Top 8 Tips For Leaky Roofs

Here are ten quick tips for your next roofing project. These tips from Denver roofing company experts will help you with one of the most common roofing issues-- leaks.

• If discover a leak in your roof during a storm, make sure to wait until the weather stops before getting on your Denver roof. Attempting to repair your roof during a storm could end with you in the hospital. Even temporary repairs are dangerous to make when the roof is wet, or snow covered. Being patient and careful whenever working on your roof will ensure that the repairs you make are accurate and you remain safe.
• Another safety precaution to take when repairing a leaky roof, is to wear rubber sole shoes and a harness every time you make repairs to your roof. Rubber sole shoes will prevent you fro slipping and the harness will catch you if you do fall. Also working with a buddy or making sure that someone is on site while you are on the roof will ensure that if you are injured someone is there to call an ambulance.
• To identify exactly where the roof leak is coming from spray the roof with a garden hose. Bring a garden hose up to the roof with you and spray in different locations to locate the leak. If you are making the repair in the winter, make sure that you do this on a day when the temperature is above freezing to prevent dangerous ice from forming on the roof. 
  
• Before killing yourself trying to find the cause of your leak, check to be sure the gutters are clean. Clogged gutters can cause roof leaks. If you notice debris clogging your gutters, take the time to clean them so they can properly drain water away from your home. 
• If you attempting a Denver roof repair in the middle of the roof the damage may be caused by dry rot. Dry rot is not cause by water damage by will deteriorate the plywood under your shingles. Roofs with dry rot will sag, crack and eventually leak. To prevent dry rot, you should install ridge and soffit ventilation. These vents will allow cool air that comes through the bottom of the vent as it pushes hot air through the top. 
• Ice is the cause of many headaches. In the winter ice build up under roofs shingles and gutters.
  
  Ice builds up in wall lines where the poorly insulated houses leak heat creating a drip. Proper installation of rain and ice shield and ventilation will prevent ice from forming on the roof. 
• Cracked shingles are a real problem. Sometimes faulty shingles crack when being nailed down. Poor installation with nails can cause roof leaks. Nails could be installed too low and start pushing up. Check roofing merchandise before bringing it up to the roof.
• Valleys are common problem areas. Valleys are where two sections of the roof come together. Valleys are a common location for leaks because that's where water from the roof congregates.