Roof leaks present multiple challenges to a homeowner. For a start, they never occur at a convenient time and can result in significant damage to the interior of your home. Additionally, effects of water can linger long even after a repair has been done in the form of mold growth on the interior surface of your home. At times determining the source of a roof leak can be challenging since the source of the roof leak on the exterior surfaces rarely matches where the leaks appear in the interior. Frustrating, right? A roof leak may be as a result of several contributing factors and may not be caused a single aspect of your room. However, in the article below, we look at some of the common causes of roof leaks.
1) Missing or broken shingles
Missing shingles are easy to spot since they form the exterior layer of your roof and you should be able to identify missing or broken shingles by seeing different color patches on your roof. Alternatively, you are likely to spot littering shingles on your yard or driveway after a storm or strong wind. In most cases, broken shingles on roofs are caused by weather; high winds and heavy rain. When your roof has missing shingles, it allows water to seep in through your rooftop. In case you spot a missing or broken shingle, you can request a reputable roofer to secure your roof with high-quality roofing materials/fasteners.
2) Damaged flashing
Flashing is a metal strip or rather barrier installed to create a water-resistant seal at the joints and shingles of your roof. In most cases, the roof flashing seals roof transitions where large amounts of water run down such as rooftop vents, where your chimney penetrates your window, around the edges of skylights or where your roofs join a dormer. With time, the tar used to seal the flashing may corrode over time resulting in a water leak. Also, flashing sections may slide out of place if the nails are missing leading to a water leak. If detected early enough, the damage is repairable, but if left alone, it can weaken and crumble the roofing structure.
3) Clogged gutters
Gutters are meant to drive water away from your rooftop, and when blockages forms, drainage stops and water, as well as other debris, get stuck. When drainage stops, rainwater forms a pool and may have more of an opportunity to seep through your roof. And during winter, the pool of rainwater may freeze creating an ice dam that may push and destroy the roofing structure. Leaks from clogged gutters can result in extensive damage but are easy to prevent with regular maintenance. Alternatively, you can hire a professional roofing specialist to install gutter guards to stop debris accumulation.
4) Old age
Age might seem like a simple one, but old age is one of the primary factors which cause a leaky roof. Over time, your roofing material; whether roof tiles or metal roofing material can deteriorate due to continual exposure to the weather condition-constant expansion and contraction leads to wear and tear. With the integrity of the roof compromised, it would be unrealistic to expect the roof to continue serving you, especially if you had not maintained your roof over the years.
