Find and Stop Leaking Roofs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s hard to believe it’s winter in the San Gabriel Valley as we’ve had summer-like weather with people playing in the parks around Sierra Madre, Pasadena and Temple City. But a few heavy rains can still hit and you might notice a leak in your roof.

Don’t panic.

That doesn’t automatically mean you need a new roof. Simple repairs can stop those leaks.

Roofing contractor Thomas Garvey, owner of Garvey Roofing, says this is good weather for homeowners to take a close look at the protrusions on your roof like the chimney and vents.

 

Chimneys and Leaking Roofs

Leaks often occur around the base of chimneys. That makes sense because in Southern California, and in cities like Alhambra that are south of the foothills, we have far more sunny days than we do cloudy and rainy ones.

So if the rain’s not falling, we usually forget about the roof until we see a leak.

Another common area where leaks form is around the other vents for the same reason. If the drip edge isn’t properly installed then water can curl back under and slowly degrade the facia or pool, especially on low slope roofs.

 

Roofing Materials to Seal Leaks

An easy preventative method is to repair cracks in the sealant with new coating. However, a best practice is removing the old, cracked coating and then layer on new.

Henry’s Roof sealant is a time-tested favorite and the company has done plenty of research to manufacture products that seal and reflect the sun’s rays. Henry’s also makes products for windows and doors.

Silicone roof coatings are effective for commercial roofs, too. In some cases, the best way to stop leaks is to apply a silicone coating to the entire roof instead of trying to find one leak at a time.

 

Can I Repair or Install a New Roof?

That’s one of the most common questions Thomas gets from homeowners and owners of commercial buildings like stores, apartments and churches. It makes sense because a new roof is an investment.

Here’s how you can do a little detective work on your own.

• How old is your roof?
• How long have you noticed the leaking?
• Has the leak stayed in a similar place or have you notice it change where it leaks?

A leaking roof that’s more than 20 years old, especially one that’s older than 25, is a likely candidate for a new install. The reason is the underlayment is likely wearing out and the shingles are a lesser quality than the materials that are made today.

Low slope roofs that have a tar base and are leaking are prime candidates for an install with a new lifetime membrane.

This is important to note: once you notice a leak inside your ceiling then that means that leak has been occurring for a while. Exactly how long is hard to tell.

You can look at the decking inside your attic and if you notice water spots then it’s likely that’s a sign of the roof leaking.

 

Other Warning Signs

Is your roof losing an excessive amount of granules in the gutter? If so, then that’s a sign that the roof is degrading.

If you have a shingle roof and it’s laying flat, then that’s a good sign. But if there’s a bulge beneath then that’s another sign of aging.

Are the ridge caps loose? It may be winds or the building shifting that has loosened them. If the ridge caps can be easily secured then that’s all the repair that may be necessary.

 

So—what do you do?

 

Thomas Garvey is always willing to work with homeowners and commercial building owners. Families or businesses that need to preserve cash may be able to have repairs so they can get by with little to no interior damage for the next few years or longer.

If you plan to move within a few years to five years then you may be able to have a roof repair. Of course, you’ll disclose any conditions during the time of sale.

Now, if you have an old roof and you can get by for a few years with a repair that may seem like a smart move on the surface. However, if you can afford a new roof now then that may be the money-smart thing to do.

Why?

Do you expect the price of roofing materials to go up or down in the future?

Material prices and labor costs will go up, especially in California.

 

About Garvey Roofing

Here’s a unique guarantee to give you peace of mind.

Garvey Roofing always:

gives free estimates

guarantees labor and materials

Also, the company has four roofing licenses as you can note on the About page and it’s been operating around the San Gabriel Valley for over 30 years.

Call for a free estimate and get an analysis of your roof.

(626) 358-9208