Why Is My Roof Leaking
Lets talk about some of the most common reasons for a leaking roof:
- Your clogged gutters are causing a leak If your gutters become too clogged, it will prevent water from travelling away from your roof and foundation, potentially triggering a roof leak.
- Your roof has missing or cracked shingles If you have missing or damaged roof tiles, these must be replaced as soon as possible to stop the leak.
- Your flashing is causing a leak If you have a chimney, the leak may be caused by flashing at the base of your chimney, which has rusted, cracked or not been sealed properly with roof sealant.
- Your roof vent is damaged If your vent has cracked, rusted or has broken seams, it can create a leaking issue.
- Your skylight is leaking If your skylight has a leak around the rubber seal bordering the glass, water may run inside and drip into your homes interior.
- Your roof valley is punctured A leak can happen when the roof valley have been damaged.
- Your roof membrane or roof sarking was poorly installed If your roof membrane or roof sarking has been improperly installed, it may be punctured over time, creating a leak.
- Your roof is old As the materials in your roof exceed their life expectancy, they will start to break down and this can compromise the integrity of your roof. If this is the case, it may be time to replace your roof or re-apply your roof waterproofing.
What To Do Next
- Get an assessment of your roof, which will confirm the suspected damage.
- If you feel you can do this yourself, ensure you are checking every aspect of the roof and have the safety equipment to conduct the search.
- Alternatively, use a professional company who will be able to conduct the search, provide a quote and book the repairs or replacement in all at the same time.
- A company can give you the options for repairs or replacement. As roofs are only stood to last 20 30 years, it may be time to look at replacing it rather than invest in constant repairs.
- Repairs can often be done easily but it is about assessing the expense.
- Of course, dont shy away from repairs if your roofer feels the rest is in good nick. There is no need to invest a large amount of money if there are no concerns about the leaks increasing or further damage occurring.
Plumbing Vent Boots And Roof Vents
Check plumbing vent boots and roof vents if water is entering from that area to cause the leaking roof.
Look for cracks in the base of flexible rubber flashing or broken seams in metal varieties of vent pipe flashing. The rubber gasket that surrounds the vent pipe could be rotted. Either of these situations could allow water to find its way into the house.
Replace the plumbing vent boot if necessary and use washer-head roofing screws to secure the base to the roof. If the boot is in good condition but fasteners are missing, replace them with washer-head roofing screws.
Similarly, roof vents with cracked or otherwise damaged housings should be replaced to prevent water entering at the base.
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How Can I Prevent Condensation In My Home
Your best bet at tackling excessive condensation: ventilation and proper insulation. Make sure always to run the bathroom fan when showering. This applies to cooking as well use your hood fans, on high every time you cook. Dont have ventilation fans in the bathroom or kitchen? There are great low-priced options that could make a huge difference. Or, consider cracking a window an inch or two while showering or cooking. Also, make sure to check the insulation in your attic. Most folks mistakenly believe the more, the better. Not true. Too much insulation could actually be the culprit behind those harmful ice dams.
Still have questions about whether you are experiencing condensation or a leaky roof? Contact The Roof Guy. We offer free roof inspections. Should we detect an issue, our team will perform a complete evaluation and provide the very best, and honest solution. Trust The Roof Guy.
Your Valleys Arent Properly Sealed
What Does It Look Like: An area where two planes of roof come together. Since, these areas of the roof are usually sloped, if the valleys are not sealed together properly, rainwater can get inside as it runs down the roof. You can detect a problem by searching for wet spots that run along the seams of your roof.
Why It Happens: A variety of reasons the sealing may not have been done properly in the first place, it may have cracked when being stepped on, or an excess of rain and ice may have caused it to erode over time.
How To Fix It: This is one of those things that needs to be done by a professional because of its complexity and we do not recommend attempting it on your own. However, your roofer will likely fix the problem by laying a new leak barrier along the valley and shingling overtop.
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How To Tell If You Have Ceiling Mold
Alright, you suspect that you have ceiling mold or at least are aware that its a possibility after your leaky roof encounter. What signs can you look out for in order to spot ceiling mod and take appropriate action? Are there even visible signs?
The good answer is that yes, you can most often spot pretty quickly whether or not youve got ceiling mold. Look out for the following:
- Brown or gray ceiling discoloration
- Visible mold growth
- A musty odor near the area of the roof leak
Aside from the above visible signs, there are also some obvious health side effects that can trigger you to realize you have mold in your home:
- Asthma attacks
- Rashes or hives
- Chronic fatigue
If you or anyone in your home is experiencing one or more of the above signs, and you know youve recently experienced water damage to your ceiling, then its time to take action. Whether you remove the mold yourself or call in a professional, make sure to address mold growth sooner rather than later.
Why Do I Have Water Leaking Into My Garage
This is usually caused by a leak somewhere. This is the challenge. It can be anywhere from the roof to the windows. In order to solve water leaking into the garage under the wall, you have to find the source of the leak. You can go up the attic with a flashlight and then trace the leaking up to its highest point.
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Call A Professional Right Away
Professionals know how to find the source of a leakage. In this case it wasnt the roof that was causing the leakage bad plumbing was the culprit.
Some of our customers know their way around all types of big DIY jobs. If youre comfortable with this kind of work, wait until the weather clears so that you can determine the location and nature of the leak.
Otherwise, we strongly recommend for any kind of roof repair.
How To Remove Ceiling Mold After A Roof Leak
So, youve had a roof leak recently? While youve probably already gotten a roofer out to your home to fix the immediate problem, you should also be aware of the residual side effects of a roof leak on your home. Namely, you need to look out for the ceiling mold after a roof leak. This often times doesnt occur right away, as it takes time for mold to grow and develop. Were here to tell you how to tell if you have ceiling mold, what you can do about it, and what safety measures to take when attempting ceiling mold removal yourself.
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Call A Professional Roofing Company
A leaking roof is a big undertaking, so its best to call the pros. The longer you wait, the worse the problem could get. Theres only so much you can do to manage the situation, so itll need fixing immediately.
Professional roofers can repair the damaged area and assess other spots on your roof that may need repair or reconstruction.
Debris In Gutters That Stop Above A Roof
A valley is when two roof slopes meet in a V shape that allows water to flow down a roof freely. When a valley stops in the middle of a roof, it will have a gutter that runs into it so the water can continue flowing down.
The problem is with the fascia, which is the board that runs along the lower edge of the roof that carries all the gutters. When theres no flashing applied to the fascia board, a leak will happen.
This leak wont happen under normal circumstances. It might be under extreme rain, but when that gutter in the valley gets filled with leaves and other debris, itll send water through the path of least resistance.
Once that water gets underneath the soffit , behind the gutter, it can go anywhere it wants, causing all kinds of damage.
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How Do You Prevent A Roof Leak
Your best defense and safest bet against roof leaks is to have it undergo regular inspection by experienced roofing contractors. Your contractor will keep you up to date on the condition of your roof as well as help you stay vigilant and learn how to notice the early signs of roof damage and roof leaks.
How To Remove And Replace A Shingle
For our purposes today, we will discuss the removal and replacement of shingles, but no other repairs. This is because the damage caused by a leaking roof can include the roof decking, insulation, and drywall, which require their own unique repair methods. Unless specifically noted, the underlayment must also be removed.This underlayment improves the adhesive qualities of self-sealing shingles, forming a strong bond between the two. The tar paper also creates a moisture barrier, which is critical in reducing or preventing leaks. Therefore, it is extremely important to re-install the tar paper by overlapping the paper by at least two inches. The pros also recommend sealing the joints in the paper with high-temperature tape.
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Thoroughly Examine Your Attic
Be very careful where you step so you dont fall through the ceiling, but when checking for a leak, its important to investigate your attic. Check for all the signs of water damage and look for the presence of a leak. Consider bringing a flashlight to examine any hard-to-see areas. Look for mold, water stains, or musty smells around the rafters and roof sheathing.
Inspect For Signs Of A Leak
Knowing how to detect roof leaks starts by understanding the telltale signs that a roof is leaking. This is often the dripping of water that may occur during a rainstorm since bad rain storms can cause roof damage, but there are several other signs you should keep an eye out for, including the following:
- Water stains on walls or ceilings
- Musty smells or moldy odors
- Missing, warped, or damaged shingles
- Bulging sections on interior walls
- Water-damaged exterior siding
- If you have a metal roof, look for rust
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Get Your Gutters Cleaned
Cleaning out your gutters is a job you should be scheduling at least twice a year. If your gutters are old or clogged up with leaves and debris, this water could overflow and trickle down into weak spots in your roof. If youre unsure about climbing up on to a ladder yourself, get a Mott professional to clean your gutters for you.
Sign #: Damaged Flashing
Flashing is the material placed around objects that protrude from roofs, such as your chimney and roof vents. Flashing is designed to prevent the movement of water into your roof by averting the water away from seams where water runoff is greater. It is made up of thin pieces of impenetrable materials aluminium and galvanized steel are most popular.
Your flashing may be damaged as a result of the caulking material under the flashing drying out or deterioration of the material caused by weather and oxidation. Loose flashing is another common problem having loose flashing can cause water to seep, leak inside your walls and ceilings and cause extensive damage such as mould and mildew growth and rotted wood, which can cause irreparable damage to your roofing structure.
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B Your Attic Isn’t Being Properly Ventilated
An improperly ventilated attic isn’t necessarily a sign of a leaking roof, but it’s worth mentioning here. More often we come across improperly ventilated attics in older homes, such as before the 1980s. If you have moisture or mold in your attic, and you don’t have roof damage, and your appliances and vents from fans are venting directly to the outside, you might just need your current attic ventilation inspected and possibly add more vents, or upgrade your existing ones.
Leak Sources Other Than Your Roof
If you experience a leak in your home you can choose to make the repair yourself or hire a professional roofing contractor to complete the repair. If you place a service call with a professional roofing contractor and he determines that the cause of the leak is something else unrelated to the roof on the home, he may still charge you a diagnostic fee. In order to avoid this charge, it is recommended that the homeowner attempt to rule out other causes of leaks. These may include:
- Plumbing leaks
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Inspect Your Roof Plumbing
If you have plumbing running through your roof, such as vent pipes, exhaust pipes or fan ducts, you need to ensure they stay sealed. Sealed and flashed holes in your roof around pipes can wear down after periods of extreme weather or high rainfall, and need to be kept in check.
If your roof leaks intermittently, take note of the wind direction, strength and rain angles at the times when it leaks as this information is valuable and makes us more efficient and cost-effective when we come to access, trace and repair the source of such roof leaks.
If youre having trouble locating the source of a roof leak, need help with the repairs, or just want to take preventative measures, Our trained plumbers can make sure any leak is sealed quickly and effectively before they become a bigger problem. We can also advise on any potential future problems your roof might face, helping to reduce the chance of further damage.
How To Tell If Your Roof Is Leaking
September 22, 2020 by Danny McLaughlin
A leaky roof is a serious structural issue, and even minor leaks can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. If you want to fix leaks before they wreak havoc on your home, youll need to be familiar with what causes these leaks and how to detect them early on.
In this article, well cover the most common causes of leaky roofs and show you how to spot them early.
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Start Catching The Water
Throw down towels and old newspapers under large areas that trickle with multiple drips.
Use deep plastic trash cans for heavier leaks. Preserve your sanity with a length of string. Pin it to the ceiling under the leak so that water quietly slides down into your catch basin instead of constantly splashing.
How Do You Repair A Roof Leak
Look for gaps in caulk, sealant, or aluminum flashing where any objects intersect with or emerge from the roof. These are some of the most common sources of roof leaks, and smaller gaps are easy to repair. Small gaps can be treated with caulk or roof sealant, but larger cracks or tears require patching or new flashing.
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Stainson The Walls Or Ceiling
Over a few years, some of the surfaces in your home are sureto become stained.
While minor discoloration is natural, be wary of distinctstains on the walls or ceiling. They could result from a few pinholes lettingwater into your home.
Luckily, any local roofing company should be able to patch most small leaks within just a few hours.
Continue Regular Roof Maintenance
After the roof is fixed and things are back to normal, theres more work to be done. Doing routine maintenance on your roof is the best way to control leaks. Your roof takes on a lot of wear and tear, and its exposed to harsh outside elements. Routine roof maintenance includes:
Weather conditions like rain, snow, and hail weaken the shingles over time. Ensure that your house stays in good condition by keeping major systems, such as your roof, properly maintained.
Sometimes, finding the source of a leak is more complicated than simply spotting a hole in your attics ceiling. From failing flashing to clogged gutters to crumbling shingles, the list of potential causes is very long.Bob Vila, From Solved, What To Do About A Leaky Roof
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