Your home is not only where you lay your head each night, but it is what keeps both you and your family safe. Keeping your home in optimal shape is of vital importance, and nothing is as important as the roof that protects the entire house. Unfortunately some roofing materials are more susceptible to damage and issues than others.

There are numerous problems and issues that can arise with roofs. These complications vary depending on what style of roof you have, how old it is, whether you have a chimney or not, the materials used to build the roof, and many more factors. Depending on which problem you encounter, the solution to fix your roofing problem will vary. Below is a list of common roof problems and some suggested solutions to resolve the situation.

Common roof issues with roof shingles:

One of the most common roof problems occurs with asphalt shingles. These shingles are what are used on the majority of houses because of the fact that they are fairly inexpensive and a lot easier to install then other roofing materials. Unfortunately these shingles have a tendency to develop a few issues if there is a defect with the materials or if they were installed improperly.

Some of the roof problems that may occur with these asphalt shingles are premature cracking, blistering, or the loss of the gravel on the applique layer. These problems can not only damage the interior of your house by allowing water to leak through, but it can also decrease your houses value drastically. If the shingles are defective then the best solution is to call the manufacturer, they often have a warranty and you may be able covered. If not, contact a local roofing contractor to help you solve this issue before any serious damage is done.

Common Flat Roof Problems:

Another common issue residential/commercial property owners run into is with flat roofs. Some flat roof problems include pooling of water and the bowing under the weight of snow. Also since water can freely stand on these roofs, these roofs often have rust in applicable places. If your roof has rust or is beginning to sag, then these are serious issues that you need to deal with. First, if there is water pooling on your roof make sure it is removed within two to three days by adding roof drains or even putting an automatic siphon in the center of the roof. If the roof is sagging in certain spots then it is suggested to brace it and work on preventing weight form collecting in that spot in the future to prevent more damage – hire a flat roofing contractor to solve the problem.

Metal Roof Problems:

Some people prefer the uniqueness of metal roofs, but don’t realize the work that can accompany them. One big issue with these roofs is if they are installed incorrectly. The metal flashing around chimneys is a common place for water to leak through, and also if the roof is a flat-lock metal roof then it can be sealed improperly. If there are sealant problems then the person who installed the roof should be contacted. If you hired a contractor to install your metal roof there will likely be a warranty on it and they can come fix their mistake and reseal it properly.

Clay tile roofing problems

For those homeowners who wanted a different look and chose clay roofing tiles, they may be incredibly pleased with the Spanish/Italian look that their house has achieved but they should be wary of a few hazards that come with this building material. Clay tiles are grey because they can’t burn, rot, rust, or be eaten by insects. Despite all of those cons, these tiles have a few negatives. Not only do they weight a lot, but they break easily. To counteract the weight, make sure that the support beams and all of the internal structures on your house can properly support them. If there is any sagging then additional support will be needed in that area. Also, if you plan to go onto your roof to clean gutters or your chimney, then this can be a tricky task. These tiles are breakable and any rough handling can result in several broken tiles. Best thing to do to avoid this is avoid walking or putting any heavy materials on the roof as much as humanly possible. As a precaution for the future, when you are ordering tiles for the roof, order quite a few extra and store them this way you have them for future maintenance.

Many people do not consider their roofs to be a big problem until an issue comes up. Despite the wide variety of roofing options available, there isn’t one that has absolutely no issues that can go wrong with it. If you are looking for roofing solutions for a particular issue you are having, it is best to consult an experienced professional for additional help. Despite the possible problems for each type of roof, most of the time issues can be avoided with proper installation and maintenance.

The ROOF and ATTIC, two vital areas of the house where homeowners dare to enter, or care to look at – until the problems start.. If you’ve ever had a new roof installed in the past, your roofing contractor may have insisted that you install some type of roof ventilation and soffit ventilation system. However, some homeowners feel that there roofer might be trying to pull a fast one by having you spend extra money on some kind of magical upgrade. In fact, roof ventilation isn’t all hocus pocus and magical card tricks, but, really do play a crucial role in extending the life of your roofing shingles, reducing ice dams, lowered cooling bills in the summer, etc..

Old home Vs new  home roof ventilation

You’ve probably caught an episode or two of This Old House, or some show on HGTV and have learned that older homes tend to have little, to any kind of roof ventilation and inadequate insulation, but their roof seems to be holding up just fine. The reason for this, older homes lack window and door insulation, vapor barriers, and are generally not as airtight by today’s standards. This causes drafty homes and higher energy bills, but, also helps fight the lack of roof and soffit ventilation by having continuous air circulation in your home.

In newer homes, home builders have energy efficiency on their minds when building houses. Starting with proper roof ventilation, vapor barriers, window and door insulation, to name a few. This keeps heating/cooling bills low and a longer lasting roof.

Roof Ridge Vents – How Can I Tell If I Need Any?

The best way to tell if your roof isn’t properly ventilated, is in extreme climate months – summer and winter. Have you ever gone up into your attic on a hot summer day and said “HOLY S###, IT’S LIKE A SAUNA IN HERE!” – I wonder how my photo album is holding up??? In the winter, you might see Ice dams forming on top of your roof. Ice dams on your roof can cause a lot of problems, from roof shingle damage, to roof leaks causing mold and rot to occur.

If you need to have roof ventilation installed in your home, consult with a professional in your area. I wouldn’t advise any homeowner to get up on their roof to install ridge vents. There’s also a proper way to install ridge vents. For example, you need to calculate the total area of your attic for vent/to air flow ratio’s to ensure proper air-flow and the list goes on. So, consult with a roofing contractor to see what you need to have done.

If you’ve any questions, drop me a comment in the comment box and I’ll do my best to answer any and all roof ventilation questions..

Roof Evaluation

1. The first step you want to take in evaluation your roof leak, is to go up into your attic with a flash light, measuring tape and a notebook. This way here, you can write down exact locations of your roof leak.
2. The second step you want to make is, shine your flash light up and along the rafters of your roof. You want to look for stains on your sheathing/underlayment. If there isn’t any stains to be found, this might be the first leak, and you
might not have any mold or underlayment damage. Next, have a look around your roof rafters, the ridge of your roof for anything wet, or damp. Once you’ve located the problem, or haven’t located the problem, don’t stop there!
3. Step three, have a look at all of your mechanicals, I.e vents, ducts, bathroom vents, etc.. You never know, you might not have a roof leak at all – That beats climbing on top of a roof! Feel around your duct work, be sure there isn’t any holes or penetrations in the duct work that would cause a leak. Locate your bathroom vent, be sure there isn’t any water trapped in the vent lines, or holes that could be the cause of your leak.
Use Caution

Once you have finished evaluating your roof, mechanics, and roof leak location(s), proceed to follow my roof repair guide. Note: If you don’t have the proper tools or skillset to repair you roof, hire a professional roof repair contractor. A roofing contractor has the proper skills and balance to climb on your roof and repair safely and correctly. So use caution when attempting your roof repair, you don’t want to risk a serious injury, or become paralyzed.
Tools required to perform a roof repair

* Strong ladder, one that can extend past the gutter line safely and efficiently

* Roof jacks with strong wood planks to safely stand upon

* Roof flashing

* Roof cement

* Roofing nails

* Hammer

* Flat-bar

* Roofing shingles

How to repair your roof
Once you have properly set up your equipment and located the roof leak, proceed to do the following steps.
1. Grab your flat-bar and start to gently lift up your damaged roof shingle, use illustration below.
Once you have safely lifted up your damaged roof shingle, follow this step.
2. Final step, grab a piece of metal flashing to cover the damaged area, one that extends past both tabs of the roof shingle. Once you have inserted the metal flashing under your roof shingle, dab roof cement under the metal flashing and on top of the metal flashing, to correctly bond the shingles together. Have a look at the illustration below.

Once you’ve finished the steps to repairing your roof, test your repair the following day to feel reassured you correctly solve the roof leak by doing a water test with your garden hose. This step takes two people, so have one of your buddy’s stay up in the attic while you spray your roof with water. If it passes the test, pat yourself on the back for a job well done!

Once again, if your roof is too steep, or you feel your not up to the challenge, hire a professional roof repair contractor. And if you’re located in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, Hire us to do your roof repair MA, RI !

If your flat or low slope roof is leaking and needs  to be fixed, hire a flat roof repair contractor specializing in rubber roofs, modified bitumen and rolled asphalt roof repairs, and servicing all of MA, CT and RI.