Have you ever had a water stain on your wall or ceiling that won’t go away? Roof leaks cause these water stains, and if it is not repaired on time, they can do more damage to your home. If something like this happens to your property, you will need to find out about the roof repair leak costs and then budget to get it fixed.
Read on to learn about six common roof leaks that can damage your home if not corrected.
Pipe boot failure
The pipe boot (also known as a roof boot) goes around the base of the pipes to protect the roof from water damage. Its primary purpose is to provide waterproofing for pipes and to ensure water does not leak through them.
There are many reasons that a pipe boot may fail.
Here are some examples:
- When the pipe boot has not been installed correctly.
- When the UV rays from the sun break down the neoprene over time, it leads to cracks
- When the roof boot has reached the end of its lifespan.
- When the roof boot is damaged – sometimes due to extreme weather conditions.
A neoprene roof boot lasts for approximately ten years. So after its lifespan has run out, problems will occur. Therefore, it is vital to note when the last one was installed and make allowances to maintain the roof equipment. Doing so will ensure you keep your home free from damp, mould, and other issues that water damage can cause.
Roof nail becoming loose from shingle
During extreme weather conditions, the roof nails can pop up and become loose from the shingles. Homeowners should therefore ensure that their roof is well ventilated. In other cases, it can quickly come loose when the nail has not been installed correctly and screwed on tightly. It is common to have a few loose roof nails, but when left untreated, this can cause water damage to the home.
Other reasons the nails can become loose from the shingle are;
- When the installer uses a very short nail.
- When the shingles are not sealed down securely.
- Strong winds.
Chimney wear and tear
Naturally, any chimney will have wear and tear. Yet, the chimney is an essential part of your home. Unfortunately, a damaged chimney can lead to moisture problems, and in the worst-case scenario, it can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Below are some signs your chimney could be damaged:
- When there are white stains across the bricks of the chimney.
- When there is cracking in the chimney.
- When there is wallpaper and paint damage near your chimney.
- When there is rust, holes, or areas where the seal between the flashing and the roof has worn.
The best way to avoid damaging your whole chimney is to schedule an annual inspection and repair any issues before they appear.
Poorly installed skylights
When skylights have been poorly installed, they can be accompanied by water leaks. In addition, the homeowner will only realise that the skylight wasn’t installed correctly when it rains. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the skylight is well-tested before the person who has installed it marks it as complete.
Common skylight installation problems:
- The skylight may not have been appropriately sealed during installation.
- It could have been installed from the wrong angle.
- The person installing the skylight could have used the incorrect flashing.
Installing a skylight should be done by a roofing professional that has thoroughly assessed the roof materials and ensured that they have the right tools to install the skylight securely.
Fibreglass flaking away
Fibreglass roof flaking is a common issue for many homeowners. Perhaps you have just had your roof fitted with fibreglass, and you are already encountering issues.
Below are the common reasons for fibreglass flaking problems:
- When it has been installed poorly.
- If an incorrect timber boarding material was used.
- When the coating paint is applied too quickly whilst the laminate is wet.
When installing a fibreglass roof, an accredited GRP roofing specialist must be used to ensure that the fibreglass is installed correctly. In addition, homeowners should continue to schedule regular inspections once their fibreglass roof has been installed to ensure any wear and tear issue is resolved as soon as it occurs.
Broken or missing roofing tile
If your roof is missing a tile, you will undoubtedly notice. You will be able to feel the cold draft, and sometimes you might even see evidence of the missing tile from the ground floor as it might even fall off the roof. Of course, a water leak will follow if the tiles are not replaced.
There are many reasons for broken and missing roof tiles. For example,
- Harsh and extreme weather conditions, such as rain and wind, can often blow the tiles off the roof.
- When the nails keeping the tiles together rusts and wears away.
- When the wood under the tiles has weakened, the tiles can go missing.
- Water damage to roof battens can also cause the tiles to become loose.
When harsh weather causes damage to roof tiles, it is best to call a roof tiling expert to assess the situation and come up with a solution immediately. If left for too long, more damage could occur, which can cause long-term water damage to the home.
Conclusion
In closing, it is vital to ensure that your roofing is maintained. Understanding the cost to repair a leak in your roof is extremely important to ensure you have it completed at a great price. Long-time roofing problems can lead to water damage which will cause issues such as dampness and mould, leading to serious health conditions later in life. Therefore, when you hire a roofing contractor, they should check the condition of your roof as part of the maintenance inspection and stop problems from occurring well before time.
Lastly, most of the roof leaks in this article were due to poor installation work. This is why it is vital to ensure that an accredited roofing expert is hired to do the job.
