Roof leaks have the power to cause a lot of costly damage. Being aware of the causes of roof leaks can help homeowners recognize and address them before they get out of hand. Discover ten of the most common causes of roof leaks.
1. Damaged Roof Shingles
The color and style of roof shingles can certainly add appeal to the look of a home. They also serve an important practical purpose. Shingles protect a house by allowing rain, melting snow, and ice to flow down into the gutters and away from the home. If shingles are cracked, out of place, or missing, they are allowing water to leak into the house. Once the water starts to seep in, mold can begin to take hold and the structure is weakened.
2. Vent Issues
When vents are installed in a roof they are sealed around the edges to prevent water from leaking in. Heavy rain, snow, and even hours of strong sunlight can damage the seals around a roof’s vents. A vent with a deteriorating seal can allow moisture to leak through a home’s roof causing damage.
3. A Compromised Skylight
Does your home have a skylight? If so, keep in mind that the sealing around the edges of a skylight can become worn and damaged over time. This can lead to water leaks in a roof. Or, if a skylight is not installed properly with the right type or amount of sealant, it can allow water to leak into a home. Discoloration of roof shingles around a skylight can be an indication of a leak in that area. In a home’s interior, water stains on the ceiling around a skylight definitely point to leaks.
4. Debris-Filled Gutters
Gutters are designed to move water off the roof, through the downspout, and away from the house and its foundation. However, when gutters become clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris, they can’t move water as they are supposed to. The water begins to flood over the sides of the gutters and can move beneath the shingles of the roof. Furthermore, standing water in gutters starts to become stagnant fairly quickly. That murky water pushes against the roof shingles and causes them to rot.
5. Damaged Flashing
Over the years, the flashing around a chimney can crack, peel, and deteriorate. This allows water to seep into the roof. Our professionals at RGB Construction are equipped to safely access your roof to examine the chimney flashing to determine the extent of the damage.
6. Broken, Fallen Branches
Trees growing near a home sometimes have large branches that overhang the roof. These branches sometimes break off during high winds or thunderstorms. They can create holes in shingles or even knock them off the roof. This gives rain, melting snow, and other moisture a path beneath the roof causing leaks.
7. Icy Gutters
When water freezes in a home’s clogged gutters it can lead to what’s called an ice dam. An ice dam prevents water from flowing off the roof. Unfortunately, the melting snow has nowhere to go but under the shingles of the roof. It can seep into the ceiling and run down the walls inside the home soaking insulation and damaging floors.
8. Ridge Cap Issues
The design of a roof includes sections called ridge caps. These provide extra protection to the ridged areas of a roof during high winds and other inclement weather. When a ridge cap is damaged or missing, water is able to enter through a home’s roof.
9. Chimney Deterioration
The bricks in a chimney experience a lot of wear and tear that can cause breaks, holes, and cracks. Water is able to seep through these weak areas and work its way beneath a roof.
10. A Roof Past Its Prime
Time takes a toll on everything. An old roof has endured years of harsh weather, powerful sunlight, damage from debris, and more. It’s not uncommon for an old roof to leak in various places. When an old roof gets one leak, it’s certain that another is sure to follow. The roof needs to be replaced in order to give a home the proper amount of protection.
If you have a damaged or leaking roof, our professional roofing team at RGB Construction stands ready to help. We’ll give your roof a thorough examination to determine the best path to a solution. Call our office in New Jersey today at 856-264-9093 for an appointment or to schedule an estimate.
