Common Causes of Roof Water Damage, and How to Prevent Them

Roofs typically do a great job of keeping water from entering a home. But over time, roofs can sustain damage that makes it hard to prevent this from happening. And when the average bill for water damage that’s left unchecked is over $11,000, you can’t afford to ignore a leaking roof.

The problem is that there are several causes and fixes for a leaking roof. Here are the most common ones and how to prevent roof water damage.

Damaged Materials

Roofs take a lot of damage over the years. Bad weather and other factors damage a roof’s material and eventually cause damage that’s extensive enough to notice.

For example, a shingle may have come up during strong winds. In some cases, this will leave an opening in your roof that allows water to leak in. Regularly inspecting your roof for this damage after bad weather will help you identify issues and repair them.

Clogged Gutters

Your gutters are responsible for water drainage into your roof. The roof’s slope directs water into the gutters and your yard. But that won’t happen if you have clogged gutters.

Water won’t drain and will eventually pool on your roof. In some cases, it will also leak into your home. You can work with a service like completeguttercleaning.com to clear the clogs or do it yourself.

Bad Fixings

Fixings are the components that secure a roof to the rafters. They usually have a secure seal to stop water on the roof from leaking in.

But in some cases, they don’t get installed correctly or come loose over time. When this happens, a seal becomes exposed and leads to water getting in. You’ll need to extract these fixing and replace them to resolve the problem.

Bad Seal

Roofs contain seals around unique roof features. These are things like vents, chimneys, and other roofing options. The seals contain air in the home and prevent the outside elements from getting in.

However, those seals can crack over time and weaken the seal. Water will get in if the cracked seal is bad enough. Examine the seals on the roof and repair them to prevent a leaking roof.

Poor Installation

In most cases, roofers will install your roof correctly. Things will perform great for years until damage occurs or you need maintenance. But there may be some cases when your roofing company does a lousy job and does things incorrectly.

You may spot the problem immediately, but in some cases, it may take time for it to appear. A poor installation may leave gaps and other issues that lead to a water leak. Roof inspections can find and resolve this issue.

Watch for Roof Water Damage

Roof water damage can be one of the most pressing concerns for your roof. It doesn’t just create water stains on your ceiling. If you let it get bad enough, it may cause mold growth.

However, there are things you can look for to prevent a leaking roof and options available to fix the leak. Remember the common signs of a water-damaged roof above to increase your roof lifespan.

Whether it’s roof care or other home issues, you need all the information you can get to care for your home. Learn everything else you need to know on the blog.