Stop the Leaks — Maintenance is Your Best Offense

Nothing is worse than being curled up in front of the television on a rainy day, only to hear water dripping into your home. Or worse, hearing a customer yelp when cold water splashes down while they are in your place of business.

Whether you own a home or business, roof leaks are serious business. Water in whatever form, always seeks out weak spots, so your best defense is a good offense — regular maintenance checks!

Have your professional roofer check for the most common causes of leaks once each year.

Leaks commonly start with:

Wear, Tear and Storm Damage

Missing, cracked or loose roofing material can be caused by winds, rain, snow, ice, debris and age. With the roof compromised, water will find a way in if the problem is not quickly fixed. Damage can also occur to the flashing — thin pieces of metal installed under the roofing or on joints to create water-resistant barriers. In addition, if water is ponding on your roof and from ice dams, both of which prevent proper run off and force water to back up underneath the roofing material, damage will occur.

Ventilation

All roofs need to breath. Improper attic ventilation will cause moisture through a buildup of condensation. Dark and warm places are a favorite place for mold to grow. Left unchecked, mold will eat right through your roofing material.

Improper Installation

Sadly, not all roofers are licensed, bonded or insured. We come across roofing all the time that has been improperly installed — everything from improper installation of the underlayment, valleys, caulking, collars and even the upper layers of the roofing material. Even something as simple as an exposed nail head is a weak spot where water will find its way in. That’s why it is so important to make sure your roofer has years of experience, is licensed, bonded and insured, and you can call and check on their references.

Debris and Gutters

Especially here in the southwest, Monsoon storms can cause all kinds of havoc, leaving your roof and gutters littered with debris. Debris traps moisture on your roof and provides an ideal location for mold to grow. Clogged gutters cause water to back up under the roofing material and eat away at the underlayment. In short, debris needs to be removed as soon as possible and gutters cleaned out and repaired. However, we don’t recommend you do it yourself…and here’s why.

Too Much Traffic

Lots of people think they can just climb up on the roof and clear away debris, but too much use of the roof can cause damage to the materials, even if you are careful. Worse yet, some home and business owners will take a power washer to the roof to clean off debris. Unfortunately, the high power jets can blast away granules from shingles, weaken roof materials and force their way under the layers, leaving a pathway behind for future leaks. If your roof tends to collect a lot of debris, you may want to adjust the surrounding landscape and vegetation, or hire a professional roofer to properly clean the roof.