Yeah, flat roofs can definitely turn into surprise swimming pools if you're not careful...been there, done that, got the soggy T-shirt. 😅 We had a small addition with a flat roof at our old place and it was always a headache after big storms. No matter how good the materials were, water just loved to hang out up there. Eventually, we bit the bullet and had it redone with a slight pitch—made a huge difference.
But you're right about installers too. My cousin splurged on some fancy shingles, thinking he was set for decades. Then he hired some random cheap crew off Craigslist... let's just say he ended up paying twice—once for their sloppy job and again for someone else to fix their mistakes. Lesson learned: sometimes saving money upfront costs you more later.
"Lesson learned: sometimes saving money upfront costs you more later."
Couldn't agree more with this. I've inspected plenty of homes after storms, and it's always the same story—cheap fixes end up costing double or triple down the line. One thing I'd add is to check your gutters and drainage regularly. Even a slight blockage can cause water to pool, especially on flat roofs. A quick clean-out every few months can save you from some serious headaches later...and keep your T-shirts dry 😉.
Yeah, learned this the hard way myself...thought I'd save a buck patching up some shingles DIY-style. Ended up with leaks everywhere. Now I check after every storm—gutters, shingles, flashing, the works. Lesson learned, wallet lighter.
After reading your experience, I'm wondering—is it usually better to call someone in right after a storm, or should you wait a bit to see if things settle first? I've heard friends debate this...some swear by immediate repairs, while others say contractors might charge less if you wait until the rush dies down. As a newbie homeowner, I'm genuinely curious: what's the smarter move here?
"some swear by immediate repairs, while others say contractors might charge less if you wait until the rush dies down."
Honestly, there's another angle here worth thinking about: safety. If the storm was severe enough to cause visible damage, it might've weakened other areas you can't see yet. Waiting could mean risking leaks or structural issues getting worse. Sure, prices might dip later, but is saving a bit of cash worth potentially bigger headaches down the road? I'd probably lean toward at least getting an inspection done early...just to be safe.
