Free how-to guides for Cobb County homeowners

1. Stay safe — stay off the roof. Wet shingles, steep pitches, and storm winds make DIY roof access dangerous. Everything in this guide happens from inside the home.
2. Protect the interior. Move furniture, electronics, and valuables away from the drip. Put down buckets, pots, or plastic bins, and lay towels around them to catch splashes.
3. Relieve ceiling bulges carefully. If water is pooling and the ceiling is bulging, the drywall may collapse. Place a bucket underneath and poke a small relief hole with a screwdriver only if you can do so safely — this lets water drain in a controlled spot.
4. Photograph everything. Take clear photos and video of the leak, ceiling stains, damaged belongings, and the roof from the ground. Insurers and contractors both need this documentation.
5. Note the storm history. Write down when the leak started, wind direction, and rainfall intensity. In Cobb County, leaks often trace back to lifted flashing, failed pipe boots, or wind-driven rain under ridge vents.
6. Call for professional help. A temporary tarp or seal only buys time. Call 404-640-7734 — our $250 roof leak service call includes inspection and a temporary repair when no extra materials are needed, and emergency active-leak response is available.

Book leak help

1. Clear the room. Move furniture to the center and cover it with drop cloths, or move it out entirely. Remove wall plates, outlet covers, curtain hardware, and picture hangers.
2. Protect floors and trim. Lay canvas drop cloths (they stay put better than plastic) and apply painter's tape to baseboards, window casings, and ceiling lines. Press tape edges firmly to prevent bleed.
3. Clean the walls. Wash with a mild TSP substitute or degreasing cleaner, especially in kitchens and baths. Paint will not bond to grease or dust. Let walls dry fully.
4. Repair the surface. Fill nail holes and small dents with spackle, tape and mud any drywall cracks, then sand smooth with 120-grit paper. Wipe dust off with a damp cloth.
5. Prime where it counts. Spot-prime repairs, bare drywall, and stains with a quality primer. Skipping primer over patches is the most common cause of blotchy paint jobs.
6. Gather materials before you start. Primer, paint, angled sash brush for cutting in, 9-inch roller with the right nap, roller tray, extension pole, tape, drop cloths, and a damp rag for mistakes.
7. Paint top to bottom. Ceiling first, then walls — cut in edges with the brush, roll the field in W-patterns, and keep a wet edge to avoid lap marks. Two thin coats beat one thick coat.

Prefer to skip the ladder and the mess? Our base prices start at $400 for a small room (labor only, customer materials). See painting prices

1. Define the scope in writing

Write one sentence per task: the room, the problem, and the finished result you expect. Example: "Guest bath — repair soft drywall by the tub, re-texture, and repaint the wall." A written scope keeps every quote comparable.

2. Prioritize room by room

1. Stop active damage first: roof leaks, plumbing leaks, electrical hazards.
2. Protect the structure: gutters, flashing, exterior caulk, grading.
3. Restore function: doors that stick, broken fixtures, damaged drywall.
4. Refresh finishes last: paint, cosmetic updates, decor.

3. Set cost ranges, not single numbers

Get a base price for the template scope (for example, our $225 sheetrock repair base covers a small patch, tape, mud, and texture — paint not included), then add a 15–20% contingency for hidden damage, access issues, or material upgrades. Final price can increase if access, damage, materials, height, quantity, or conditions differ significantly from the template.

4. Ask every contractor the same questions

• What exactly is included in this price — and what is not?
• How do you handle surprises found behind walls or under shingles?
• Do your crews follow OSHA safety standards and local Georgia building codes?
• What is the payment schedule — deposit, progress, final?
• How quickly can you start, and how long will the work take?

Get a quote from Cobb Contractors or call 404-640-7734.