Most Common Causes Of Roof Leaks
Roof leaks can cause severe water damage. As seen in the photo, it has spread on to the walls and flooring.
Since we have already discussed top warning signs of a roof leak, let us now look into what could possibly trigger them. Being able to spot root causes of leaks will prompt you to implement appropriate actions ahead of time.
While most roofing systems are naturally watertight, there are instances when water penetration becomes inevitable. We have listed down below some of the main reasons why your roofing becomes prone to leakage.
What Are Some Other Issues Related To Excess Condensation
Sometimes homes with roof ice dams will also have problems with condensation. An ice dam occurs when hot air gets trapped in the attic. The roof gets heated from the inside causing snow and ice to melt and refreeze continually. The water runs down the roof and collects along the cool edges and refreezes, resulting in snowdrifts, or icicles. This all often happens under the shingles causing damage to shingles, underlayment and roof decking.
Avoid Further Roof Damage With Early Detection
A solid roof protects your home from major and expensive damage. Your home is a long-term investment so it pays to be aware of the signs that its time for repairs. Sometimes, your roof will be damaged in unexpected circumstances, like a hurricane. Most of the time, however, common sources of a roof leak can be less obvious.
Routine checks of your roof are vital and can reveal underlying roof issues. Having advance notice of potential problems can save you money. A qualified technician from Water Damage and Roofing, Austin will thoroughly inspect your roof to determine what issues could be causing your current leak or problems that may lead to a leaky roof in the future.
Ignoring these 10 indicators of a roof leak can lead to extensive damage to your home and more expensive repairs.
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Take Photos For Insurance Documentation
Documenting the damages will come in handy when you file your home insurance claim .
Photos will show the severity of the roof damage and all other compromised items. If the roof leak ruined items like your television or computer, your insurance could potentially fix the roof and replace the items you lost.
Receive An Inspection From A Local Roofing Contractor
A roof inspection is when a roofing contractor checks the condition of your entire roof. Once your local roofing contractor comes out to your home, the first thing theyll do is inspect your roof and track down your leak.
Theyll check your roof penetrations, your attics ventilation, and other crucial areas of your roof and determine if your roof leak is isolated or if its from roof failure. After making an assessment of your roof, theyll determine if you need a repair or a full roof replacement.
If your leak isnt caused by premature roof failure, your roofing contractor can do repairs to get more life out of your roof. However, if your roof leak is caused by roof failure or extensive storm damage, youll need a full roof replacement.
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Damaged Plumbing Vent Boots
Plumbing vent boots can be all plastic, plastic and metal, or two-piece metal units. Well check the plastic bases for cracks and metal bases for broken seams. Our technician will also examine the rubber boot surrounding the pipe. The rubber can be rotted away or torn, allowing water to seep into your home.
Common Causes Of Roof Leaks
The first step in repairing roof leaks or replacing a roof is knowing what caused the leak in the first place.
Weather like high winds and hail can easily damage your asphalt shingles.
Falling branches during a storm can also cause leaks in your roof. The older your shingles are, the more prone they are to leaks after large storms.
But bear in mind that misdiagnosing a leak can lead to further damage.
If you aren’t 100% sure of what is causing the leaks, get the help of a professional roofing contractor.
Depending on what caused the damage, your insurance company may cover the replacement of your roof, but they will require a licensed professional to do the work.
A missing shingle creates an easy opening for water to get through.
Many shingles come with wind ratings, and they typically exceed local weather requirements, but it is still possible for the wind to rip shingles off of your home.
Even a cracked or damaged shingle creates an easy opening for water to get into your home.
To reduce the chances of your shingles being damaged, keep all nearby trees trimmed and get shingles with a high hail rating.
As your roof ages, wood can swell and settle, causing gaps to form around flashing, creating an entry point for water.
Your flashing itself can also fail, and when it does, you need to replace it immediately.
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Call A Local Roofing Company
The most crucial step of getting your roof leak taken care of is calling a reputable local roofing contractor. The local roofing contractor you call must have a physical office location in your area and a local phone number. This ensures you know where to find them if you ever have a problem with your roof.
Another reason to call a quality local roofing company is that they know what needs to be done thats specific to the area where you live. Theyll know what installation codes to follow, the paperwork required, and everything else theyll need to ensure your roof is correctly installed and in compliance with your states requirements.
This is especially true if your roof is leaking after a big storm. Some out of state companies come in after a big storm, undercut local roofing company prices, get the money, and move on to the next storm-hit town. These companies dont care about local codes or if they properly install your roof.
To learn more about why you need to call someone local to your area, read this article on why its important to hire a local roofing contractor.
Stain Or Wet Spot On Your Ceiling
One of the obvious signs your roof is leaking is a stain on your ceiling. More than likely, that water is coming from a damaged roof or missing roofing materials. If you see a wet spot or stain on your ceiling, get your roof and attic inspected right away. The longer you wait, the more damage there will be and the more it will cost to repair.
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Signs Your Roof Is Leaking
Signs your roof is leaking are sometimes obvious, such as a stain on your ceiling, or water or rust around your stove pipe. Other signs of a roof leak you might not notice, such as mold in your attic.
Keep an eye out for these 5 signs your roof is leaking, and act immediately, to keep your roof lasting as long as possible.
water stain on ceiling from roof leak
Dripping Sounds And Curled Shingles
Immediately after you turn off a faucet or showerhead, youcould hear a faint dripping sound.
That noise is normal, but be wary if you constantly hear drippingwater.
In addition to checking your attic for signs of damage, you should visually inspect your roof from the outside.
A leak could cause some shingles to curl or crack, and youwill need to have a roofing contractor replace the damaged shingles and patchthe holes.
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Slipped Tile Or Slate
One of the most common causes of roof leakages is a slipped tile or slate. These are typically very easy to notice simply look up at your roof and see if you can see any missing tiles or slates. If so, this is likely to be the cause of your leakage.
When one of your roof tiles slips, rainwater will begin to build up on your underlay, putting it under increased pressure. When this water builds up, it may begin to leak inside the roof.
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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What To Do If The Roof Is Leaking
Get help from roofing professionals. Schedule a roof inspection right away, the sooner the better.
Whether you merely suspect a single or multiple roof leaks or youre absolutely certain that your roof is leaking, the worst thing you can do is wait. A leak will certainly not go away on its own, but it certainly will continue to cause damage to your roof and your property.
Things can get out of hand before you know it and you will be sorry that you failed to take action right away. Even a minor leak that doesnt seem to cause damage requires immediate action. Whats more, roof leaks often indicate bigger problems.
If your roof is less than 15 years old, you are probably not going to have to invest in a new roof. Your roofing contractor will simply fix the leaks and work on eliminating the source of the problem. If your roof is 20 years old or older, you might want to consider a full roof replacement.
Roof Leak Warning Sign #: Ceiling Or Roof Spots
- When water gets through, you may see water stains in your ceiling
- Leaks may appear around chimneys and vents
- Leaks may even travel down rafters and show up away from the original source
Call Sonshine Roofing now at 941-866-4320 to learn more about our Roof Care Club and schedule a roof inspection. Our Roof Health Checkup inspection will show you any flaws caused by unforeseen events, faulty workmanship, or defective materials, your roof may have. And if your roof has no problems we will gladly give you clean bill of roof health. A small investment for an inspection can save you thousands of dollars later and provide you peace of mind knowing you have been proactive to insure that your roof can protect and keep you, your love ones and possessions, safe and dry inside your home.
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How To Find A Roof Leak
Learning how to find a roof leak is easy but accomplishing the task can be frustrating. And fixing a leaky roof can be less time-consuming than locating where the water is coming in.
Water frequently enters the house near things that go through the roof. Projections or penetrations such as vents, dormers and chimneys are frequent places for leaks. Locating the exact source can be tricky because visible signs of a leak on the inside might be several feet away from either to the left, right or below the actual source.
To find the source of a roof leak:
- Look in the attic with a flashlight for evidence like water stains, trhen trace them up the roof and rafters to the entry point.
- If the leak isnt obvious, have a helper watch in the attic while you get on the roof with a garden hose.
- Begin soaking low on the roof, just above where the leak is visible inside the house.
- Use enough water to mimic heavy rains.
- Run water over the low side of the penetration for several minutes while the helper watches for any water droplets.
- If none appear, move to the right or left side of the penetration and let the water run over the area for several minutes before moving to the other side.
- Work your way up the roof, isolating areas around each penetration until the helper yells that a drip is visible.
- That will be the vicinity of the leak.
Contact Tk Roofing And Gutters If Your Roof Is Leaking
No matter how minor you think a roof in your leak may be, it is always better to be safe than sorry and call a professional.
A seemingly minor leak, especially if left untreated, can worsen as time passes, ultimately leading to damage to your home and a complete roof replacement.
And if your roof isn’t obviously leaking, roof inspections should still happen every three years just to make sure everything is in order.
Once you start to notice multiple leaks or other signs of roof damage, it may be time to replace your entire roof.
To make sure your roof is healthy and your leaks are harmless and can be easily repaired, contact TK Roofing and Gutters, so a roofing contractor can find your leaks and suggest repairs.
And if your roof needs to be replaced, they can go over the costs involved and find the right plan for your new roof.
To schedule your Free Inspection and Estimate with one of our certified roofing contractors, click on the button below.
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Inspect The Surface Of Your Roof
You wont learn how to find a roof leak if you never examine your roof. If youre comfortable climbing up a ladder onto your roof, be sure to check around any and all vents, chimneys, skylights, and seams for signs of water damage or water collection. Plus, look out for loose or damaged shingles, missing nails, cracks and staining. You should also examine any areas where leaves collect, as debris can trap moisture along the surface of the roof.
Warning Signs Of Roof Leaks
There are also many less obvious items which allow water intrusion which are frequently missed. Small roof leaks cause rotten wood and even mold and mildew just like large leaks do. However, small roof leaks are frequently not discovered, by the untrained eye, until they are large enough to become obvious. By then complete roof replacement is frequently necessary.
The best way to be certain your roof is in tip-top shape is to have it regularly inspected by an experienced roofing professional.
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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.
Signs That Your Roof Is Leaking
Do you have water, water, everywhere? If so, you could have a leak, but where is it coming from? Some leaks are large, others are small, and all of them can wreak havoc on your walls, foundation, and the exterior of your building. These signs will tell you that you may have a leak in your roof.
1. Theres a Water Stain
A water stain may look like a large puddle on the ceiling, often ringed with brown. However, it may not look like that at all. Some stains are difficult to see as they occur in darker corners, while others are small stains that could be a sign of a much larger leak. If you notice discoloration on your ceiling or walls, take a closer look for mold, moisture, and other telltale signs of a leak.
2. Sometimes Theres a Drip
If you see drips, moisture on the walls, or moisture stains but dont see them often, you may still have a leak in your roof. Even if that leak seems to go away, get it checked. You may have an ice dam caused by the freezing and thawing of melting snow and ice. This thawed water moves under the shingles and then freezes again, causing intermittent leaks. The rule with leaks: if you see moisture, investigate, even if it seems to go away. Chronic moisture problems can cause permanent damage.
3. There Are Spots on Your Exterior Walls
4. Your Walls Are Growing
5. You See Missing Shingles or See Debris In Your Downspouts
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Spots On The Interior Ceilings
One of the most reliable early warning signs of a roof leak is the appearance of spots on your interior ceilings.
Often, the spots look like brown stains in the shape of puddles, with faint rings around the edges of the stain.
Such spots may gather in the center of the ceiling, but you should pay special attention to corners and alcoves where they are more likely to be missed.
Curling Or Buckling Of Shingles
Unusual change in the appearance of your roofing shingles could also point to a roof leak. If they start to curl, buckle, or crumple, they are probably suffering from too much moisture retention. When you ignore the signs of a roof leak, they can cause major damages.
Safety reminder: Do not immediately climb up your roof. If you can, try to visually inspect parts of your roofing that are potentially damaged. For your own safety and protection, give your roofing partner a call. They can provide accurate assessments following the industrys safety standards.
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Roof Leak Repair & Fixing Your Water Damaged Areas
In order to fix the interior damages, there are options. One of them is to hire a roof leak repair certified professional who can inspect with expertise and operate safely.
There are also other methods available for those who prefer to do it yourself. Here are some safe and effective ways to fix a water damaged ceiling or walls.
First you must shut off the water source to your home. Then you will need to dry the affected areas again if theres any sight of mold, wear protective gear to prevent any respiratory issues or simply call a certified professional.
Then, you can remove the damaged areas of the interior and repair. Specifically you use a patch of drywall and sandpaper to smooth out any rough areas where the new drywall meets the original structure. Lastly, you can prime and paint the area to create a seamless finish to the area.
