Warning Signs & Types of Roofing Repairs

Depending on the location of the home, the roof installation’s current condition, and wear and tear it has endured (from rainfall, falling branches, maintenance levels, etc.). Below is a general outline that any homeowner can use to gauge their expectations for the roof repair they need, being either:

Minor Roofing Repairs 

A minor roofing repair is affordable, and requires basic tools and knowledge that can help to prevent a small leak from becoming a serious problem for the roof and home. 

For those DIYers, many of these repairs require either replacing or installing a new flashing (includes over small holes as caulking or a sealant would only work temporarily), or replacing a few cracked shingles, siding, old hardened caulk with new caulk, etc. Please consult our guide on “How to find a Roof Leak?” below.

If you do choose to perform the roof repair yourself, here are some safety guidelines to keep you out of trouble:

• Avoid falls by never working on wet, snowy or an icy roof - Performing the repair when it is the driest and warmest weather for at least a few days, either in late spring or mid to late summer or even early fall (check the immediate weather forecast for more information). Reason being, during the roof repair, the roof deck may be exposed over a few days and as individual not equipped for year-round weather like a professional roofing company, the repair could become a potential leak hazard for your home
• Always work with an assistant to keep one another as safe as possible and follow proper work practices; Wear soft-soled boots, remove any debris like twigs and branches that could trip you, keep your work area organized, etc. 
• Use a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) to prevent you from falling off of the side of a house, by slowing and stopping you before it happens; Otherwise, use a fixed Fall Restraint System to prevent yourself from reaching the unprotected edge of the roof at all.

Consult the comprehensive CCOHS publication “Fall Protection - Anchors” for a range of safety recommendations to keep you safe while repairing your roof.

Common repairs to consider:

• Cleaning gutters
• Replacing missing or cracked shingles
• Filling punctures or holes
• Small leak patch
• Draining any pooled water
• Flashings (small holes, rust or corrosion spots, broken seals, etc.); Step flashings along walls that intersect with the roof; Chimney, air vent, plumbing vent boot flashings and other roof protrusions
• Walls and dormers because of wind-driven rain the window edges, corner boards and siding, cracks, knotholes in siding, etc.  

Major Roofing Repairs

Depending on the severity of the major repair, it’s advised to not tackle this yourself for your own and your home’s safety because it requires a professional with specialized materials, making it quite expensive. 

As a general rule, anytime any of your home’s major systems are compromised, please do yourself a favour and consult a professional; These systems include the roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC or the home’s structure (engineering-related). Attempting any renovations in these areas are avoidable safety hazards waiting to happen.

Common repairs to consider:

• Electrical wiring problems
• Plumbing pipe problems
• Extensive water damage; Dark streaks, wood frame has softened, etc.
• Extensive treatment of organic growth (mold, rot, moss, algae growth, etc.) and gasses
• Roof shrinkage or sagging
• Chimney repair and flashing requiring a complete replacement

Emergency Roofing Repairs

After a storm-event (hailstorm, heavy rainfall, etc.), earthquake, broken tree branch falling, etc. it’s difficult to know the degree of damage to your home unless it’s consulted with a professional as soon as possible; To identify the leak and any subsequent roof damage immediately, so that repairs can be applied before it worsens.

The range of damage that’s possible will determine whether a minor or major repair will be sufficient to get your home’s roof back into good shape.

Types of Roof Replacement

Any roof that has reached the 20 years with significant recurring damage should be replaced, as it is no longer viable as protection for your home; Keep in mind, a roof with little damage could last upwards of 30 years, but this is dependent on the material (asphalt, metal, rubber, cedar, concrete tile, etc.) that has been installed on your roof. 

Depending on the roof’s condition, there are three roof replacement options to consider; Either:

• Re-Roofing - An affordable shingle replacement for roofs in relatively good shape; For example, old asphalt to new asphalt shingles, old metal to new metal panels and so on, which includes repairs to the roof deck as opposed to layering new materials on top; Where repairing the roof deck uncovers and repairs issues before they become serious problems; While layering new materials on the old materials will only promote these issues and help them become serious one day. 
• Roof Conversion - A semi-affordable conversion is either from (concrete or clay) tiles or cedar shakes to a new material, which includes repairs to the roof deck (for tiles, as cedar requires a new roof deck installation); For roofs in relatively good shape;  Normally to increase the roof’s longevity, reduce maintenance costs and increase curb appeal.
• Roof Replacement - Expensively tearing off the old roof (shingles, roof deck, framing, etc.) and installing a brand new roof, meant for a roof in bad shape; Where the damage to the roof has reached an irreversible or irreparable point, leaving only replacing it as the only solution. 

Otherwise, if any of the above doesn’t match your roof’s repair situation, consider getting your roof cleaned. Regular annual cleaning will reduce the need for future repairs and keep your roof in decent shape, increasing the longevity of both your roof and your home.

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