Learn to fix roof leaks efficiently to prevent damage to your home. In the process of fixing the leaks, you can try to decipher the cause and eliminate it. The most common signs that you have a leaking roof are stuffy smells in the room, stains on your ceiling, and stains on your walls. If your property is a rental property, make sure that you communicate with your tenants so that they tell you when water damage happens immediately. The last thing that you’d want is to have damage going on for days before giving it attention.

Sometimes roof leaks are a result of circumstances like heavy rainfall and winds leading to damage. Have you ever had tree limbs fall onto your house? That can cause extensive damages, which leads to holes and eventually leaks. If you plan on selling your home in the future, a well-maintained roof with help you attract more potential buyers. Many people are aware that the roof is a big-ticket item when it comes to property expenses.

Once you realize that there is a leak, the first step is to identify the cause as soon as possible. From there, you can figure out a solution. Here, we will discuss several reliable ways to fix your leaky roof.

• Roofing Cement

If the leak is caused by holes and cracks, you can typically patch them up using roofing cement. Ideally, you can use this material on damaged parts of the roof, and the hole stays sealed for a long time. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Sometimes, roofing cement only lasts for a few months before the same issue happens again.

To add additional support to these problem areas, you can place roofing mesh over the cemented area to secure it further. You can use a putty knife to scoop and apply the cement along the open spaces until properly sealed.

Depending on the size of the hole, this may be something you can do yourself. However, for larger damaged areas of your roof, it is highly recommended that you consult with a professional contractor. For properties that have had several consistent roof leaks, it can be a sure sign that it’s time to renovate your roof.

• Using a Tarp

You can use a tarp to cover the area that is leaking. This is a temporary fix to a problem that you will need to address further once you have the time, or once you can hire someone to come in to fix it. Ideally, you would only use a tarp for extremely small leaks. It’s not a long-term fix for a major roof leak.

Tarps are more commonly used for holes that are in structures that are less commonly used, like a shed in the backyard. Again, this is not a perfect fix. You can get away with using small tarps on sheds that store tools and other things that are not used very frequently. Consider this as a bandaid until you can hire a professional contractor to come in and take a look at the leaking roof.

• Replacing Damaged Shingles

If the source of the roof leak is due to broken, cracked, or loose shingles, replacing them can solve the issue. Depending on how many need to be replaced, this can be a relatively inexpensive solution to your leaking roof.

To begin, you will need replacement shingles for the damaged shingles you will remove. Use a flat pry bar to loosen and remove nails and remove damaged shingles. Slide in a new shingle and properly nail it in place. To strengthen the new shingles, apply roofing cement on the underside of the shingle before nailing it in place. If your house is prone to strong winds, this can help keep your new shingles sturdy for many years to come.

• Hiring a professional

Why worry about fixing yourself when professionals can typically do the job better and more efficiently. A leaking roof is not something that you want to mess around with too much. Hiring a professional is a reliable way to fix a prominent leak in any type of roof.

It is important to check with your roofing contractor whether they offer a warranty for leaks, especially if your roof is newly installed. You will have to budget for this and it is suitable that you read reviews from their website to find the best ones.

A leaky roof can cascade into extensive damages throughout your house. Do your best to identify this issue from the start. From there, determine what is causing it. Once you’ve figured that out, put a plan in place to get it fixed. The quicker you solve this issue, the more money you can save from potential damages down the road.