Roof leakage can cause discomfort for everyone in your house. It can weaken your roofing system and damage the interior decoration of your home. When there’s roof leakage, it also increases your energy bill.
There are many causes of roof leakage in many residential homes. We’ve put together a list of nine of the most common reasons for leaks in your home roof and how to solve them.
Broken or damaged shingles are the most common cause of roof leakages. After a few years of roof installation, you might notice the loss of shingles granules. The loss of granules can be because of exposure to the elements of nature.
A strong storm can cause some of the shingles to go missing. Also, a storm can cause a tree to fall on your roof, damaging the shingles.
During the storm seasons, prune trees close to the house to prevent tree branches from falling on your roof. You can also call a Greenville roofing contractor to repair or replace the damaged shingles.
Roof slopes can play a significant role in the life span of your roofing. Here’s why a steep slope roof means rainwater and ice run down quickly. On the other hand, water runs down slowly on a flat roof, which can cause a water pool on the roof.
The shingles absorb the water when it stays on the roof for a long time. The water absorption weakens and damages the shingles, causing subsequent leakage into the attic or your home.
The easiest way will be to go for a steep slope for your residential home. However, if that isn’t possible, you can ensure that there isn’t a water pool on your roof after a heavy downpour.
Like a flat roof, a clogged rain gutter from plant debris can cause water pooling. Water pooling can damage the foundation of the roofing system. If you notice the water isn’t drifting down from the roof after rainfall, Houston, you’ve got a problem – water pooling.
The best way to solve this water pooling is to unclog the rain gutter. How do you do that? You must climb the roof. Then remove all the debris clogging the waterway from the channel.
Yes, humans too can cause roof leakage. Do you and your family regularly walk on the roof? The frequent human traffic on the roof can cause dents in the shingles. Most roofing materials like asphalt shingles are fragile. They can easily break or tear.
The dents and tears are hard to spot with your untrained eye. It’s advisable not to use the roof frequently if possible. Only let a professional roofing contractor inspect your roof if you think there’s a leakage.
Having a professional roofing contractor check your roof will save you a lot of money. They can spot the most subtle dents and signs of leakage faster. It’s good to have a period of roof inspection, especially immediately after a storm or when your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan.
Have you noticed nails popping up in your during a recent inspection? It’s time to have it fixed. Nails break the shingles and leave holes in them during installation. The holes in the shingles when the nails pop up are the most common cause of roof leakage.
What causes nail pop in roofing materials, especially asphalt shingles?
Most times, it’s easy to spot a nail pop from the ground. You’ll notice the discoloration or raised shingles from the ground.
You need an expert roofer to replace the broken shingles or nails.
Roof flashing is the metal sheet that covers the joints of the shingles. The flashing is a major cause of roof leakage.
An improper installation of the flashing or a corroded flashing can expose the gap beneath it. This can cause heavy leakage into the attic.
You can replace an old corroded roof flashing with a new one. If the improper installation is the cause of the leakage, then let a pro install it properly.
Vents, skylights, and chimneys are foreign to the roof. Improper installation of these heating elements can create water leakages in the roofing.
Roof vents are the pipes you see on the roof to regulate the moisture in the house. They are susceptible to leakage if you don’t install them properly. You can prevent the leakage by sealing any holes around it.
A chimney made from bricks can erode over time under harsh conditions. You can fix it by replacing the mortar.
An ice dam forms at the roof’s edges and prevents the melting snow from draining off the roof.
An uneven surface temperature of the roof causes an ice dam. It’s usually the result of heat loss from the house. In an ice dam, part of the roof gets heated.
You can prevent an ice dam by controlling the heat loss from the house. Always hire a professional to inspect the cause of the ice dam. Don’t try to fix your roof during the winter because you injure yourself or damage the roof.
You know what they say: Everything with a beginning has an end. And your roofing isn’t any different. The average age of an asphalt shingle is 20 to 25 years. When the lifespan of your roofing is nearing its end, exposure to the elements will cause wear and tear. Old age will weaken the roof.
The best way to prevent roof leakage at this time is to replace your roof, or a re-roofing would even be better.
It’s a good practice to let an expert roofing contractor inspect your roof to determine which of the two would be better – roof replacement or re-roofing.
If you’ve noticed leakages in your home recently, it’s time to call one of the best Greenville residential roofing contractors to inspect and fix it for you.
Lanier Roofing and Restoration combines over 100 years of experience in fixing homes in Greenville, SC. No matter your roofing problem, we have the expertise to solve it for you. We’re licensed and certified general contractors who work with insurance companies to fix your roof. Call us today for your free quote.
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