Nothing gives a homeowner a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach like roof leaks. While many roof leaks are caused by serious damage to your roof by a storm or other problems, every roof has a life span, and eventually, your trusty home covering will develop problems.
When that happens, the most important thing is to get the problems fixed as soon as possible. A small leak can quickly turn into a massive problem, from damaged insulation to black mold or even structural damage to your home.
Before you can fix a roof leak, you must find it, which can be a challenge.
Why Is My Roof Leaking?
Shingle Damage or Holes
This is one of the more obvious causes of a leaking roof. If a shingle or tile is damaged or missing, or a metal roof has a hole in it, this gap in your roof’s protective covering will allow water to enter the interior of your roof.
While obvious, visible damage is one of the more serious problems a roof can have and requires immediate repair. Issues such as these are repaired, of course, by replacing any damaged or missing shingles or tiles or repairing any holes in a metal roof.
Clogged Gutters
If your gutters are clogged, they can’t do their job of keeping water off your roof. When this happens, you can windup with damage to your shingles, fascia, or even structural problems. This might not be the first thing you think of when you realize you must figure out how to find a roof leak, but this is a common culprit.
Cleaning your gutters is something you can do yourself, though, be aware, it’s going to be a messy, time-consuming process to do it correctly.
Cracked Flashing
You may not even be aware that your roof has something called flashing. Roof flashing is a thin metal installed underneath shingles (as well as around your roof joints) that make your roof truly water-tight. Obviously, if your flashing develops a crack, water has a clear path into the interior of your house. Most times, this is due to decay in the tar used to seal the flashing to your house.
While this may be something you want to tackle yourself, this is a cause of roof leaks that might be best left to professionals.
Attic Condensation
Your attic isn’t climate-controlled like the rest of your home. As a result, variations in the temperature during the year (along with the temperature difference between the inside and outside of your home) can lead to condensation forming in your attic.
This may seem innocent, but condensation in your attic can lead to the growth of black mold and could cause structural damage if left unchecked long enough.
Proper attic insulation and ventilation can combat most condensation problems, whether it be with the installation of attic fans or vents.
Bad Valley Seals
The valley of your roof is where two flat pieces of your roof intersect, usually taking the form of a peak in your roof. A roof may look perfect to an untrained eye, but if the seals underneath the valleys of your roof were improperly done or have given way to aging, you can expect a roof leak to develop.
This is an extremely difficult leaking roof repair to do on your own. You should contact a professional if this is your problem.
Age
No roof lasts forever. While some types of roof have a longer life expectancy than others, sooner or later all roofs need repair or replacing. The wear and tear of years of storms, sunlight, and other environmental factors can cause your roof to crack, leading directly to roof leaks.
If your roof is well over ten years old or you’re not even sure when it was installed, a roof leak might very well be a sign that it’s time to have a new roof installed on your home. No matter your question or problem, Authentic Restoration can help you figure out what you need to do, whether it’s a simple home repair you can do yourself, or something more serious.
