Category: Home Maintenance

How to Determine the Best Way to Fix A Roof – Factors to Consider

Stella Mason

The best way to fix a roof depends on the type of roof issue that needs to be fixed and your experience as a DIY roofer – while in some situations you can solve the problem without being required to use any special tools and without any special experience, other problems cannot be fixed in a DIY fashion and need a Manhattan KS roofing expert.

Roof Leaks

Leaky roofs can be efficiently fixed by amateur roofers without any special experience. The first task is to identify the location of the leak – if you suspect that your roof is leaking because you see growing damp patches on the ceiling in one or several of your rooms or if you have other signs of excess moisture, such as mold, mildew in your attic or in your rooms, the roof leak is probably right above the damp spot or spots on the ceiling. To be sure you have identified the leak location, check the attic area on a dry and sunny day.

When you have found the place where water has seeped in, look up on the roof standing on the attic floor to check for holes and tiny opening through which the sun shines in. Check the area around the chimneys and other openings, such as the skylights – the structural integrity of the roof is disrupted in these areas and they are more sensitive to the harmful actions of water, even though the areas are usually strengthened with flashing.

When you know where the leak or the leaks are, go up on the roof and inspect the area, then remove the damaged tile or shingle and replace it with new tiles or shingles. If the leak is caused by the failure of the flashing, repair it with some caulk or replace the flashing if you think it is beyond repair.

Broken Tiles, Shingles and Slates

Roofing cover components are fixed using different methods, but you can easily replace missing or damaged components on your own, with a suitable hammer and fasteners, such as nails.

gutter cleaning roof maintenance

Broken, Damaged or Clogged Gutter Pipes

Gutter clogging can seriously affect the health of your roof and if you neglect the issue, it can cause serious water damage to your walls and can even lead to basement flooding. Fortunately, you can easily de-clog your gutter by climbing up there with a bucket, a strong brush and a tool that you can use for scraping out the debris that has accumulated inside the pipes over time – you will find dead leaves, twigs, branches, nuts, acorns, dust, maybe even bird nests or rodent nests.

When the Best Way to Fix a Roof is Hiring a Professional

If you are not comfortable working on roofs or if the roofing issue can be fixed only with special tools, such as hydraulic equipment in the case of roof sagging, the best method to strengthen your roof is probably to turn to a professional roofer. Metal roofing Manhattan KS  experts not only know the best way to fix a roof, but they also have the right tools to be able to do the repairs in a professional, efficient and safe manner.

Lesser Known High Quality Chicago Roofing Products You Have to Check Out

Stella Mason

If you know all about slate and metal roofing, but you’re looking for something a little more unique, Chicago is the perfect place to find the most diverse types of roofing products promoted by roofers with established experience and excellent reputation.

These products are generally designed for modern homes, however, they can look just as good on a traditional looking house. But what will really impress you is their versatility, long term resilience and many other practical aspects that make them some of the top picks among Chicago residents.

 

Rubber Roofing Systems

Even though rubber has been around for quite a while, rubber roofing has only been used for the past few decades. It appeared as a result of new advancements in rubber manufacturing technology that allowed for the development of highly resilient, thin and lightweight rubber membranes.

This roofing is commonly referred to as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), the highly specialized compound used to manufacture most types of rubber roofing. Flat and low-slope roofing application for commercial buildings is the most common use for these types of membrane roofing products.

 

Go for the Best Asphalt Fiberglass Shingles

Asphalt fiberglass shingles are rapidly becoming some of the most popular and overall best roofing products for Chicago despite the fact that most people don’t yet know much about them.  Using shingles make roof repair Chicago area much easier than other roofing products.

Unlike regular asphalt shingles, these roofing products feature an additional fiberglass mat fitted into the shingles themselves for added durability and stability. Fiberglass asphalt shingles are perfect as affordable roofing solutions designed to be easily installed and fitted for resisting Chicago’s changing weather patterns.

 

Energy-Efficient Shingles

Energy-efficient roofing materials are generally those that have received a high rating for their ability to help conserve the fuel and energy used for either heating or cooling your home. Green roofing, solar panel roofing and even some types of metal roofing is considered energy-efficient.

A cool roof is the most common type of energy-efficient shingle roofing available. It is designed to reduce the amount of heat transferred to your home’s interior by reflecting sunlight. Cool roof designs are most frequently found in regions where high temperatures prevail, but are also used quite often in Chicago due to their ability to reduce damage incurred from UV light and prolong the roof’s lifespan.

 

Various Composite Roofing Types

Composite shingles can refer to a number of the best roofing products for Chicago, involving materials such as simulated roofing slate made from a variety of resins and rubber compounds. These are the most common elements used for composite shingles, and the great thing about them is that they are often obtained from used materials that have been recycled – such as rubber obtained from old tires.

The state-of-the-art finished product offers the genuine, sleek, traditional look and feel of slate roofing at a more affordable cost, and can increase your home’s overall value considerably due to its greater longevity.

These are only a few among the many other popular roofing types that you could opt for, many of which are ideal both for residential and commercial purposes. Genuine slate, flat roofing and wood shakes are just a few other popular choices that most local homeowners and business owners would also select.