A leak in your home's roof is one of the things that send shivers down your spine. It's a signal that something is wrong with your roof, which might indicate that you need to spend lots of money on a whole roof repair. And as many homeowners know, bringing in roofers to begin a total roof replacement is one of the most expensive things you can deal with as a homeowner. The good thing is that it is not always an issue of needing to have your entire roof replaced. There are often times when you can make do with slight repairs that target a specific area of your roof. That is why instead of panicking, you need to bring in a roofing service who will guide you through the process. Here is what you can expect to have happen.

The Roofers Will Inspect The Underside and Top Of Your Roof

First, the roofers will look at the leak to make sure it's not water that is coming from somewhere else in the house (like a pipe that is leaking and water that is somehow channeling through the walls). They will then climb up onto the roof and inspect the area. Walking on a roof is dangerous for anyone who is not a skilled roofer, so this is not something you should attempt on your own. Not only might you fall, but you might also end up damaging the area by applying heavy pressure. A roofer will know how to spot a weak section and not step on it.

Replacement Options You Might Have To Deal With

There might be a variety of options to deal with. You might have a small area of roof that needs to be replaced, instead of an entire roof. This might entail the roofers cutting out a section of the roof's underlayment (a type of plywood) and replacing it with new wood, then laying down new tack paper and adding shingles. Or, it might just be a case where the shingles themselves have deteriorated after so many years and they need to be replaced. If that's the case, then you won't have to spend as much money as you might for an entire roof replacement.

The roofers might have noticed that the area with the leak was caused because the shingles are due to be replaced and water is allowed to leak through them and into your home. If it's caught before the water damages the underlayment, then you might only need to have the shingles replaced, which is much cheaper than having to replace large areas of underlayment where the wood has rotted away.