Yikes, did it get cold fast! And with our turn of temperature comes the rainy season. Are you ready? If you find yourself with a water leak, there are a number of approaches you can take. We know that moving out isn’t likely a viable option (though perhaps it’s much preferred!) so let’s discuss some realistic repair options and what you need to know. First of all, you’ll need a proper assessment and “diagnosis.” The biggest challenge you face as a homeowner is finding someone who can actually find the source of the leak. Where you find the sign of a leak on the inside of your home is not always indicative of where it’s originating. Many roofers could perceive a leak as an opportunity to replace the roof. In fact, many would believe it’s the only solution to the problem they see before them. But is all that replacement necessary? And how will you, a likely newbie to roofing repair, know if a company is over-selling you? We train our repairmen to search for the cause of the leak, from torn or missing shingles to broken seals, defective flashings, or incorrect connections between the roof and penetrations. When finding and repairing the direct source of the problem instead of tackling the problem willy-nilly, it can save the homeowner big bucks. Whom do you trust to do right by you in an area outside your scope of expertise? Look for a company that has an impeccable and longstanding reputation. If you feel uncertain about a quote you receive, please give us a call for a second opinion. You do not need to feel obligated to reveal to another company that you’ve already had someone out to inspect your roof and provide you with a quote. Some companies will take that as an opportunity to only slightly underbid the quote you have in your hands or skimp on checking out the specific cause of your problems, riding the previous company’s assessment of the problem. As always, we are here to educate you and answer your questions. Please feel free to give us a call anytime, and keep those questions coming, either here on our blog forum, through our website, or by phone at (770) 552-7663 in Georgia or (615) 656-5648 in Tennessee. Until next time, keep warm and dry!~David Friedlander