If you find a visible water stain that runs across your ceilings or down your walls, the cause of it is most likely a roof leak. It is easy to point out the affected areas however, tracking and determining the source of the roof leak is the more challenging part.
If you have a roof leak, it is advised that you engage a contractor and get the roof leak fixed immediately. As much as it seems like a minor problem that does not bother you much, it can potentially lead to bigger problems like growth of mold, rotting of beams and whatever supporting structures there is, or even damage your ceilings. So, what are the main causes of a roof leak?
- Your roof is simply just too old
As simple as it sounds, the main cause can be because your roof is old. Things wear and tear overtime and the same goes for roofs. Once the materials in your roof outlive its life expectancy, they will start to deteriorate and break down, thus compromising the integrity of your roof and unable to serve its purpose any longer. For such cases, you might consider having your roof replaced.
- Somewhere on your roof is punctured or your gutters are clogged
There is a likelihood that tree branches might have fallen onto your roof with an impact and have caused a punctured hole. It is recommended to have an inspection once in awhile for such likelihood. Even if your roof is fine, there are possibilities that debris are clogging up your gutters. This may potentially cause a roof leak as well. To avoid such problems, always make sure you clear your gutters and keep it free from debris.
- Skylights were not properly installed
It is pretty easy to spot leakage from your skylight if you have one. Take note during a rainy day. If water drips/ seeps through the sides of your skylight, you have located the cause. Typically, the cause for this seepage may be fittings were incorrectly measured and installed, thus causing a misfit. Other wise, it could be wearing off of the insulation around the skylight. However, do note that a flashing issue might cause this leak too. To get this fixed, clear off any debris from the skylight and check if there are any visible cracks. If there is, apply a layer of sealant over the cracks. If water seepage persists, you might want to call up a contractor to check for any damages on your flashing. If necessary, get your flashing that surrounds your skylight replaced.
- You have cracked flashings
What is roof flashing? Roof flashing is the thin aluminium pieces that are installed on your roof to prevent the flow of water into your house from a joint or, they can be pieces of metals that are installed under your roof to create a water resistant barrier. There are different causes to a roof leak. Weather could play a factor or the tar that is used to seal the flashing together has been corroded overtime. Damaged flashing can be detached from the joints or has large cracks. For such problem, try removing the damaged flashing, replace it with a new piece and nail it back in the same pattern as your old flashing.
We hope this have helped you understand some of the common causes to a roof leak. If you are currently facing any roof leakage, do not hesitate to give us a call.