Why Would A Roof Start Leaking?

Why Would A Roof Start Leaking? Leaking roof is detrimental to the structure of your house and interior assets. You have to take action immediately to prevent further damage. But before you start to repair the leakage, you have to know its cause.

By identifying what has triggered the leak, you find it easier to choose the solution. Here is a list of the most common reason – Why Would A Roof Start Leaking?

1. Holes

Holes are no doubt the easiest way water can get inside your house. But how do holes appear in the durable structure of your roof? Well, it may be that someone has hit your roof with something hard. When you remove objects from the roof, it may also lead to holes.

For example, the removal of a satellite dish or a solar panel can leave the hardware holes open. That’s why you have to immediately seal them after removing the objects.

2. Damaged shingles

Unfortunately, shingles are not invincible. While being sturdy, they can also fall prey to hits, pressure, hail, heavy wind, and wear and tear. Sometimes they can get holes, other times they can even fly off the roof, leaving a giant hole in it.

With that said, you have to always keep an eye on your shingles, checking them up from time to time. Who knows, may be during the next inspection you will find a crack in one of the tiles. The crack may not yet cause a water leak, but it can evolve into a hole and let water inside.

By preventively identifying the crack, you can replace the damaged shingle and leave the potential leakage no chance.

3. Clogged gutters

While it may come as a surprise for many people, gutters can also be the root cause of a roof leak. During storm, water runs down the shingles into the gutters. Unfortunately, water is not the only thing that falls into the gutters.

You can easily find there also leaves, sticks, and mud. All this debris clogs the gutter and blocks the flow of water. Instead of draining down, the water accumulates all the way up and goes under the shingles.

This causes a serious leak which can leave you confused because the last inspection showed that shingles are in good condition. You new to switch focus to gutters and clean them to eliminate the water spill inside your house.

4. Old age

Old roof is also vulnerable to leaks. While the roof lasts more than 10 years, there comes a time when it steadily starts to give up. The older the roof gets, the more brittle it becomes and the less immunity to hazards it has.

If you feel your roof is already worn out, you have to take into consideration its replacement. If you decide to leave it, keep in mind that the risk of deterioration is high. You want to inspect it on regular basis, especially after rain and heavy wind, to make sure leaks have not appeared.

5. Ineffective flashing

Flashings are the pieces of metal that cover the joints and seams on the roof. Since they rely on flashing, joints are not always perfectly sealed. That’s why, if you deprive them of their shelter, they can allow for water to come inside.

Unfortunately, heavy wind and storm can move the flashing from its initial position, leaving the joints exposed. Sometimes a poor installation of flashing may also be the root cause of water leakage. Not to mention the corrosion, which is likely to affect the metal that is subject to frequent rain.

If you see a leak under the flashing, you may want to verify its condition. It you notice corrosion, wrong positioning or the flashing is missing, you have to call the roofers. They will bring the flashing system in a functionable condition and prevent leaks.

Why Would A Roof Start Leaking? – Conclusion

A roof leak can take on many forms. You never know what causes the leak until you carry out a detailed inspection. Things you have to look for include: roof holes, damaged shingles, clogged gutters, and poorly positioned flashing.

A common leaking roof cause is old age. Your wisest choice is to replace the worn-out roof before it lets water inside and allows for your asset damage.