The steady dripping of a leaking roof is more than just a nuisance when you’re trying to get a good night’s rest. Leaking roofs can easily lead to significant water damage to the interior of your home or even encourage the growth of molds and putting the health of your family at risk.
Reasons Why Roofs Leak
Knowing why and how roof leaks develop is one of the keys to detecting leaks before they get out of hand. What causes roof leaks to form? There are many reasons as to why a roof leak would develop. Some causes simply can’t be helped, while other causes are due to failing to properly maintain a roofing system. Some of the most common reasons why roofs develop leaks include:
1. Loose or Missing Shingles
– Strong winds from storms can easily cause shingles to come loose. In some cases, strong gusts of wind can even blow shingles clean off of a roof. A roof with a loose or missing shingle can be compared to having a hole in the middle of a suit of armor. In other words, your roof is unable to protect your home and actually provides moisture with free access into your attic space. Missing shingles also gives winds a little extra room to operate, which may lead to more shingles coming loose and being blown off.
2. Damaged Shingles
– Hail isn’t uncommon in Illinois and other parts of the United States. Even small balls of hail can dent or even crack the sturdiest of shingles if hail strikes it with enough force. Cracks, in particular, are especially problematic. A small crack only lets very small amounts of water to seep into your home. This can lead to mold growing underneath the shingle and wreak havoc without you noticing until it is too late, turning what was a small problem in the beginning into a large leak.
3. Cracked Flashing
– Roof flashing plays an important role since it acts as a water-resistant barrier for roof transitions or joints. They are often used around chimneys, skylights, and other structures found of roofs. When flashing is damaged, any amount of water that runs along it will be able to find its way into your home. This can easily rot the wood underneath and make any existing cracks even larger, allowing full-scale leak to develop. Cracked flashing can be difficult for the untrained eye to spot, so call a roofer if you suspect that your flashing has been damaged.
4. Improper Skylight Installation
– Skylights can be a very attractive addition to any home–provided that they are installed properly, of course. Improper installation can come in many forms: poor fit due to the wrong measurement, the use of low quality sealants, etc. In any way or form, improperly installed skylights create a very large point of entry for water to enter your home. This can lead to large leaks that force you to place a bucket underneath your skylights during heavy rains.
5. Clogged Gutters
– Although gutters are technically a different system from your roof, clogged gutters are easily one of the most common causes of roof leaks. Gutters are designed to safely transport water away from your roof, but its design also allows for the accumulation of debris like leaves, branches, and even bird’s nests. When large amounts of debris collect inside your gutters, they can easily block the proper flow of water. This presents a large problem because it can cause water to back up and enter your home through any existing cracks.
6. Ice Dams
– Ice dams are usually only a problem during the Winter season, but they can easily lead to significant leaking problems when the ice begins to melt. Ice dams can easily cause ice to enter your home through cracks and other openings. When exposed to the warm air inside your home, the ice melts and creates a persistent leak. Ice dams occur when a clog in your gutter system blocks the flow of water, allowing the water to freeze due to the frigid winter temperatures.
How You Can Prevent Roof Leaks
Now that you know some of the most common causes of roof leaks, you can take the necessary steps to prevent a roof leak from developing in your home. You can easily minimize the risk of a leak developing and causing water damage to your home by following these three simple tips:
1. Roof Inspections by Trained Professionals
– One of the best ways to prevent roof leaks from happening in your home is to have frequent roof inspections performed by trusted roofing companies like Muller Exteriors Inc. Trained professionals can easily spot even the smallest problems and address them before they become massive headaches for homeowners.
Roof inspections should be conducted at least twice a year: a few weeks before the start of Summer and several weeks before the start of Winter. This gives contractors enough time to make any necessary repairs and prepares your roof for the extreme conditions of Summer and Winter.
2. Clean Out Your Gutters Regularly
– Ideally, you should clean out your gutters at least twice a year, preferably once every six months. The best time to do this would be during the Spring and Autumn seasons, both of which are when debris tends to accumulate faster. Take note, however, that the twice-a-year rule is not set in stone. For example, homes that are surrounded by pine trees should clean the gutter system at least once every three months since pine trees shed more frequently.
3. Trim Tree Branches Extending Over Your Roof
– Nearby trees are often the biggest source of the debris that accumulates in your gutters. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to lop any branches that extend and grow past your roof. Other than slowing down the accumulation of debris in your gutter system, lopping branches that grow over your roof can prevent damage to your roof. Storms with strong winds and heavy rains can easily cause weak branches to come crashing onto your roof.
