When one looks up how to fix a leaky roof, most roof repair answers out there point to simple black & white solutions: Look for damage. Caulk. Reapply caulk. Remove damaged or deteriorated caulk. Use a putty knife to remove excess or loosened old caulk. Clean & dry the area. Point blank, we feel the simple responses out there need some clarification.
As roofing contractors, we felt you needed to know there’s more to the question of how to fix a leaky roof than just finding the source of the leak & patching the hole. Let’s talk about the cons of going down this road. Unless your roof is close to new & you’re a pro at roofing services, your patch work will probably not match your existing shingles. Also, do you plan on selling your home anytime soon? If so, choppy patch jobs can bring property value down. A roof with a glaring patch is not appealing and won’t inspire that buyer’s confidence.
A new roof can be cheaper in the long run. While yes, if the damage is only on one side, a partial reroofing is possible; partial reroofing jobs can be a bit more expensive & sometimes only band-aide the issue. One thing we never recommend? Doing one part of your roof now and the remainder in a few years down the road. Trusted roofers know it can sometimes save you a few thousand dollars if you go for the full replacement.
Beyond the decision of roof repair vs. a roof replacement, you have to decide if you are doing a complete tear off or doing a roof over. Doing a roof over is a DO AT YOUR OWN RISK type of job. In areas like Illinois, with high winds & storms, your new roof will have trouble staying down if you just roof over. Simply put, shingles stay in place when attached directly to the roof deck. Again, another question, like how to fix a leaky roof, that is more based around: Do I skimp, save money now & pay for it in the long run?
A full replacement can last decades. To us, the answer is simple.
Call us now!