If you’re evaluating your roof, be aware that shingles wear out faster on the south or west sides of your home where the direct sun can dry them out. High winds raise shingles and allow rainwater to seep through. Moss can rot your shingles and snow can wedge below them and force cracking.

Take time and be patient during roof installation. With the help of a garden hose, you can find a leak. There is some common cause for roof leaks clogged gutters, dry rot, wet ceiling. Make sure the roof boots fit snugly. Cracks may lead to big roof disasters. Valleys are familiar places for leaks as it is a place where the water from the entire roof goes to, and it will start sloshing back and forth.

Here are some home improvement tips for you.

Safety First

Fussing to try and find a leak as soon as it happens is something that could put you in danger. Interfere on a roof while it’s raining or covered with snow isn’t the ideal way to find a leak. Temporarily fixing a leak could be highly dangerous. If you want to fix it right, there is no quick way. Just take your time and be very patient and careful to wait for Mother Nature to give you the green signal for roofing.

Take Precautions

Don’t move or reposition a ladder while a person or equipment is on it. Being on a roof may put your body in positions that are not comfortable or safe. Always wear rubber sole shoes to prevent slipping. Also, use a harness and still work with a buddy who takes excellent care of you and understands your signals.

Spray The Roof

Garden hose is one of the best tools to spray on the roof, go up to the roofs and start spraying in different locations to find the leak. Wait if it’s winter season running because it’s not safe to run water on the roof when it’s freezing out.

Keep Gutters Clean

Clogged gutters are the most common areas and causes of roof leaks. Gutters that have not been cleaned can cause the water to build up during rain, make sure your gutter is clean. Hire professional gutter cleaners to fix this issue.

Avoid Dry Rot

Dry rot doesn’t relate to any water damage, but lack of ventilation. The roof will sag in or may cause the roof shingles to get brittle, crack, and leak afterward. Preventing dry rot consists of installing a ridge vent; it would only work if there is a soffit vent. Holes have to be drilled by the soffit vents, so fresh air comes in via the bottom and pushes the hot air out through the top.

Prevent Ice Buildup

In a cold, ice has no problem building up under the roof membrane, shingles, and gutters; the ice builds back up when it reaches the wall line where the house is heated, and it creates an interior drip. Proper ventilation, rain, and ice shields, along with installing a drip edge will help clog objects.

Fix Roof Boots

Flashing, roofing, ice damping, and skylights are all certain places for potential leaks. People often miss one thing, and that is the rubber boots. It is where the roof fence comes up that you find roof boots. If they dry up quickly, they will cause major leaks. It’s a quick fix; buy a new roof boot from a local hardware store. You may have to remove some of the shingles, lay a better tar under it, and put it back in the right place.

Inspect Materials

Sometimes shingles are defective and will start to break after they’ve been nailed down. Faulty installation with nails and shingles can have a significant influence on the leaks. Always make sure to check the merchandise before getting on the roof.

Check Valleys

A valley is a place where the crossing point of two rooftops meets up. It is also called the edge, which is again where two roofs meet at best. Valleys are favorite places for leaks since that is the place the water from the whole rooftop goes to, and it will begin sloshing back and forth.

Eliminate Leaks

It’s important not to get discouraged when a leak can’t be found. It’s a procedure of elimination. You’ve secured one zone, installed the shingles back, and sealed it watertight, so at least one spot is eliminated. Now, you can try different areas.