Top 6 Causes of Leaky Roofs

Dealing with a leaky roof is nobody’s idea of fun. Even the smallest of leaks will grow worse and worse if you don’t address it right away. A small leak isn’t always indicative of a small problem either. For example, your roof deck could have massive water damage even though you only notice a small leak coming into your house. Knowing what causes roof leaks can help you take steps to prevent them as well as make it easier for you to identify them. The following are six of the main causes of roof leaks:

The roof is nearing the end of its lifespan – The older your roof gets, the more vulnerable it will become to potential roof leaks. This is due to the years of exposure to sunlight, rain, snow, heat, cold, and more, all of which will cause heavy wear and tear.

The flashing is damaged or missing – The flashing is a part of the roof that is meant to protect the spaces where the roof meets different roof features (such as chimneys and skylights). Without flashing, which are thin strips of metal, these spaces would be prone to water leaks. If your flashing experiences damage or is torn off the roof completely during a particularly bad storm, you’re much more likely to experience leaks.

There are missing shingles – When shingles are blown from your roof, you need to have them replaced right away. Otherwise, the underlying roof deck will be exposed to rainwater, which will lead to water damage as well as roof leaks. You can easily check for missing shingles by simply walking around the exterior of your home to look for bare spots in your roof.

There are holes in the roof – Your shingles can be punctured by debris blown during a storm or by hail. Such holes will obviously leave the roof vulnerable to leaks. However, they can be difficult to identify on your own. You’ll need to hire a professional Toledo roofing company to get up on your roof for a closer and more thorough inspection (getting up on your roof yourself is never a good idea–in fact, not only is it a safety risk, but you could end up causing more holes to develop as a result).

The gutters are clogged – The purpose of your gutters is to collect rainwater that runs down your roof and to disperse it away from your house to eliminate the risk of water leaks and damage. However, gutters have a habit of collecting debris (such as branches and leaves) over time. If you don’t have your gutters cleaned on a regular basis, this debris will eventually build up and clog your gutters. When it rains, the water will just sit in your gutters and rise, which could eventually cause it to leak into your roof.

The skylights weren’t properly installed – Skylights are a great feature to have as they help bring in more natural sunlight. However, if they aren’t properly installed, then leaks are likely to develop around the frame. If you notice water spots developing around your skylights, you should have them inspected right away.

These are six of the most common causes of roof leaks. Although you can do a visual inspection of your roof from the ground or from the attic to look for roof leaks, it’s a good idea to schedule a professional inspection every once in a while from a reputable roofing contractor.