Roof leaks are among the most common types of home repairs and something that most homeowners will eventually need to tackle. Homeowners can spend thousands of dollars to get leaks fixed. How much money you spend on the repair depends on the severity of the leak and all the work that needs to be done to fix it. Water intrusion causes extension damage within your home. It also exposes your family to the elements. So ideally, you want to make repairs before water starts entering your home. Read on to learn about the common causes of roof leaks and how to fix it. Explore how a roofing services contractor can help you avoid the high cost of replacing a roof.
What Are the Common Causes of Roof Leaks?
Debris on your roof is one of the most common causes of leaks. It starts off as an overfilled gutter and usually packs upon the valley where the two roof slopes meet. The leaves and sticks prevent the water from flowing freely into the gutter. Ultimately, the water is redirected to the path of least resistance for entering the home. Chimneys are another place where leaks often occur. Over time, chimneys break down and become vulnerable to leaks. The metal top over the chimney may crack. Corner boards of siding may rot out and open to water. When that happens, the metal flashing that goes under the shingles surrounding the chimney may require repair. Shingles are another common area for leaks. As time goes on, the shingles start to break down or rip off altogether. This natural degradation leads to leaks. Sometimes the answer is as simple as roofing nails. The nails that fasten shingles to the roof may loosen up over time. This creates the space that rainwater eventually finds. Lastly, pipe boots are also a common source of leaks. This is the flashing that goes around pipes to prevent leaks. It often cracks, giving a path for water to run into the house.
Fixing Leaky Roofs
Now that you identified the leak, it is time to repair it. The best thing you can do as a homeowner is to keep your gutters clean. Make sure to remove any leaves, sticks, and other debris from the roof valleys. A roofing contractor will come and carefully inspect your roof for the source of the leak. It may require refastening shingles and ensuring roofing nails are secure. Replacement shingles are definitely in play during the process. These shingles are used when the old ones start degrading or curling over time. A roofing professional may be able to replace shingles instead of re-layering the entire roof. In some cases, new flashing is required. Roofing contractors replace cracked or failed flashing to fix leaks as well.
Reach Out to Roofing Contractors in Scarborough
A leaking roof can be one of the most frustrating house problems to deal with. It is inconvenient, oftentimes expensive and only gets worse over time. The longer the roof leaks, the more damage is possible to the interior of your home. As you can see, there are many causes of roof leaks, but they all require the same basic process for diagnosis and repair. The first thing you need to do is to pinpoint the source of the leak and then proceed with the repair. It may involve re-fastening the nails or perhaps replacing the shingles. This is a complicated project that has to be done with great skill and professionalism. The experienced roofing company can find even the smallest of leaks and fix them before the problem starts leaking money down the drain. If you are looking for dependable roofing contracts for your project, get in touch with our team at Danforth Roofing Supply Ltd. We are there to help you with all your roofing needs in Scarborough.