You realize there’s a new water stain on your ceiling and immediately panic. It can be easy to simply ignore the problem and hope it doesn’t get worse. The thought of spending hundreds or maybe even thousands of dollars on a repair can be daunting.
But it’s best to fix the problem early, preventing any more issues in the rest of the building.
Are you a new home or building owner looking to repair your roof? Whether you’re looking to fix a leak, repair shingles, or just trying to improve the appearance, you’ll need to find the right products.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed about where to start, you’ve come to the right place.
Here is our guide to the best roof repair products and other things to consider throughout the process.
Knowing Which Products to Use
To start, you’re going to need the right tools for the job. Let’s go through some basic roof repair products that you can use for a variety of issues:
Sealant
You can use roof sealant to protect your roof from weather-related damage like rain or wind. This is a necessity and will help your roof last longer.
Underlayment
Underlayment is a felt or synthetic material protecting the interior of your roof to prevent water from leaking through. Like sealant, it adds an extra form of protection.
Without it, your wood could start to rot or your attic could begin leaking.
Roofing Nails
Use these nails when applying shingles or sheathing. They are coated in zinc, so they are rust-resistant and will last a long time.
Ladder
If you’re going to try repairing your roof yourself at home or another property, you’re definitely going to need a ladder. Make sure you find a sturdy one that’s long enough to reach the top of your roof.
If you’re unsure about getting up there yourself, consider looking into a ladder assist service.
Best Roof Repair Products
Now that you have an idea of the types of products you should look for, let’s talk about some of the best products out there.
Keep in mind that prices will vary with the quality and type of product that you are purchasing.
Here, we listed some links and brief descriptions about some of the most important products you’ll want to look for.
Best Sealants
Gorilla Waterproof Patch and Seal Tape: This sealant tape can be used indoors and outdoors. It’s great for fixing leaks as it seals water and moisture instantly.
Liquid Rubber Waterproof Sealant: Easy to apply and suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Extremely durable and low in price.
Finding the Right Underlayment
Asphalt-saturated felt: This is the most traditional type of underlayment and is saturated with asphalt as the waterproof ingredient. It makes the roof much more durable and protects against heavy elements like hail from an ice storm.
Rubberized asphalt: Contrary to the name, there is a very small amount of asphalt in this type. It holds a lot of flexibility, giving it great durability for both hot and cold weather.
Synthetic: This type is more recent and has gained a lot of popularity. Although it is the most expensive choice, it’s the most effective. Most modern roofs have this installed, and it has incredible strength and durability.
Problem-Specific Products and Solutions
If you’re a home or building owner, you are likely to run into some problems that will require specific products to resolve.
Here, we discuss some of those problems and how you can handle them in the simplest ways possible.
When Your Roof Is Leaking
This is one of the biggest problems that homeowners or building owners face. There can be many different causes of this, and it can be hard to know exactly why.
Usually, a leaky roof will require flashing replacements.
If you’re unsure, you can contact a roofing contractor for an inspection before the problem gets worse.
Holes in Your Roof
Do you think there may be some punctures on your roof? These holes can cause wood rotting and leaks if not taken care of right away.
They can form over time from birds and other animals or even just from footsteps on the roof.
Sheathing, interlaying, and shingles will have to be installed to repair the holes and can get pricey.
Pools of Water
This is a big concern specifically for flat roofs. Water pools are more avoidable if the roof is slanted so that the water can run right off, but that isn’t always an option.
Getting drains installed or slanting in your roof can prevent this from happening, but will often require professional contracting services.
Damage from Snow and Ice
If you live in an area where winter weather is a yearly occurrence, you’re bound to have snow and ice damage on your roof at some point. When the snow and ice melts, it has the potential to leak and can cause significant damage.
Getting regular inspections and maintenance checks on your roof is one way to know for sure you don’t have any serious damage.
It’s best to stay on top of it instead of waiting to seek help until there’s a bigger problem.
Gutter Problems
Gutters can often get clogged with outdoor debris making them difficult to drain. Then, when it rains, they won’t be able to drain any of the water and will overflow.
Simply checking your gutters regularly can ensure they will last longer and will not require any serious maintenance.
Another solution, though, would be to get gutter guards installed to prevent any debris from getting in.
Tree Damage
Damage from trees can cause serious problems for your roof. From tornadoes and other wind storms, your roof can cave in, you can lose shingles, and branches might even break windows.
Debris from trees like needles and leaves can also be a factor in those clogged gutters we talked about before.
To prevent any serious damage from your trees, be sure that no heavy branches are too close to your home. You can also just avoid planting any trees very close if you can help it.
Roof Replacement/Repair Companies: The Benefits
Many roof problems simply cannot be done by one person.
If you are a single homeowner or building owner, it’s okay to ask the experts for the best roof repair advice.
Instead of risking seriously hurting yourself or worsening the issues trying to fix your roof on your own, consider reaching out to a professional.
Check out our services page or FAQ page to learn more so that we can help you make only the best decisions for your property.
