Why is my roof leaking?

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Another thing to add to the list of never ending home issues: roof leaks. As simple as it may sound, there are many reasons as to why homeowners can experience leaks coming from up above.

*Disclosure* When it comes to roof tops, it is highly recommended to hire a professional. Falling from a mere height of a single storey home can cause serious harm to a human body. 

By the time a roof leak becomes noticeable, damages may have already happened to the structure that holds the attic together or the roof deck. Roof leaks allow mold to form which can spread across an entire home. It is always best to have any leak problem addressed and fixed professionally.

Here are some possible reasons as to why a roof can have water leaks:

1. Damaged or Improperly installed flashing 

    Aluminum flashing can become damaged from hail and high winds. It can also become detached from improper installation. To seal flashing to a surface, caulking is used. This caulking can also become cracked due to old age and poor quality.

2. Poorly sealed valley  

     The improper installation of roofing valley can be the origin of a roof leak. These areas accumulate lots of water during a rainfall and snow during the 

winter. It is important to have any valley installed correctly. 

3. Old roof 

    Nothing lasts forever, shingles are no different. Worn out shingles due to age can be the reason for a leak.

4. Skylights 

   Signs of water dripping or pooling around a skylights opening are a good indication of a water leak. This can happen from improper skylight size, improper flashing, or worn out seals that go around the window itself.

5 Ice dams

  After snow falls, ice dams can form on roof tops. Once the temperature begins to increase, the melting snow will expose any problems with a roofing system

6. Moisture in the attic

    A home's attic experiences different temperatures. In the summertime, hot air heating your attic will react with the cold air in your home. During the wintertime it is the opposite. When these temperatures collide, the moisture in the attic condenses to form flowing water. Attic ventilation is vital. 

7. Clogged Gutters 

     Gutters are designed to redirect water from off the roof and away from a building's foundation. Gutters can clog due to accumulated dust and debris deposits. If they clog, water pooling can form and create cracks on the roof. The collected water then dissipates through the roof.

8. Missing shingles  

  The most obvious visible reason for water leaks will be shingles that have been blown off from high winds. This generally happens when the adhesive on the shingle has worn out due to age.