Common Causes of Roof Leaks

Common Causes of Roof Leaks When your roof is leaking or damaged, it can cause stress for you, your family, or for your tenants. Roof leaks can be caused by a number of factors including storms, hail, wind and even time. #1. Drip At The Corner Of An Old Skylight Most common causes of skylight leaks are faulty installation, damaged weather seals or the skylight may not be completely closed. The easiest way to find the true cause of the leak is to have your roof inspected by professional roofing contractor. #2. Excessive Water Flow Across Mossy Roof If an upper roof contains large volumes of water, it will saturate and cause a lower roof to leak if the lower roof is used as a drain pipe. Water should be contained in an over spout or downspout that carries the upper roof water over the roof and into the lower gutter. #3. Holes In The Roof Many times the dish has been removed from a roof location, but the contractor has not properly sealed the holes. As a result, a lag bolt hole allows water to go from the shingle. #4. Worn or Damage to the Roof Ridge Cap Another cause of roof leaks is a worn ridge cap. This may get worn by contractors walking on it or dragging ropes across it (for rope and harness setups) without protecting it with carpet until they are down with the job. #5. Using The Roof As A Pipe The roof is intended to shed rainwater, not to act as a drain pipe. If downspouts that drain upper gutters are just emptied onto the roof, then it will wear the granules off the shingles. This is just poor design. #6. Blown Off Shingles During high winds, shingles may be blown off your roof. If the shingles are on a part of the roof that is difficult to see from where you normally walk, you may not notice they are missing until the roof begins to leak. Infographic by Transition Roofing http://www.transitionroofing.com