Do-It-Yourself Roofing Made Easy: How to Avoid Leaks in Your Roof

Figuring out how to avoid leaks in your roof is a highly essential safety and maintenance precaution. Suppose you go away for a few weeks, and a powerful storm hits. If your roof is fragile and hasn’t been checked for damage in a while, it can happen that the storm would severely damage part of the flashing, allowing water to flow through to the decking and to your attic or interior walls.

The damage can be extensive in such situations, and if not found in time, your home might require major renovation work once you get home from your vacation. As a result, it’s much better to keep track of a few simple tips and tricks that will help you avoid leaks in the future.

Check the Most Common Areas Where a Leak Can Arise

The chimney, plumbing vent flashing, wall step flashing, furnace shingles and skylights are the most common areas where leaks can appear. Although these areas aren’t vulnerable in the case of every roof, it’s a good idea to still check them as frequently as you do your maintenance checks, especially if your roof is slightly older.

Another important problem to keep track of is the issue of ice dams. Ice dams can form if you have ventilation problems or your gutters are clogged. Clearing debris from your roof can prevent ice dams, effectively eliminating the water damage that leads to leaks before it happens.

roof ice dam

Simple Ways to Prevent Leaking

When it comes to deciding on the best measures of how to avoid leaks in your roof, using a few simple methods will go a long way. Per Danville roofing contractors, the most straightforward method is to upgrade your flashing. Metal and rubber flashing products are considered the best, and you’ll find they can easily prevent water from seeping through for a long time to come. Also, a good tip is to make sure you focus especially on the flashing around your chimney. This is typically where most roof leaks start.

Another important tip is to use proper roof coating to protect your roof. The coating can be especially designed to weatherproof your roof in the event of a storm, but it’s also a good idea to make it UV-resistant, especially if you live in a warmer area with frequent sunny days and infrequent (but powerful) thunderstorms.

Although you will have to invest some money to use these upgrades, you’ll find they will definitely pay off in the end. Your shingles will be better protected, and your flashing will no longer be a cause for concern.

Emergency Leak Repair Measures

In some cases, leaks appear when you least expect them, and they start wreaking havoc on sensitive areas of your home, such as your bathroom, kitchen or study. If you don’t want your tiles to suffer or your large bookshelves to be affected by water, use plastic sheathing to cover the affected area on your roof.

Even though this is only a temporary measure, it can be very useful until Danville roofing contractors arrive, or until you have the time to repair your roof more thoroughly. In the meantime, learning how to avoid leaks in your roof can come in handy, whether you already have small leaks or not.

About the author: Salvador Frazier