Roof leaks are a frustrating experience for anyone. Finding where the leak is coming from and having it fixed is essential to maintaining your roof and home. There are several causes when it comes to roof leaks.
- One of the main causes of roof leaks is a fault in the roof flashing, typically due to flashing that is deteriorating due to weathering and oxidation. Flashing that has come loose can cause a problem as well. Most flashing problems can be patched or repaired by professional roofers.
- Broken shingles or missing shingles, the exterior layer of a roof. With missing or cracked shingles, there isn’t an extra protective layer to keep out the elements.
- If valleys are not sealed together properly, rainwater can get inside as it runs down the roof. You can detect the problem by looking for wet spots along the seams of your roof.
- Roof vents look like small pipes sticking out the top of your roof and they expel excess moisture. If vents are cracked, there can be a leak. Leaks from this area may leave dark spots and mustiness.
- If you see leaves sticking out of the gutter, or the lack of water trickling out of a downspout during a rainstorm, you may be at risk for a leak. Gutters are supposed to help water travel away from the roof. When there is a blockage because they are clogged, the water can’t travel and rainwater pools in areas of the roof and can seep through cracks.
- When a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof prevents melting snow from draining off, it creates ice dam buildup. The combined weight can damage the roof while the water sitting there does damage to the roof.
- The attic is trapped between indoor and outdoor temperatures. When those clash, condensation forms and moisture follows. If there are signs of mold growth or mildew, a strong, musty odor is a hint that water got inside.
- Improperly installed skylights cause problems, though it’s always possible a leak that looks like it’s coming from a skylight is a flashing issue. Leaks are typically easy to spot, wet spots can be seen, or drip buckets need to be placed around the sides of your skylight.
- Cracked chimney, signs of wear and tear along the mud cap, or mortared area around the top of the chimney connects with the roof. Loose flashing and shingles in the surrounding area can cause issues.
Call Adam Vaillancourt Roofing & Gutters at 603-673-0006 to schedule an evaluation with a trained roofing specialist.
