Most Common Roof Leak Causes

Roof leaks manifest themselves in a variety of ways, from a dark stain on the ceiling, to streaks on your walls, or worse, droplets or a stream of water flowing from these areas. When you see the obvious sign of a leak, it can be stressful. It seems to come from out of the blue, for no good reason it all. Even on newly installed roofs or relatively young ones, leaks happen.

Many things can cause roofs to leak, from the more obvious damage from storms to the not so obvious like deteriorated seals or improper ventilation.

If your roof is leaking, chances are one or more of the following causes is the culprit:

Your roof shingles could be compromised

Whether they weren’t installed properly or you’ve just been through a strong, windy storm, shingles that have blown off, fallen off or out of place due to improper installation will compromise the integrity of your roof, causing leaks. Many times this can be spotted from the ground, however on some roofs a professional may be required to inspect.

Compromised Valleys

The roof valley (The “V” created where two sloping roofs meet) could have been punctured. Either the valley metal (open valley) or shingles (closed valley) could have been damaged either accidentally by other personnel or roofers stepping in them or if maintenance is neglected, build up of debris could cause water buildup and leaks.

Poor installation or cheap materials

One of the most common causes for leaks is poor workmanship. If the roofing contractor did not install the materials properly, leaks almost always occur. Leaks caused by improper installation can include the roof membrane, roof flashing, roof vents or chimney, although these can be punctured by various things, the most common problem with these areas are poor installation of materials.

The roof has been punctured by something

Falling limbs or trees, hail or other objects can cause great damage to your roof. After a storm, it would be prudent to have an inspection as soon as possible if signs of a leak are present.

Improper Room Ventilation

Improper ventilation in rooms where high moisture is generated (bathrooms, kitchens, sun-rooms) can cause moisture build up and cause damage. Be sure these rooms are ventilated properly to avoid problems. Many instances of roof leaks where no other problem could be found can be attributed to ventilation.

The roof is just too old

Roofs don’t last forever, once the materials in your roof age beyond their life expectancy they begin to break down, compromising the integrity of your roof.

Whether your leak is caused by one or more of these, the good news is, it can be fixed! Our advice is to let the professionals handle it all. Start by doing your homework and hiring a good roof contractor to inspect your roof and advise you on what’s best!

If you notice any signs of leakage in your roof, it is important to repair the problems as soon as possible to avoid further damage and increased expenses. If you’re in Metro Atlanta, call Atlanta Roofing Specialists today at 770-419-2222 for a your roof inspection.