October
20
Why Having a Sound Roof Is Important
If you’re like most people, you don’t think a whole lot about your roof on a regular basis. As long as you aren’t experiencing a problem, you probably just assume that no news is good news where your roof is concerned. But having a sound roof in place is incredibly important, as your roof serves as a critical first line of defense against the threats of weather and the elements.
But what happens when there is a problem? For example, you may be seeing signs on the inside which indicate that something isn’t right on the outside. More specifically, you may have reason to believe that your roof has sprung a leak and is allowing some moisture to infiltrate. If that’s the case, then the time to take action is right now! As is true for many things, putting off a needed roof repair or roof replacement will only make things worse over time.
Common Causes of Roof Leaks
When it comes to roof damage, prevention is always the most desirable course of action. But even so, roof leaks can and do sometimes occur, and they can often be attributed to one (or a combination) of five common causes:
1. Issues around seams
Seams, joints, and valleys tend to be common spots where roof leaks can develop. Any place where sections of roofing meet or where flashing is installed has the potential to allow for moisture infiltration over time. These areas should be inspected regularly.
2. Issues around rooftop equipment
Got some special features or equipment installed on your roof, like pipes, vents, skylights, satellite dishes, or HVAC units? Fastener sites on roof features can become potential leak points. Screws can work themselves loose, and washers or gaskets can eventually wear out or break down.
3. Foot traffic
It’s not that you can’t get on top of your roof at all. Most roofs will tolerate a modest amount of foot traffic without any serious issues. But even so, the more time you spend navigating around your roof, the more potential there is for human activity to lead to leak development. Carelessness is a factor too. Depending upon which type of roofing material you have, a single dropped tool can result in the development of a moisture infiltration point.
4. Roof neglect
Failure to regularly inspect and maintain your roof can lead to some disastrous consequences. Some types of roofing – like a standing seam metal roof – require less maintenance than others, but any roof will last much longer if you can catch any minor issues and address them proactively early on.
5. Weathering
No matter what type of roof you have, all it can take is one severe storm event for a leak (or leaks) to develop. While some roofs are much more weather-resistant than others, no roof is completely weather-proof. And even if you haven’t had any severe storms to blow over, constant exposure to the elements will take its toll on any roof over time. The effects of weathering are cumulative, and any type of roofing can and will start to degrade eventually.
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Signs of Roof Leaks to Look For
It’s important to recognize the signs of roof leaks, so you’ll know where you may have roof damage that needs addressing. Here are some things to look for:
• Water damage
This is one of the most obvious signs there’s a problem. If you see any water stains on your ceiling, then there’s certainly water coming in from somewhere. Worse yet, if you have water dripping onto your floor or furniture from above, then you don’t have to guess whether you have a roof leak or not!
• The appearance of mold or mildew
Mold and mildew only grow in moist environments. For example, if there’s mold in your bathroom, a likely cause could be unventilated moisture that occurs when showering. But what if you see mold in other parts of your home, like around the ceiling, in the attic, on your exposed insulation, or in areas of your drywall? That could be a good indication that you have a roof leak somewhere.
• Musty smells
Not all moisture infiltration or mold growth is visibly obvious. But sometimes, you can still smell what you can’t see. There can be mold growing above your attic or inside your walls that hasn’t made its way to the surface yet. If you clean your home regularly, but you’re still detecting some musty odors, that could indicate a roof leak which is fostering mold growth inside your home.
• Higher interior humidity
If your windows and doors are well-sealed and your house is well-insulated, but you’re still experiencing higher-than-normal interior humidity levels, that extra moisture still has to be coming from somewhere. If you’ve been able to eliminate some other causes, it’s very possible that the extra moisture you’re seeing is coming from above. Time to check for roof leaks!
How to Plan For & Promptly Respond to Roof Leak Issues
It’s best to be ready when and if your roof decides to spring a leak. Here are some good tips for developing the best course of action.
• Put aside some money for a rainy day
Well, not just any sort of rainy day, but rather a rainy day where your roof starts to leak. Financial counselors advise homeowners to set apart an emergency fund to help cover unexpected problems like a leaky roof. Better to have it and not need it, than to be caught off guard and unprepared!
• Address any critical issues right away
If water is literally pouring into your home, you’ll need to go ahead and perform some triage before you can arrange for a local roofing contractor to come out.
- Start by grabbing some buckets or garbage cans to catch and contain any falling water.
- If there’s a sagging bulge hanging from the ceiling, go ahead and poke a hole in it – and be ready to catch whatever water falls out. Leaving it alone and doing nothing could lead the water to spread and do even more damage to your ceiling.
- If you can’t get your roof fixed right away, you might want to cover your roof with some tarps in the meantime. Use tarp material that’s at least 6mm thick, and make sure it extends beyond the problem area and all the way up to the roof peak if possible.
• Choose a reputable, local roofing contractor to partner with
The best time to choose a contractor who can provide capable roof leak repair and roof replacement services is before you need one. When and if a roofing emergency arises, it’s good to have the peace of mind of knowing who you’ve chosen to be in your corner. To that end, you won’t find a better local roofing provider in NC or VA than Skywalker Roofing!
Choose Skywalker for All Your NC & VA Roofing Needs
Does your roof need some TLC? The best partner you can choose in North Carolina and Virginia is the team at Skywalker Roofing! We provide complete roof repair and roof installation services, and we work with everything from shingles to metal, to wood shakes, to tile, slate, composite & synthetic roofing, flat roofing, and much more.
No name in roofing is more trusted than Skywalker! We’re proud to serve the entire NC Piedmont Triad and Piedmont Triangle, the Lake Norman area, and the southern region of VA all the way up to Roanoke. And our quality of workmanship and customer service really speaks for itself; you can check out our scores of 5-star reviews on places like Google, Facebook, BBB, and Guild Quality.
You’re welcome to connect with us online, or for an even faster response, just give us a call today at +1 (336) 627-5596. One of our friendly experts would be glad to answer any questions you may have and to get you scheduled for a FREE roof inspection and personal consultation. Don’t put it off any longer; come experience the Skywalker Roofing difference for yourself!
