Fixing leaks on your roof can start off as a simple, routine household chore. But what many people new to the handyman world don't realize is that roofing can be a complex ordeal, especially going into it with little or no experience. If your roof is leaking, you might want to think about hiring a contractor to take care of it for you, and here's why:
When we think about fixing leaks in general, our minds can picture "just patching something up", similar to sewing a patch on a jacket or a pair of jeans when they get ripped. Roofing, on the other hand, takes considerably more thought, preparation, and attention to detail. Remember that water leaking into your home is not only about an inconvenience. Small holes and leaks in roofs don't stay small; they spread. If you live in a climate that gets a heavy rainy season, the small leak can expand rather rapidly, especially if there are other forces of Nature at work, such as wind or hail. The eventual outcome of that small leak, if given time, is a collapse of part of your roof. This can mean a much bigger cost not to mention dangerous.
Another thing to think about is the difficulty in finding the leak. Many people have a picture in their minds of a simple hole that goes directly from inside their homes to the top of the house. This is seldom the case. There are layers of shingles, and the actual leak might as well be microscopic as you dig through the layers, trying to find the source. (Note: to prepare your roof for the contractor to fix, find the standing water if any and poke a few small holes in your ceiling to let it drain. If you don't do this, the standing water can cause serious damage in very little time.)
Fortunately for us, roofing contractors will come out to your home prepared. Using the right tools, the contractor will have a significant advantage over the majority of the public even those who are gifted in the field of repair. The right contractor has a variety of knives, extra shingles, nails, and even cement at his or her disposal. These are things that would cost you money; things you most likely don't already have. In the long run, purchasing all the tools, diagnosing the problem, and endangering yourself by getting up on the roof might not be worth it and a contractor can be the best decision.
