In a big city like Atlanta, it’s not that surprising to find out that a customer’s leaky roof is due to some stray bullets falling at high speed and penetrating through the shingles. However, bullets are far from the only threat to your roof. In fact, these four common causes of roof leaks are far more likely to be the culprit behind that unattractive brown spot forming on your ceiling. Learn how to avoid these roof leak culprits to keep your home in tip-top condition.
Damaged Flashing
Where your roof meets a vertical line, such as at a wall or comes together in a valley, sheets of aluminum or steel are installed to cover these edges. That material is known as flashing, and it must be sealed tightly to keep water from seeping under the shingles. Tar was once used for this purpose, but it dries out after a few years of daily heating by the sun and cracks easily. About two to three decades ago, roofers switched to higher quality specialty adhesives; if your roof is older than that, you likely have leaky flashing.
Even if you think your skylights are in great shape, have them inspected to make sure there are no leaks. The assembly itself can fail even after the very best installation, and that’s an issue you must take up with the manufacturer, especially if it’s within the warranty period.
Shingle Problems
Almost any kind of problem with the shingles covering your roof can lead to a leak. Asphalt shingles are particularly prone to cracking after a decade or two out in the sun, and those cracks let water run under the surface and into your home. Waiting until the shingles have visibly missing granules also has the same effect. Look for cupping as well, regardless of which type of shingle you have. If any shingles are rising up either on the edges or from the center in a curled cup shape, leaks are likely to pop up.
Missing or Cracked Boots
Almost every protrusion exiting your roof from the exterior of the house will have a rubber or plastic molded piece that fits around it known as a boot. This boot serves a similar purpose as flashing by covering the gap where the vent pipe or furnace chimney exits, and any protrusions that can’t be covered with boots must be flashed by hand. As with flashing, a cracked, damaged or altogether missing boot allows water to run in around the pipe, vent, chimney or other interruption in the roof’s surface.
Skylights
Some skylights are manufactured properly, designed to last and then installed with care to prevent leaks. Others fail early or suffer from poor installation and leak constantly despite your best efforts to fix the problem. Even if you think your skylights are in great shape, have them inspected to make sure there are no leaks. The assembly itself can fail even after the very best installation, and that’s an issue you must take up with the manufacturer, especially if it’s within the warranty period.
Whether it’s a leaky roof due to damaged flashing or from a stray bullet, contact us, a reliable roofing company in Atlanta at Rosie’s Roofing for more information and to schedule a repair. We’ll be glad to restore your roof to its proper form.
Have a leak in your roof? We can fix it! Contact us!
