Roof Repair
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Roof Repair
Shingles tend to seal themselves through the overlap design and installation so it is can be unlikely that your water is not coming in through the shingles unless your shingles are missing, broken, cracked or have nail heads that were not properly sealed. It is often more likely that water has found its way in via a chimney, a skylight, a vent, or a pipeboot.
When shingles are installed they are cut around these areas and flashing is then installed to bridge the gap. If your flashing is no longer sealed properly, or has been compromised, water has easy access to run under the shingles and into your home or attic. It is important to seek a qualified contractor like Greater American Roofing to professionally assess where the leak is coming from and to repair it before the issue becomes much larger and more expensive.
Chimney Leak: It is not uncommon to have a chimney leak. Homeowners tend to forget to have their chimney serviced regularly, and over time they begin to deteriorate. Sometimes birds will even help that process along by pecking at a chimney until holes appear. The holes are open sources for water to enter your chimney and subsequently your home. When inspecting the chimney, there are several items that should be assessed such as the material of which it is made, the design of the chimney, and the slope of the roof.
Pipe boot Leak: A pipe boot is a type of roof flashing used around plumbing exhaust pipes that vents through your roof. These are often a common source of failure in your roofing system. They become weak and brittle over time, they can crack around the collar, and the caulking or sealant can simply deteriorate over time. Pipe boots should be assessed annually and repaired as need by replacing the collars and resealing to prevent leaking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roof Repair:
Choosing a contractor for a roof repair can be a daunting task. You may find that many roofing contractors don’t offer repair services, some won’t show up even if you schedule an appointment, while others simply don’t have the experience or expertise to truly find the root of the problem.
Google can be a great source of information when searching for a contractor to address your repair. What does their reputation say about them? What have other clients said about the work they have done? Do they have video testimonials from current and former clients that tell you how they helped solve their problem?
At Greater American Roofing, we pride ourselves on doing what we say we are going to do. If you choose to call us for a roofing repair, we will bring our expertise to you and find a solution that restores your roof to its proper working condition. Listen to what some of our other customers are saying about us and then decide.
Anytime you are choosing a contractor for your roof, whether your are in need of a repair or a replacement, you should ask them the following questions (and require they provide you proof) to some of the most important things that determine whether they are reputable or not:
- Are they licensed? Does the contractor have a business license in your state? This will tell you whether they are they legally allowed to work with you? Without a license, if anything goes wrong, how do you pursue action against them? At Greater American Roofing, we are professionally licensed by the state (and many counties that also have additional licensing requirements), have a General Contractor on staff, and are happy to provide you with a copy of our pertinent license upon request.
- Are they insured? Does the contractor carry the proper General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance to meet the requirements of the state? Did you know that in many states if a person falls off of your roof, the homeowner can be liable? At Greater American Roofing, we are fully insured with both General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance in excess of what is minimally required by the state. Our staff have all also been trained and certified in OSHA safety standards, and we require them to wear fall protection gear at all times when climbing.
A roof repair must be assessed thoroughly to find the root of the problem area. This can take time. A good contractor will not only look from the outside, but will look from the inside as well (including your attic if you have one). They will use things such as a moisture meter to find where the leak is entering the home, and trace it back to the membrane. Once they find it, they can then give you a specific price for repair. The national average cost for a roof repair can be anywhere from $400 to $1000 depending upon the source of the leak. In extreme cases, larger repairs range in average from $1000-$3000 for repair. It is important to ensure that you choose a company like Greater American Roofing to not only find the source of the problem and fix it, but also to treat you fairly