Roof Repairs Springfield, MO
A roof is like a vehicle; it has to be maintained or replaced. It’s important to have a professional inspect your roof for potential problems and make you aware of how much life you have left on your roof. Doing proper maintenance and repairs can add years to the life of your roof. Roof replacement is an expensive process so it is important to maintain the existing one for as long as possible.
One problem no homeowner wants to have is water showing up inside their house. It can be a stain noticed on the ceiling or wall, or if bad enough an actual drip can be observed. If it gets to this stage it has probably been leaking for a while as the insulation soaks up small leaks for a while before any sign turns up inside the house. It’s a good idea to have a professional inspect the problem and advise you on how to fix the issue.
We’ll need to see inside on the ceiling where the leak is occurring then check out that area on the roof for any area that water may be penetrating and getting inside.
Typical roof leak problems we address are...
Worn Out Roof Pipe Collars
Rubber on the pipe collars has deteriorated due to exposure to the sun and elements. This is a common problem that is easily fixed by replacing the bad flashing, we may need to replace shingles around the pipe as well. We can also do a cheaper fix by using high quality elastomeric caulk. It has exceptional elongation and flexible qualities which adheres well to most surfaces and is UV resistant. The sun won’t burn it out as quickly as an asphalt based caulk. This type of fix can last for years, almost as long as the rubber on the pipe collar. We actually add the caulk on the pipe collars on new roofs we do because it increases the life of the collar.
Wall Flashings
Another common problem area are walls, usually where the shingles run into a wall and must be flashed. Again, the whole wall may need to be torn out and reinstalled depending on how bad the problem is. A cheaper option is to lift each shingle with a pry bar and inspect to see if any water is getting through due to improper installation or a nail has worked its way out of the decking causing a hump where water can find its way in. We will advise you on which option is best for your roof when we inspect it.
Cracked Roof Shingles
Over time shingles can crack; it doesn't necessarily require a whole new roof if it’s only a few they can be replaced, or sealant can be applied below and on top of the crack to repair it. Aesthetically however it’s nearly impossible to match existing shingles due to fading and different lot numbers on new shingles can even show a color difference. We’ll do our best to get as close as we can to the original roof color by determining what brand of shingles are on the roof. The entire roof will be inspected on any repair we do at no cost to you and you’ll get an honest opinion if a new roof is required or if a repair can resolve the problem.
High Nails
High nails are when a nail has come up from the decking causing a bump that can be seen from the ground. This is a very common cause for leaks. We will find all the high nails and pull and replace them then seal with a high quality roof caulk. It may be necessary to replace the shingle if it has caused it to warp. High nails also occur during installation if a crack is nailed into between the decking or a knot hole.
Roof Valleys
Valleys are a common problem area as the water pressure is higher because the water is coming from 2 different directions. A valley is an area where 2 different roof slopes meet and if not installed properly can cause serious leaks. If you’re having this issue it’s usually advisable to tear out and replace the valley properly. This is a fairly expensive repair due to material cost and the labor of tearing it out and installing new underlayment and shingles. It is possible to use a pry bar to lift the shingles to see if any nails need to be sealed, which is a cheaper option that has worked well in the past.
Bad Roof Decking
A cracked decking board will cause roof leaks over time because shingles conform to the material that’s underneath them. If this is the problem the area will have to be torn off, take out and replace the bad decking then install new decking, underlayment, and shingles. That’s really the only way to repair it. Caulking will not be enough to resolve this issue.
Chimney Flashings
Chimneys are also a common leak problem we see due to poor flashing, or counter flashing during installation. Corners are a common culprit. It’s advisable to tear out around the chimney and install new underlayment, shingles, and flashing. New counter flashing can be installed if necessary. Flashing is the aluminum metal that goes over each shingle and under the counter flashing. Counter flashing is the aluminum metal that comes out of the brick to cover the flashing. A cheaper alternative can be tried by sealing the flashing and corners with high quality roof caulk. We’ll advise you if we think the chimney needs to be re-done or simply caulked.
Drip Edge
Drip edge can be a roof leak problem if it doesn’t come down over the back lip of the gutter. This can be addressed by either replacing the drip edge with a longer one or adding strips of aluminum metal over the gutter under the shingle. If the gutter doesn’t properly drain due to leaves, sticks, and debris or was not installed to drain properly can cause leaks. It's another good reason to consider doing our maintenance program which includes gutter cleaning.
