Nobody likes having a leak in their roof. One second, you are sitting inside listening to the rain or snow on top of your house, and the next, there is water dripping in the middle of the room. What causes leaky roofs, and how are they fixed? Read on to find out!
The most common cause of leaky roofs is when there is a break in the shingles or flashing. Your roof is meant to protect you and keep the outside elements away, but when it breaks, it can’t work properly. Even the smallest bit of damage to your roof can cause issues.
Leaks can also be caused by clogged gutters, ice dams, broken chimneys, poorly installed skylights, and so much more.
So, what should you do if you have a leak?
If the issue stems from the gutters, you may be able to clear them out. If this doesn’t fix the problem, call a professional to come in and help you out.
If the problem is coming from the actual roof itself, some people feel comfortable getting up onto their roof to fix it themselves. Unless you absolutely know what you are doing and have proper experience, we do not recommend this. Your safety is the first priority.
So what do we suggest?
Call a professional. We always offer free inspections, and most roofing companies will do the same. Based on the cause of the problem, we will address each leak differently. For some leaks, the damage may be very small and easy to repair. For example, if there is just one broken shingle, it might be easy to simply fix or replace it.
If the issue is worse, however, and there is more damage overall, you may need a new roofing system. Sometimes, your roof is just older, and it is time to replace it. If that is the case, you would then talk to your roofing company about the next steps and what your options are.
When we find that a roof needs to be replaced, we might place a tarp on it in the meantime while decisions are being made or until the work is done.
It is important to not mess around with leaks. If you don’t know what to do, call someone who does. You don’t want the leak to get worse overtime. The faster you address it, the better. When in doubt, call a professional.
