Leaking Roof – Do It Yourself Job Or Hire Someone To Do The Job?

A leaking roof can be an easy job to fix, or it can cause your living rooms ceiling to fall down that's going to cost you your next vacation. When a leaking roof is caught in time, the problem can usually be fixed the same day you discovered the leak. Other times the leak surprises you but has caused too much damage to just be patched up in a day. So do you try to fix a leak by yourself or not?

The first thing you need to find out is how bad the damage is. Sometimes the damage is so bad but we still don't see the effects till the wet season or after a rainstorm. Checking on your roof before winter, after winter or after rough weather could save you a lot of trouble. If there is a hidden leak in your roof it will cause deterioration. That can result in the integrity of the roof being compromised and result in the need for very costly repairs.

You can look for roofing services in your city and let them do all the checking for you and pay them to fix the problem or do it yourself. If you prefer to handle the problem on your own then you need to do some moisture investigating. The first place to look is the Roof cavity. Check your for any signs of a leak, water stains, moisture damage and mould. If you do find mould that could mean you have a leaking roof and that your roof does not have enough ventilation, both problems you need to fix immediately.

If you do not find any signs of a leak in your roof cavity proceed to check your roof. Be sure to get on your roof safely with a ladder and harness. Looking through binoculars is another option but checking the roof up close works better. Look for:
• Missing tiles – if a tile is missing be sure to replace it immediately.
• Damaged tiles – the same goes for damaged tiles because they both are sources of leaks.
• Curling, fraying, tears or excessive deterioration on the roof surface, depending on the material used.

Once you've detected your leak, fix it immediately. The most common reason why roof leaks become such a problem is because people take the problem for granted and don’t do anything about it till it’s to late. If you cannot fix the problem on your own it's better to call a professional to fix the roof, either way do it fast.

Also make sure that you do not have debris or leaves blocking your downpipes on your roof. Collecting of water on a roof can cause a leaking roof. Once a leaking roof starts on an old surface it's hard to block it or make it stop unless you are a professional. If you have an old roof, like 10 to 15 year old having a regular inspection may be a better idea compared to never thinking about your roof until your ceiling falls down due to water damage.

Here are some items you may need to fix your roof:
• Cement mortar
• Chisel
• Clean rags
• Coping saw
• Electrical tape
• Galvanized roofing nails
• Hacksaw
• Hammer
• Metal shears
• Nail set
• Paintbrush
• Pry bar
• Replacement tiles
• Roof cement
• Safety goggles
• Scraper
• Roofing Iron
• Small trowel
• Tape measure
• Utility knife
• Vice
• Water
• Wire brush

If you are not sure on how to use these tools, call someone to fix your roof for you. Fixing it yourself could just result in more damage.