WHY DOES MY ROOF LEAK?
ROOF LEAKS ARE A NUISANCE FOR MANY HOMEOWNERS AND CAN OFTEN BE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE.
PAUL RICH ROOFING HAS AN EXPERICENCED STAFF TO HELP YOU DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF YOUR ROOF LEAK…AND THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR RESOLVING THE ISSUE.
THE MAJORITY OF ROOF COVERINGS OPERATE USING THE PRINCIPLE OF GRAVITY. THIS CAN BE A BIG HELP IN LOCATING A LEAK SOURCE. HOWEVER, HORIZONTAL ROOF BOARDS CAN TRICK YOU. A LEAK MAY ACTUALLY BE EIGHT TO 10 FEET SIDEWAYS FROM WHERE YOU SEE THE WET CEILING OR SPOT IN THE ATTIC. THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF A ROOF LEAK ARE:
1. LACK OF MAINTENANCE
THE FAILURE TO FIND AND CORRECT MINOR ROOF DETERIATION IN THE EARLIEST STAGES IS PROBALLY THE GREATEST CAUSE OF PREMATURE ROOF PROBLEMS. THIS IS PARTICULARY TRUE OF ROOFING MATERIALS ON LOW SLOPED ROOFS.
2. THE FIELD OF YOUR ROOF
IF YOUR ROOF IS OLDER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE LEAK IS WITHIN THE ROOF FIELD. THIS MEANS THE EXPANSE OF THE SHINGLES, SLATE, AND SHAKES. IF YOUR ROOF IS ASPHALT, THEN YOU CAN WALK AROUND WITH EASE. OTHER MATERIALS SUCH AS SLATE, CONCRETE TILE OR CLAY TILE MAY NOT BE SO FORGIVING. YOU CAN CRACK ROOFING IF YOU WALK ON IT, SO BE CAREFUL.
3. DRAIN FLASHING PROBLEMS
A ROOFS DRAINAGE SYSTEM INCLUDES THE VALLEYS, GUTTERS, LEADERS, DRAIN OPENINGS AND SCUPPERS, AS WELL AS THE SLOPE PROVIDED BY THE STRUCTUAL DECK, TAPERED INSULATION, CRICKETS, AND SUMPS. THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE DRAINAGE SYSEM IS TO PREVENT THE RETENTION OF WATER ON THE ROOF BY REMOVING WATER FROM THE ROOF AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM BE KEPT FREE FROM DEBRIS THAT MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THE PROPER FLOW OF SURFACE WATER.
4. HEAD WALL FLASHING
SOME ROOFS STOP AT A VERTICAL WALL. A METAL FLASHING MUST BE IN PLACE TO DIRECT WATER STREAMING DOWN THE WALL. THIS FLASHING MAY BE BEHIND WOOD SIDING OR IN FRONT OF A BRICK WALL. THE FLASHING SHOULD EXTEND OVER THE ROOFING AT LEAST THREE INCHES. IF THE WALL IS BRICK OR MASONRY, THE FLASHING MUST BEND AND EXTEND ONE INCH INTO A MORTAR JOINT. TAR, CAULK OR ROOFING CEMENT SHOULD NEVER BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THESE MATERIALS. IF YOU SEE THEM, IT IS A SIGN THAT SOMEONE TRIED TO PATCH A LEAK.
5. WALL STEP FLASHINGS
SOME ROOF LEAKS HAPPEN AT STEP FLASHINGS. YOU WILL FIND THESE FLASHINGS WHERE A ROOF CLIMBS ALONGSIDE A VERTICAL WALL. LOOK FOR RUST OR HOLES IN THESE FLASHINGS. IN REALITY, IF ALL IS WELL, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE ONLY THE SMALLEST PORTION OF THESE FLASHINGS.
6. CHIMNEYS
CHIMNEYS ARE THE SOURCE OF MANY LEAKS. CHIMMEYS CONTAIN FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLASHINGS. ALL MUST BE RIGHT OR YOU WILL HAVE A LEAK. PLUS, THE COUNTERFLASHING THAT GOES INTO THE BRICK MORTAR JOINT MUST BE RIGHT. A HAIRLINE CRACK ABOVE THE FLASHING CAN ALLOW VAST AMOUNTS OF WATER TO RUN BEHIND THE FLASHINGS. LOOK FOR SOLDERED CORNERS OF FLASHING THAT MIGHT HAVE BROKEN OR HAVE HOLES. DO NOT USE CAULK TO REPAIR THESE FLASHINGS.
7. PLUMBING VENT FLASHINGS
NEWER VENT FLASHINGS MAY BE A CONCERN. MANY OF THESE INCORPORATE A RUBBER SEAL WITH AN ALUMNIUM FLASHING. THE RUBBER CAN FAIL IN AS LITTLE AS 10-15 YEARS. LOOK FOR CRACKED RUBBER AROUND THE PLUMBING PIPE. THE FLASHING SHOULD DIVE UP AND UNDER THE TILES THAT EXTEND UP THE ROOF FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE PLUMBING VENT. THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE FLASHING SHOULD BE EXPOSED.
8. FURNACE OR B-VENT FLASHING
THESE FLASHINGS ARE BASICLLY IDENTICAL TO PLUMBING VENT FLASHINGS. HOWEVER, THEY SOMETIMES HAVE A METAL STORM COLLAR. THESE SIMPLY FIT TIGHTLY AROUND THE VERTICAL PIPE THAT EXITS THE ROOF. IF THEY BECOME LOOSE, THE STORM COLLARS CAN CAUSE LEAKS.
9. WIND BLOWN RAIN LEAKS
WIND DRIVEN RAIN CAN ALSO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. ONCE AGAIN, YOU COULD ACTUALLY HAVE A GOOD ROOF AND WIND WILL DRIVE WATER UP AND UNDER YOUR ROOFING MATERIALS.
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