Have a leaky roof? Nothing is worse than having water running into your home. With kids and family under our roofs, we have to invest in and preserve the shield that defends us from the weather outside. If you have experienced water coming into your home, you know how horrible and frustrating this experience can be. Preventing a leaky roof requires expertise to diagnose where the problem originates. Our company is dedicated to helping our clients through these tough times, by fixing roofs or providing guidance on how to avoid and prevent these situations before they occur.. Below is Four Twelve’s guide on how to avoid the unfortunate homeowner’s dilemma — the pesky, leaky roof.
Have Your Roof Installed Correctly The First Time
If you have roof issues like leakage, likely it’s because your roof is either at the end of its life, or it was never installed properly in the first place. The best way method of preventing a leaky roof is to hire a reputable contractor that does it right the first time around. We have seen roofs all throughout the Greater Baltimore Metro Area that have been repaired, coated, patched. We have seen roofs that have decks on them, and additions installed next door. In all these situations, there are technical details related to the installation that is vitally important to ensure your roof is long-lasting and prevents water from entering your home. This is where working with a quality team that employs quality technicians can make all the difference. Why invest at half-price multiple times to end up with a roof that still doesn’t function properly, when you can make the decision to have it done the right way on your first go?
No matter what repairs you endeavor, if your roof was installed improperly, sometimes it simply cannot be fixed without a full replacement. We have clients that come to us asking for the cheap and quick fix, and sometimes we are able to make it happen. However, sometimes that money is better utilized saving up for a roof replacement.
If You Have A New Roof That Is Installed Correctly, Get It Inspected Every Few Years
Like any investment, whether it be a car, a boat, or a new kitchen — a new roof requires maintenance. To assume that you can set it and forget it may work for a couple of years, but over the lifetime of your roof, or any investment, a little bit of maintenance throughout the years will lead to a more successful lifetime performance when all is said and done. Not only will this help in preventing a leaky roof, but also ensure the structural integrity of the roof over its lifespan.
With flat roofs, tune-ups can involve a number of different scopes of work. Some of the things we see are failing seams, cracking membranes, lifting sheet metal, and clogged or misaligned gutters and downspouts. For all these issues, a simple investment every couple of years (two to three) can fix or remedy all of these things. For failing seams and lifting sheet metal, using adhesives and heat-applied maintenance can preserve the life of your roof. Cracking membranes can often be remedied with coatings applied overtop of your roof system. And gutters and downspouts should be cleaned regularly (2x per year), particularly if your roof has a tree nearby.
For shingle roofs, tune-ups vary but are not dissimilar from flat roofs. Common issues include loose shingles, deteriorating caulk around penetrations, leaky flashing, nail pops, failing adhesives and gutter and downspout maintenance. All of these things are repairable through quick tune-ups. Sometimes, pipe boots and flashing need to be replaced. Sometimes, roofs will need small sections of shingles replaced. And sometimes things will just need to be re-caulked. Similarly to flat roofs, gutter and downspout maintenance is vital to the performance of your roof system, especially if your property is in close contact with trees and debris.
Quick Patches
We always advise homeowners NOT to make repairs themselves. If you use certain products or install repair products incorrectly, you can void the warranty on your existing roof, or create a problem that can only be remedied with a roof replacement. For instance, we have seen homeowners install Flexseal, Henry’s Patching, and coating products to their detriment. Often times, roofing contractors cannot perform additional roofing work overtop of these products if a homeowner decides to take things into their own hands.
If you need a quick patch, most roofing contractors offer hourly service work to remedy small situations. Reputable roofing contractors should carry insurance, workers comp, plus a full complement of tools, ladders, and team members with ample experience remedying these types of situations. With high heights, and a high degree of risk, packaged with one of your home’s most valuable investments, investing in quality roofing contractor services is certainly the safest and most affordable option when weighing into consideration everything involved.
Leaky Roof? Contact Four Twelve
Four Twelve understands how these features make can make or break a good roofing company, and by implementing all of them we’ve quickly built up our reputation across the Baltimore area. Don’t suffer through leaks into your home because of an improperly installed or damage room. Let Four Twelve do it the right way the first time, and help you maintain the longevity of your roof. Contact us today to schedule a check up on the health of your roof.
