Frequent Causes of Roof Leaks in Residential Buildings

No property owner or manager wants to get a call from a tenant that their roof is leaking. Especially in the middle of winter, as it tends to happen so often! But alas, if you just take a moment to collect yourself, you can start troubleshooting the issue and what could be causing it. Here are some common reasons: 

Old and Damaged Roof Materials 

This is a huge reason that your roof could be leaking. Roofs are hard to keep track of because you simply do not see them unless you get on a ladder and look. It is important to do so at least once a year to be able to be proactive in any preventative maintenance there is. Check for cracked, damaged, and deteriorating shingles so that you can plan for a repair before any water gets inside of the home. 

Inspect and Check on Insulation  

Ensuring that your roof was installed by a roofing professional is important, but sometimes it is not always possible. Usually, when you purchase a property, you do not typically know when or who installed the roof. This makes it tough when a situation arises, and you need to repair it. Often, the roof was not insulated against the weather properly, causing leaks frequently. Common areas for leaks are against chimneys, skylights, vents and ensuring that the flashing has been installed correctly. 

 

Clogged Downspouts & Gutters 

Another common issue that causes roof leaks is having gunked-up gutters! It is important to have your gutters cleaned out yearly, around the end of fall when all the leaves have fallen from the trees. Once the leaves have fallen and stuck in the gutters, they have nowhere to go. They lay in there, get sludgy and waterlogged, not allowing rain to properly pass through. Then when wintertime comes, the trapped water can get frozen and cause the gutter to dislodge from the building, which can be a hazard to safety! 

It is a promising idea to invest in gutter guards to prevent leaves from getting trapped in, however, this is not an end-all solution. You should still get on the roof to check on the gutters and you will still have to clean a little bit, most likely. 

Also, ensure that you have your downspouts aimed away from the foundation of your building or else you can have even worse problems! Water can seep into your basement and cause mold, mildew, and even worse, your foundation to shift! 

Check on Condensation and Ventilation Issues 

Having proper ventilation in your attic space is important as well. There should be vents that allow for a good amount of airflow to evaporate any condensation or temperature fluctuations. A small amount of temperature fluctuations is normal, but anything drastic is not normal and is caused by improper insulation.  

Many other causes can create a roof leak, these are just a few of the most common. Other reasons include tree limbs that have damaged the roof, cracked or missing sealant, and even a storm can wreak havoc on your precious property. Prevention is key in stopping any damage from getting worse than it is. Make sure you do your due diligence in inspecting your roof frequently and tending to any damage promptly!