One day, you may notice wet spots or water stains on your ceiling and wonder, “Where did those come from?” The truth is, there’s no way for you to know for sure without a roof inspection from an experienced roofing company. A leaky roof could have many causes.
Below, the experts at Maycon Construction Services roofing company describe the common causes of roof leaks or water intrusion. If you need immediate roof leak repair in the Huntington, WV or Tri State Area, call us at 304-208-8978. Keep reading to learn more about how a roof leak happens.
Wear and Tear Due To the Roof’s Age
Roof systems deteriorate over time. UV rays, wind, rain, snow, heat, and humidity cause asphalt shingles to expand and contract. Years of these cycles wear down the granule layer, fold shingles back, and damage the caulking and seals holding the shingles in place.
Wear and tear make a roof more likely to suffer severe damage during storms, including wind-torn shingles, hail damage, and water intrusion during heavy rains or when snow piled on the roof melts.
Torn or Missing Shingles
Even newer roofs can suffer severe damage during high winds. Wind often affects the edges of the roof or loose shingles first, creating a chain reaction of damage to your roof each time high winds pass through your neighborhood.
Wind damage is one of the most common causes of roof leaks. Even at speeds of only 45 miles per hour, wind can remove loose shingles. The openings on your roof’s surface allow more wind to enter under the gaps between shingles.
Clogged or Broken Gutters or Downspouts
Your gutters and downspouts help water run off your roof and away from your home’s foundation. If those systems aren’t working properly, water can pool on low-slope roofs and intrude into your attic space through the underlayment and roof decking over time.
Ineffective water drainage from your roof can also lead to ice dams in the winter due to melting snow. Heat from your attic can cause piled snow on your roof to melt, running off toward the edge, where it can refreeze into ice, blocking snow and water behind it on the roof’s surface.
Damage or Deterioration of Flashing or Vent Boots
Flashing is a thin material, typically metal or PVC, used to protect the seams in your roofing, such as in roof valleys or around a chimney. Flashing caulk is used by professional installers use to seal skylights, roof vents, chimneys, and valleys where roof faces meet. The caulk deteriorates over time or can suffer damage during storms due to debris.
A pipe boot is a synthetic rubber, plastic, or metal seal surrounding the vent’s base where it comes up through the roof. Contractors install the boot and secure it with flashing to prevent water from seeping into the home at the vent junction.
Neoprene pipe boots crack over time because of UV damage to the material. They often don’t last as long as the life of the roof, requiring replacement around every ten years.
Broken or Cracked Chimney
Chimneys often have several weak points that may deteriorate over time, leading to cracking or leaks. Flashing around the chimney could fail, or the mortar and bricks may absorb so much water over several days of rain that it could enter your home.
Additionally, the top of the chimney, whether masonry or metal, could suffer damage, allowing water to enter through the opening. You may need to call a professional chimney repair service to fix any issues with your chimney. Your roofing company can tell you whether they recommend a certain provider.
Attic Condensation
Sometimes, what appears to be a leaky roof is just moisture in the attic from differences in temperature between your home below and the temperature outside the home. Your roof inspector should also inspect the attic to determine whether your home has enough insulation to protect against temperature differences in the intermediate spaces of your home.
Call Maycon Construction Services for a Leaky Roof in Huntington, WV
Now that you’ve read about the most common causes of roof leaks, you know to call a licensed and experienced roofing company for a free roof leak inspection. We can provide you with a free inspection and quote for the cost of the roof leak repair.
If you have a leaky roof, reach out to Maycon Construction Services for a free inspection and estimate in Huntington, WV, and the surrounding tri-state area. Call us at 304-208-8978 or contact us online.
