Causes of Leaking Roof

A roof leak- no matter how small it might be- can be a significant inconvenience that can cause a substantial amount of damage to your property. A minor roof leak can cause extensive structural damage, including damage to your walls, attic, and ceiling. 

Leaking roofs also create health and safety problems because you and your family are no longer protected from the harsh weather conditions. Water penetration to some parts of the house may cause mold and mildew to spread rapidly throughout your home. 

Furthermore, if the leaking water finds its way to the electrical wiring, it could become a potential fire hazard.  Therefore, it is always critical to deal with a roof leak as soon as possible. 

Here are some of the causes of roof leakage you need to know. 

• Cracked Flashing

Flashing is a term used to refer to the thin pieces of metal installed under roof shingles and on joints to create a highly water-resistant barrier. Your roof flashing may be concealed or slightly exposed. 

Exposed flashing resemble long runs of sheet metal, while concealed flashes feature a rubberized coating over the top. Broken flashing usually has large cracks that let in water. These cracks develop as a result of the tar that is used to seal the flashing corroding over time.  

In case your roof flashing is exposed, weather elements such as strong wind and rain could be the reason behind the cracks.  

• Broken/Damaged Shingles

If your roof is more than 20 years old and you start to experience roof leaks, be sure to check your shingles first. Over the years, exposure to strong wind, rainwater, and sunlight can cause shingles to rot, crack, or become loose. 

In most cases, you will be able to see the damage from the ground. Look over your shingles for any discolored patches. After a heavy storm, walk around your house and see if you will notice any broken pieces of shingles littering your compound. 

However, some shingle damage such as cracks may be hard to spot, so you will need to seek services of experienced roof repair Montreal experts to establish the truth. 

Although broken shingles don’t cause immediate leaks, the effects can be devastating in the long run. In fact, if you have a roof leak due to damaged shingles, the damage may go beyond the shingle.

• Improperly Installed Skylight

If the leak is coming from your skylight, then there is a good chance that the skylight was not installed properly. You should even be more worried if the skylight is still new. The problem could be the light was not fitted correctly, or poor flashing techniques were used. 

However, before you climb on your roof and start inspecting a lot of things, make sure the issue isn’t condensation. 

In some cases, if you have a skylight installed in your kitchen or bathroom, the steam from the boiling stove pot or hot shower may condense and form water droplets when it reaches the cool glass of the skylight. 

Therefore, inspect the glass of the skylight first before you start to suspect a roof leak.

• Age

Most roofing materials tend to deteriorate with age and become less effective at keeping rainwater out. In most cases, a roof will serve you for between 20 to 25 years, after which it may start to develop problems such as roof leaks. 

Extreme weather conditions and temperature fluctuations cause roofing materials to become brittle and begin to crack over time. Therefore, if your roof is more than 25 years old and it starts to develop roof leaks, the best thing you can do is to replace it.