Man, I hear you on the “just get it livable” approach. After the last big hailstorm here, my neighbor and I were both scrambling to patch things up. He went all-in with the fancy underlayment and high-end shingles, while I was over there with a roll of plastic, a staple gun, and a prayer. Guess whose roof still leaks? (Hint: not mine, at least not yet.)
I think a lot of it comes down to what you’re dealing with and how picky you are. For me, patching up a few missing shingles and slapping on some sealant cost maybe $150, tops. But if you’re talking about a full tear-off and replacement, especially if you’ve got a steep roof or something like tile, that’s a whole different ballgame. My uncle’s place needed a full re-roof after a tornado, and insurance covered most of it, but he still had to cough up a $2,500 deductible. Ouch.
I’m curious—do you guys ever just say “good enough” and wait until the next storm to do a bigger fix? Or is that just me being lazy? Sometimes I wonder if I’m playing roulette with my ceiling, but so far, so good.
Also, anyone else notice that the “storm chaser” roofers show up faster than the actual storm clouds? I swear, I had three business cards on my porch before the rain even stopped. Not sure if that’s a good thing or just sketchy.
Anyway, I guess my point is, you can spend as much or as little as you want, but sometimes the cheap fix holds up better than you’d expect. Or maybe I’m just lucky... for now.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m playing roulette with my ceiling, but so far, so good.
I get the temptation to just patch and hope for the best—honestly, sometimes those “temporary” fixes last a lot longer than you’d think. But I’ve seen a bunch of cases where a small leak turned into hidden mold or warped decking over time. Ever checked your attic after one of those storms, just to see if anything’s brewing up there? Usually the first sign is a musty smell or some staining that wasn’t there before.
And yeah, those storm chasers really do have radar for fresh damage. Some are legit, but I always tell folks to check their credentials—seen too many rushed jobs that looked fine until the next downpour. Anyone else ever find “repairs” that made things worse?
Ever checked your attic after one of those storms, just to see if anything’s brewing up there?
Yeah, learned that lesson the hard way. Thought a quick patch would hold after a hailstorm last spring—looked fine from the outside, but a couple weeks later I noticed a weird smell in the hallway. Turns out water had been seeping in and soaking the insulation. Ended up costing way more than if I’d just dealt with it right away. Those “temporary” fixes can really come back to bite you...
Those “temporary” fixes can really come back to bite you...
Ain’t that the truth. I once tried to “MacGyver” a leaky spot in the roof with some leftover caulk and a piece of tarp after a windstorm. Looked solid enough—until the next rain rolled in and I basically had an indoor waterfall right over my laundry room. Ended up with soggy drywall, ruined insulation, and a bill that made me wish I’d just called someone in the first place.
Funny thing is, from the street, everything looked fine. It’s always the stuff you can’t see that gets you. I’ve learned to poke my head up into every attic after a big storm, even if it feels like overkill. The cost difference between catching a drip early and waiting until you smell mildew? Night and day. Last time, fixing a small patch was maybe $300. The time I waited? North of $2k once all was said and done.
Temporary fixes are like putting duct tape on a sinking boat… works for about five minutes, then you’re swimming.
Temporary fixes are like putting duct tape on a sinking boat… works for about five minutes, then you’re swimming.
That’s a pretty accurate way to put it. I’ve seen more than a few folks try to patch things up with whatever’s on hand after a storm—plastic sheeting, old shingles, even plywood held down with bricks. Sometimes it buys you a day or two, but water always finds the weak spot. And once it gets in, it doesn’t just stop at the roof. Insulation, drywall, even electrical can get hit if you let it go.
I remember one job last spring—customer had a tree limb come down and punch a hole right through their asphalt shingles. They covered it with a trash bag and some duct tape thinking they’d get to it “next weekend.” Well, we had three days of rain before they called me. By then, the attic insulation was soaked and mold was starting on the rafters. What could’ve been maybe $400 for a shingle patch turned into almost $3k after demo and remediation.
I get why people want to do quick fixes—sometimes you just don’t have the cash or time right away. But honestly, even getting someone out for an emergency tarp job is usually cheaper than letting water sit for days. Most insurance will cover that too if you document the damage.
One thing I always tell people: if your roof takes a hit in a storm, check inside as soon as you can. Even if everything looks fine from outside, water can sneak in under the felt or drip down around vents and chimneys. If you catch it early, repairs are way less painful on the wallet.
Not saying every leak needs an immediate full replacement—sometimes it really is just a shingle or two—but waiting almost always costs more in the end. Storms don’t care about your schedule... they’ll find any shortcut you take.
