Roof leaks are a problem that no homeowner wants to discover. A leaking roof can cause numerous problems, especially because leaks often go unnoticed until they intrude on occupied living spaces. In the meantime, the leak may allow water to enter unseen areas, such as your attic or even behind your drywall.
Once you notice the leak, your top priorities will always be to fix the underlying problem, repair any water damage, and prevent new leaks from developing. However, this final point can often be the most challenging to understand. After all, if your roof leaks once, does that mean more leaks are in store for your future?
Understanding the Cause of Roofing Leaks
Your roof's primary purpose is to deflect water away from vulnerable areas. Deflection isn't quite the same thing as waterproofing. Residential roofing systems use clever design to move water off your roof quickly and away from areas where it can cause damage, but there are still areas where water can potentially drip or seep into your home.
It's a common misconception that a leak means there's a hole in your roof. In many cases, there may not be a hole or any other obvious damage causing the leak. Often, leaks occur because of loose shingles or flashing. This subtle but meaningful damage can allow water to seep beneath the upper layers of the roof, providing a pathway for it to leak into your home.
Of course, leaks can also occur due to more obvious damage, such as wind blowing away entire shingles or debris causing damage to the underlying roof decking. These issues are typically pretty easy to spot, even for untrained homeowners, but more subtle problems will often require a qualified roofer to investigate and locate.
Evaluating Your Roof for Repair or Replacement
The good news is that a leak by itself is not enough reason to replace your whole roof. Once you know you have a leak, you'll want an experienced roofer to perform an inspection and attempt to determine the cause of the problem. Your roofer's goal will be to determine if your leak is due to a one-off issue or a systemic problem across the entire roof.
Limited storm damage, loose shingles, and loose flashing are often easily repairable, especially if the rest of your roof is relatively new and in good condition. However, the duration of the leak will also matter. Although the initial cause may have been minor, a leak that goes unaddressed for a long time can cause the underlying decking to rot out, forcing a more expensive repair or replacement.
Ultimately, there's no reason to assume that a single leak means your entire roof is no longer viable. Still, it's important to rely on a professional to help you rule out larger issues or underlying problems with your roof. Once you know why your roof is leaking, you can decide how to address the problem permanently.
Contact a local residential roofing service to learn more.
When you have something you like inside a jar, you probably put a lid on it — right? In a way, you can think of your house in the same manner. You like and value the items inside, along with the inside of the house itself. So, it only makes sense that you would protect the interior of your home with a lid. That lid is your roof.
Keep that perspective in mind as you read this blog. Learning more about roofing will feel more interesting if you remember what a roof does: it protects the inside of the home and the people who live in it.