An emergency is a situation which calls for drastic measures. A roof which has suffered damage due to heavy rains, tornado like situations, hail, storms etc classify sometime for this kind of a repair. The roof is perhaps the most important part of a house Read more, besides the people living in the house. A damaged roof will directly affect the stability of the entire structure of the house and is a cause for prompt action.
An extreme weather condition is more often the cause for emergency repair of a roof. Care has to be taken for deciding upon the time and place to start the repair. If help is available, we should make use of it. In conditions where emergency repair is warranted, it is best to make use of an experienced roofer rather than try a do-it-by-yourself stunt. It is advisable to wait till the extreme weather conditions have passed and the situation is conducive to initiate the repair rather than starting straight away. You may be doing more damage than repair! You can be swept away by the winds or stuck by lightning. The inspection of the roof is another critical activity prior to initiating the repair. It must be done under favorable conditions of weather and light.
However, not all emergency repairs are critical and non-professionals might also do some. These are the temporary repairs undertaken by the owner and which can be made permanent by the more competent roofer. The roofing guidelines, which should be adhered to by the person attempting an emergency repair, are as follows: The winters are over and you find that the walls and the edges between the wall and the roof are looking rather jarred. You take a closer look, and there are traces of moisture and the paint is peeling off. You disregard this as a normal thing and go about your daily business What was required of you was to immediately pick up your phone and consult a roofer of repute. This was perhaps the first sign indicating that the roof needs repairs and if left alone, the small amount of peeling is going to expand into a huge and ugly patch on the wall and will require a lot of additional repair and money from your pocket.
What goes into roof repair? Apparently it takes a lot. First of all it takes a decision on the part of the house to go in for the experience, and then there is the issue of the money involved and finally the search for a competent roofer. I’ll take you through these steps and more. We start with why the roof needs a repair and what should you do as a homeowner when you begin to suspect that the roof, which you have had for some time, isn’t as secure as it used to be. Act promptly. The failure to find and correct minor roof deterioration in the earliest stages is probably the greatest cause of premature roof problems. This is particularly true of roofing materials applied on relatively low-sloped roofs. The causes of roof damage are aplenty, and some roof designs suffer more deterioration as compared to others.
Roofs can get damaged due to exposure to repeated wind gusts, snow, rain as well as flying debris. Another cause of roof damage might be the material used while constructing it. The design of the roof is another major cause for the roof’s deterioration. In case a roof has been designed inappropriately, it will suffer more damage as compared to others. Faulty designs might include a weak roof structure like deflection under load, inadequate slope of the roof, sagging structure, and insufficient number of drains to let the water out, and incompatible roof material. Other causes include deterioration due to the elements and a general lack of maintenance like allowing algae to grow.
The above causes necessitate the owners to look for the symptoms and go in for repairs. The repair process starts by first doing an assessment of the damage yourself. This can be accomplished by doing a survey of the interior as well as the exterior of the house, and looking for damaged tiles, peeling paint and puddles of water on the roof. We can do minor repairs ourselves, but it is always advisable to consult an experienced roofer. If the damage is minor, solutions like use of a duct tape, or a simple replacement of a tile can be accomplished by us by taking a few precautions. If the damage appears serious, or you are not confident of the repair yourself, you can always go in for an expert. The choice of a roofer has to be made based on his or her credentials and the amount of experience he or she has had in the particular type of roof which adorns your house. A number of websites advertise certified roofers and it is advisable to go in for a certified roofer.
After necessary consultation and survey, the roofer will normally give an estimate of time and money required for the repair to take place. This is the time for a serious decision making process to be initiated. Judge the cost of repair versus a replacement, if the condition so warrants. Normally, an experienced roofer will suggest a mixture of the two. Some parts of the roof can be replaced, while some might only need repair of tiles, or a layer of asphalt. The decision is made based on the monetary constraints and the time available at hand.
Roof repair is a conscious decision, and as much as roofers might try and convince you, a replacement is a troublesome procedure. However, replacement is necessary in times where the roof might give way or the leakage is heavy. Think before giving consent, but if the situation so demands, do not hesitate. Repair is necessary, and late repair will cost more to the house, your pocket and the overall look of the house too. The key is to keep check of the slightest changes in the roofing structure and do the needful at the right time.