Detecting Leaks Before They Cause Severe Damage
Roof leaks can be a big challenge to handle for homeowners.
Prevention is better than cure. This definitely applies to detecting roof leaks before they cause severe damage. There are a lot of things to consider for this. How old is the house? When was the last time a repair or maintenance was done? It’s not easy, but this will give you peace of mind afterward. If you don’t have the luxury of time to initially try to look around the house, there are professionals who can help you out! We at Craftsman Exteriors can be of service for that.
Roof leaks can be a big challenge to handle for homeowners. They can occur at any time and usually at the most inopportune time. Not being able to notice or repair these leaks can lead to notable damage to the interior of your home. In fact, some leaks can have effects lingering long after even the repair has been made, in the form of mold growth on the interior surfaces of your home!
Get your roofs repaired as soon as you detect a leakage. But what if you can’t locate the leak? There is a possibility that you will be unable to detect a leak before the damage has been done. The damage can lead to a good deal of stress for homeowners. So, how can we detect the leaks? The usual signs include damp walls/ceilings, water stains on the ceiling, spots on the exterior walls, bulging patches on the interior walls, and musty odor in the room(s). Any of these signs means it is likely that there is a leakage in your above. So, you need to immediately get down to investigating!
However, remember that the first place you see the above mentioned signs is not necessarily the spot where the leakage is. Finding the source of leakage could be a challenging task. Leaks could be due to missing shingles, holes or cracks, or even some gaps in the metal flashings around chimneys and vent pipes. Here are some of the most common places where you can find leaks in your roof.
Oh, the attic
Usually, the first and foremost place you must look is your attic, as this is possibly the most common place for the leakage to begin. Look for any water damage. If there is a problem with the ventilation, you should consult the contractor. However, if you don’t have an attic, you can check for other places where moisture or damage, like rubber seals around your pipes and vents, ridge caps, flashings, shingles, gutters, downspouts, dormer valleys, and gaskets around the pipes.
Shingles and flashings
Damaged or missing shingles could also be a reason for leakage. Flashing issues could be another reason. Make sure to check the flashings associated with vents and chimneys to confirm that they are tight. Any broken or missing flashings means an issue for leakage.
Debris
Any debris blocking the roof watershed or blocking rain gutters could be another cause for leaks to start. The debris causes the water penetrating the roof, thus causing damage. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the roof is important, and removing debris from gutters and roof valleys should be a part of it.
Aging
So, how old is your house? If your roof is around 10 to 20 years old, it is likely that it is weak and has started to damage. Older roofs will leak even after being repaired. So, instead of wasting your time, effort, and money on repairing the old ones, it is advisable to replace them. And, the next time you want to consider replacement, consider a durable and high-performing roofing material like polycarbonate. This material is flexible yet strong and has excellent impact resistance, weather resistance, and fire resistance. Moreover, it is completely transparent and available in many other color options to enhance the appearance of your building. In addition, it is environmentally friendly and recyclable.
Craftsman Exteriors is a Madison, WI based Roofing and Exterior Home Solution Company committed to providing unparalleled service to homeowners. We provide distinguished expertise, free roof inspections and quality roofing repair & replacement services. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your roof call (608) 975-5747.
