Common Roof Repair Mistakes & How To Avoid Them

As Spring approaches with better weather, many of us begin to consider home improvements. Whether to improve the kerb appeal, increase property value or make a big visual impact change, Roof repairs are a great way to go. According to research, a new roof can have a 63% return on investment while drastically improving the appearance of your home. What is more, nearly 70% of potential buyers say that kerb appeal is a huge factor in the buying journey. 

So, by repairing or replacing your roof you will simultaneously make it look fresh and increase the value of your home. It is a win-win situation. But you need to get in right!

Whether you choose to repair the roof yourself or contact a local tradesman, this guide will help you spot and avoid the most common mistakes when it comes to roof repairs. 

Are Roof Repairs A DIY Project Or Do I Need A Professional Roofer?

DIY roof repairs can appear at first glance a relatively simple and quick task to perform, especially if only a few tiles need replacing. How hard can removing and replacing roof shingles be? So before you unpack your ladder just yet, or contact a local roofing contractor, let’s explore the most common mistakes when it comes to roof repairs. More importantly, let’s see how you can avoid them.

 1. Identifying where a leak starts

Spotting a leak or a damp patch is a typical tell-tale sign that your roof has been compromised. However, a lot of property owners fail to recognise that a leak coming from a ceiling doesn’t always pinpoint the epicentre of the damage. The water may have entered from a totally different spot. It can then travel along your pipes and internal structures before it reaches a flat surface. It can then start to pool and penetrate your ceiling.

So, although the damp patch shows where the water is now, it doesn't show how it's getting into your home.

 2. Misdiagnosing the root cause of the issue

If we take the example above, replacing a broken roof tile may appear to solve the problem. However, that could be only a cosmetic fix. While you may have found where the leak started, you have to consider that you didn’t know there was a broken tile in the first place.

You may have only noticed the damp patch recently, but the possibility that there has been further damage is likely. For example, while the water may have entered through a broken tile, the root cause could be that the underlayment is damaged thus allowing the water to travel deep inside your home potentially causing costlier structural damage.

 3. Ignoring the loft space

If a leak has found its way into your living areas it stands to reason that on its journey it travelled through your loft. This makes checking the loft imperative. What you see as a small patch of damp in one room could be a full-blown disaster in the loft space. 

If your internal structure has been exposed to water for extended periods of time it’s possible that wood rot has set in. 

Wood rot can lead to mould which spreads quickly and can be harmful to you and your family. Mould spores can attack the respiratory system and while it’s not fatal, it is extremely unpleasant to think you are breathing in mould spores. Not to mention mould is unsightly and costly to remove.

 4. Lack of experience & poor workmanship

Whilst we all like to save money, skimping on quality craftsmanship can come back to bite you in the long run. If you are inexperienced and opt to go down the DIY route you are asking for trouble. Not to mention risking your safety!

If you don’t know what you are doing and take shortcuts you will inevitably require further roof repairs and incur a greater cost down the line.

Hopefully, this short guide will have given you some basic but important knowledge when it comes to handling roof repairs. If you are considering contacting a local roofing contractor then it’s highly advised to seek the services of a roofing company accredited by the Competent Roofing Scheme to ensure you are in safe hands

This guest post was submitted by Dan Maxwell, a Bristol roofing contractor from Clifton Roofers Ltd.