Even the best installed, well maintained roofs can run into problems and leak once in a while. The key is to make sure everything is kept up to prevent these leaks as much as possible. Of course, when it comes to Mother Nature sometimes even the best laid plans fail. Keeping your roof in good working order can help to avoid many of the problems most people associate with weather damage to the roof. Learning how to avoid the problems that cause a roof leak on your home can help prevent loads of damages to the interior of your home if you have a roof leak. In this article I’ll go over some common problems that can be repaired before a roof leak occurs on your home.
Common Problems That Can Cause a Roof to Leak
Most of the following problems will be for asphalt shingle roofing which is the most common type of roofing here in Michigan. Asphalt shingle roofing holds up well in the Michigan climate and protects your home for decades if installed correctly. If you currently have another type of roofing material installed on your home some of these tips and problems will not pertain to you. You may also have other problems with your type of roofing that are not mentioned here as well.
Age of the Roof
Although a roof will not fail simply because it’s old. In fact, some roofing materials on the market today are designed to last for more than 40 years. However, they are higher quality materials. One of the reasons why the age matters so much is that asphalt shingles start to lose their adhesion to other shingles over time. So the roofing is more susceptible to wind damage because of this. If your roofing is older and failing you’ll likely need a completely new roof installed on your home.
Roofing Vents and Other Penetrations
The most common areas for roof leaks to occur is the penetrations that come through the roofing surface. Any pipe, wall, skylight, chimney, etc that penetrates the roofing surface will need to be properly sealed about every 5 years. It’s quite common for these things to leak before the roofing surface itself leaks.
Slope of Your Home’s Roof
Although there isn’t much you can do about the slope of your roof I wanted to mention it simply because it has such as impact on roof leaks. The less slope you have on your roof the more likely it will be damaged by wind. Add in the age of the roof and a home with less of a sloped roof will fail faster than a roof that is more sloped.
Debris and Gutter Backup on the Roof
If you have trees around your home one thing you’ll need to keep an eye on is the debris that collects on your home’s roof. As leaves collect on the roof they can block valleys which should direct water away from the roof. The piled up leaves can also hold moisture against the roofing surface for extended periods of time causing damage to the shingles. Gutter can also do this to a lesser extent and need to be cleared of debris so water can exit the roofing surface.
Missing or Broken Shingles on the Roof
Once shingles start breaking on the roof it can really start to cause problems. Wind can get under shingles and break them sometimes blowing bits and pieces from the roof. If you have broken shingles on your home’s roof it’s important to get them fixed as quickly as possible.
Poor Ventilation of the Roof
In order for your roof to perform as it should and last a long time it needs to be properly ventilated. Gable vents and roof vents can help this process and ensure your roof is properly ventilated. Be sure wildlife isn’t making nests and blocking these vents as well.
Get a Roof Inspection if You’re Concerned About Your Roof
In order to make sure your roof is in good working order it’s important to get a roof inspection on your home annually. A roof inspection by a properly trained roofing expert can locate and repair any problems you have on your home’s roof. Be sure to call Home Pros Plymouth for a roof inspection in Plymouth Michigan today if you suspect your roof is showing any of the signs above.
