7 Common Causes of Roof Leaks
Along with the warmer weather comes summer storms! As those rains are coming down, you notice a leak in your roof. Where did it come from? How do I fix it? Questions like these are running through your head. Today's blog from the best roofing company at the Lake of the Ozarks discusses some of the top causes of roof leaks - and when you need a roof leak fixed, trust none other than Above & Beyond Roofing!
The most common cause of a roof leak is broken or missing shingles. High winds and heavy rains, that come with summer storms, could be the culprit of your broken shingles. You'll want to have a roofing professional at the Lake of the Ozarks come out to do the repairs before the issue causes more major roofing problems.
Flashing are thin pieces of metal that are installed under shingles and on the joints of your roof in order to create a water-resistant barrier. Roof vents are also often sealed by placing some flashing around the opening and slipping a tight, rubber boot over the area where the pipe peeks out of the roof. Roofers often use tar to seal the flashing together, and over time, that can corrode and/or break. In addition, elements such as wind and rain can cause the flashing to crack. Issues with the flashing can allow water to get under there and cause a roof leak.
Penetrations on your roof, such as chimneys or skylights, are areas that are prone to leaks. If you have a skylight that was improperly installed, a leak is bound to happen. If you notice wet spots or consistent dripping around your skylight, either the skylight was installed improperly, the insulation along the skylights edges has decayed or its a flashing issue.
Wear and tear along the mud cap or mortared areas around the top of the chimney can lead to a roof leak. Mortar is essentially just a thick mixture of water, sand and cement. It erodes easily in harsh weather conditions. Be on the lookout for any holes in the mortared joints where the chimney connects with the roof, and also watch for loose flashing or shingles in the surrounding area.
During the winter months, ice dams are common. The heat from your attic causes some of the snowfall on your roof to melt. The water will then run to the roofs edge and re-freeze. This prevents new melted snow from properly draining off your roof, which can lead to a roof leak.
An area where two place of the roof come together is called a valley. This is a common area for roof leaks to occur as well. If the valleys are not sealed properly, rainwater can get inside as it runs down this sloped part of the roof. You can detect an issue by searching for wet spots that run along the seams of your roof. This issue can be caused by several reasons, either the sealing wasn't done properly in the first place, it may have cracked when being stepped on, or an excess of rain and ice may have caused it to erode over time.
From roof leaks to other roof maintenance and repair needs, our Lake of the Ozarks roofing team is here for you! Give us a call today at 573-302-0354 to schedule your free, no obligation, roof inspection at the Lake of the Ozarks. When you choose Above & Beyond Roofing, you can rest assured you're getting high quality work, professional and personal service and competitive pricing.
Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn and Subscribe to our Blog!!
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1. Broken Shingles.
The most common cause of a roof leak is broken or missing shingles. High winds and heavy rains, that come with summer storms, could be the culprit of your broken shingles. You'll want to have a roofing professional at the Lake of the Ozarks come out to do the repairs before the issue causes more major roofing problems.
2. Cracked Flashing.
Flashing are thin pieces of metal that are installed under shingles and on the joints of your roof in order to create a water-resistant barrier. Roof vents are also often sealed by placing some flashing around the opening and slipping a tight, rubber boot over the area where the pipe peeks out of the roof. Roofers often use tar to seal the flashing together, and over time, that can corrode and/or break. In addition, elements such as wind and rain can cause the flashing to crack. Issues with the flashing can allow water to get under there and cause a roof leak.
3. Clogged Gutters.
Another fairly common reason for roof leaks is clogged gutters. If you can see leaves or other debris sticking out of your gutter when you look up at your roof, that's a problem. Your gutters are meant to help water travel away from your roof. When those gutters are blocked, that water stops along the roof line. It pools up in one area of the roof, giving it an opportunity to seep through any cracks.
4. Improperly Installed Skylights.
Penetrations on your roof, such as chimneys or skylights, are areas that are prone to leaks. If you have a skylight that was improperly installed, a leak is bound to happen. If you notice wet spots or consistent dripping around your skylight, either the skylight was installed improperly, the insulation along the skylights edges has decayed or its a flashing issue.
5. Cracked Chimney.
Wear and tear along the mud cap or mortared areas around the top of the chimney can lead to a roof leak. Mortar is essentially just a thick mixture of water, sand and cement. It erodes easily in harsh weather conditions. Be on the lookout for any holes in the mortared joints where the chimney connects with the roof, and also watch for loose flashing or shingles in the surrounding area.
6. An Ice Dam.
During the winter months, ice dams are common. The heat from your attic causes some of the snowfall on your roof to melt. The water will then run to the roofs edge and re-freeze. This prevents new melted snow from properly draining off your roof, which can lead to a roof leak.
7. Improperly Sealed Valleys.
An area where two place of the roof come together is called a valley. This is a common area for roof leaks to occur as well. If the valleys are not sealed properly, rainwater can get inside as it runs down this sloped part of the roof. You can detect an issue by searching for wet spots that run along the seams of your roof. This issue can be caused by several reasons, either the sealing wasn't done properly in the first place, it may have cracked when being stepped on, or an excess of rain and ice may have caused it to erode over time.
From roof leaks to other roof maintenance and repair needs, our Lake of the Ozarks roofing team is here for you! Give us a call today at 573-302-0354 to schedule your free, no obligation, roof inspection at the Lake of the Ozarks. When you choose Above & Beyond Roofing, you can rest assured you're getting high quality work, professional and personal service and competitive pricing.
Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn and Subscribe to our Blog!!
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