Common Reasons For Roof Leaks

Roof leaks are the last thing that you want to happen to you when a storm breaks out. Unfortunately, even one small drip coming from your ceiling can mean a huge roofing issue. Of course, a huge issue usually leads to a large sum of money to repair it. To avoid a huge problem from occurring, it’s important to know why they happen in order to catch it before it gets worse. 

Roof Repairs – Tulsa

Here are a few tips from Decor Construction on what to be mindful of when you’re inspecting your roof or notice water coming down from the ceiling.

Missing Or Damaged Shingles

Shingles are used to improve the resiliency of the roof itself. The roof’s shingles can be dislodged in high winds, extreme weather, or aging. When one goes missing, it can possibly cause a leak, depending on whether the lost shingle was covering a seam between two others. Shingles are arranged in a way to cover seams to avoid leaks coming through. If the roof ends up with one or more seams exposed, water can be let in. To avoid shingles from being torn off, it’s important to have them inspected when a roof is at least 20 years old. 

Cracked Flashing

Roof flashing is a thin material, typically made from galvanized steel, that is used to direct water away from at-risk areas of the roof. These areas are wherever the roof plane meets a wall or any vertical surface. It is installed to surround vents, chimneys, and any other roof features. This flashing is adhered to using caulk or tar. Once the caulk or tar begins to deteriorate or the flashing cracks, water easily gains access to a home. To prevent the breakdown of the flashing, it’s important to get it inspected on a schedule at least every two years depending on how frequent severe weather is in the area. 

Dislodged Roofing Nails

Shingle nail pops are one of the most common reasons for a roof to leak. A nail pushing through shingles not only means a broken shingle, it means there’s a greater chance of a leaking roof. Holes in shingles will lead to water damage inside your home. When they back out of your roof, it will leave a very small hole that can be difficult to find without experience. These tiny holes can create direct pathways for water to drip through the roof and into a home’s interior living space. 

There are several different reasons that roofing nails can pop including improper nailing, using the wrong nails, and inadequate attic ventilation. Doing a yearly visual inspection of the roof at least once a year can prevent undetected problems from slipping past. Additionally, it might be beneficial to do a roof tune-up every 8-10 years to fix broken shingles, nail pops, and cracked flashes. 

No matter the job that needs to be done on your roof to stop leaking, professionals at Decor Construction are there to help. They will be able to inspect your roof for current or potential leaks to keep water damage from entering your home. Professionals will be able to make sure your roof repair is easy and painless for you, ensuring a quality job.