Your home’s roof is the first line of defense against the elements. Much more than just an important design feature, the functionality of your roof should be a high priority for every homeowner. When your roof springs a leak, your first action should be to assess the cause. Here are some of the most common reasons your roof could be leaking.
#1: Broken or missing Shingles
Shingles play a large role in the health of your roof by creating a protective coating that forces water to move away from your home. If you have shingles that are broken or missing due to storm damage or normal wear and tear, this could be the reason for your leak.
#2: Damaged flashing and vent boot/seal
Flashing is a metal seal on your roof that goes underneath your shingles whenever they meet up with another surface. Even though flashing and vent boot seals are made from metal, they are not completely impervious to damage. If you have a leak around a vent or chimney, you could have damage to your flashing or seal.
#3: Improperly Sealed Valleys or Installed Skylights
Anytime two surfaces come together, you are going to have a natural weakness. Valleys are another form of flashing, or seal, that is used to try to waterproof an area where two planes of your roof come together and form a v-shape. This type of leak could also come from improperly installed skylights.
#4: Clogged Gutters
Gutters may be an afterthought to some, but they are integral in the mitigation of water away from your roof. If your gutters are filled with debris, the buildup of water could spill over and cause a leak in your roof.
#5: Hail Damage
If you have a new leak after experiencing a hail storm, you may want to consider contacting a professional roofing contractor, like iRoof, to come out for an inspection. Hail, mixed with stormy winds and rain, can spell disaster for your roof, and in turn, your home. Damaging your shingles, or losing shingles completely, hail storm damage could be the culprit.
#6: Ventilation Issues & Loose Ridge Vent Nails
Ventilation is key when dealing with your roof and the cycle of airflow in your home. Most homes have a ridge vent, which allows hot air that has risen to the top of your home, to escape. If your installer didn’t use long enough nails to install your ridge vent cover, a somewhat common mistake, it can easily move or come off altogether in a storm. Ventilation is also important to combat any kind of condensation build-up that can occur in your attic.
#7: Improper maintenance
Let’s face it – we all get busy and roofs may not always make it to the top of the to-do list. Improper, or non-existent, maintenance is a large reason why roof leaks happen. From gutter cleaning to a visual annual inspection, regular roof maintenance can play a large role in being aware of the health of your roof and preventing issues.
Roof Leak? Call The Professionals!
If you have a leak, and need someone to come look at it, contact iRoof today! They offer a free inspection within 24 hours, drone inspections, as well as help with any insurance claims after experiencing storm damage. Let them help you assess your roof and prove that they are, indeed, “Alabama’s Most Advanced General Contractor.”
