6 Causes of Your Leaky Roof

Spotting signs of a leak in your roof can be incredibly aggravating. You’ll need to address it right away since even the smallest leaks can grow worse, potentially leading to water damage in your home. In fact, what may seem like a small leak could potentially be a much bigger problem as well. Knowing what causes such leaks could help you prevent them from happening in the first place. Keeping that in mind, the following are six of the most common causes of a leaking roof:

1. General wear and tear

Your roof is going to experience a lot of wear and tear over its lifespan. This means that once it begins reaching the end of it’s expected life, it will have experienced a ton of wear and tear. This is the result of years of exposure to the sun and to the elements. Eventually, your roof will start leaking due to such wear and tear, which means its time to have your roof replaced.

2. Missing or damaged flashing

The flashing is the thin strips of metal that are installed where the roof meets certain features, such as the chimney. The flashing is meant to help seal the spaces where roof features meet to prevent water from leaking in. However, if your flashing is damaged or has been torn off (due to powerful winds), it will leave that area of your roof vulnerable to leaks.

3. Missing or damaged shingles

Shingles can be torn off as a result of high powered winds. They are more likely to tear off if they’ve already been damaged. When this happens, the underlayment will be exposed to rainwater, which could then leak into your home. You’ll need to replace missing shingles right away because of this. In fact, nearby shingles will be more vulnerable to being torn off as a result as well, which could lead to even more potential for leaks. Damaged shingles should be replaced right away simply because they are more likely to blow off and can experience leaks more easily as well.

4. Clogged gutters

It’s important that you have your gutters cleaned on a regular basis. If you don’t, they’ll end up becoming clogged with debris. When this happens, rainwater that collects in your gutters will have nowhere to go. It will just build up until it spills over, causing leaks in your roof and around your windows.

5. Damaged gutters

Gutters that are damaged are more likely to result in leaks as well. For example, if the gutters have pulled away from the fascia, then rainwater that rolls down your roof will simply go over the side, where it can leak through your siding or windows. Make sure you routinely check the condition of your gutters, especially following a particularly severe rainstorm.

6. Poorly installed skylights

When you have a skylight installed into your roof, it should have a seal around it that prevents rain from leaking in. However, if your skylights weren’t properly installed, water might leak through. It should be easy to identify if this is a problem–if water stains are developing near the skylights or water is dripping down, you have a leak.

These are six common causes behind a leaky roof. One way that you can prevent roof leaks from occurring is by scheduling a roof inspection the moment you spot any signs of trouble, whether it’s water stains inside or missing shingles outside. Scheduling a regular roof inspection can help prevent such issues from developing as well. To schedule roof repairs or to request a free estimate, contact us at All-Nu Construction.