspections and maintenance to spot minor roof repairs before they become severe ones. Here are a few tips for keeping your roof in good shape:
- Look for missing or damaged shingles and repair as needed
- Replace the roof sealant as needed
- Keep branches away from the roof and trim them on a regular basis
- Keep gutters clear and clean
- Maintain your chimney and skylights
- Prevent ice dams (ice build-up on the eaves of sloped roofs)
- Look for any signs of rust on metal components
Conclusion
Regular roof care makes your home safe and attractive. An asphalt roof has a 15 to 18-year average lifespan. Your roof may be damaged by high winds and hail, as well as other frequent roofing issues like broken shingles or tree damage during that time. However, this does not imply that you must replace the entire roof. Perhaps the roof damage is minimal and can be repaired.
Suppose you have a roofing contractor come out to inspect your roof. In that case, they will determine if it can be fixed or needs roof replacement based on several factors, including roof size, type of roof covering (composition shingle, metal), age of roof materials, degree of damage, and location on the roof. To ensure that all roof work is done correctly, call our best roof repair team, TCI Bronx.
