Roof leaks during heavy rains can cause serious damage to your home. It’s important to prevent and identify leaks. Old Time Roofing has over 45 years of experience in preventing roof leaks and repairing them. Roof leaks can be caused by missing shingles, damaged membranes, or flashing. Our help will protect your residential or commercial property from damage caused by water leaks. This guide will help you identify the most common causes of leaks in your roof during heavy rain so that you can prevent any damage.
The Usual Suspects of a Roof Leak
Roofs are designed to last. However, every roof has weak spots that can lead to leaks during heavy rain. Roofs that leak are often caused by the edges of the roof where it connects with other materials. Older materials, storm damage, and even eaves where wildlife is trying to enter are also to blame. If you are worried about your roof, inspect these areas for signs of dampness and damage.
Your Skylight
Skylights have a bad reputation for leaking. Where the glass meets the roof, the materials are completely separated. Roofers cannot provide this protective measure around your skylight because shingles and felt layers can be staggered to prevent a straight seam. Instead, you’ll need to check the exterior seams of your skylight for cracks and rips, as well as its interior walls for signs of water damage, such as soft walls or visible stains.
Flat Roofs
Flat roofs are susceptible to leaks for two main reasons:
Water pooling: If water cannot drain, it starts to accumulate on the membrane and will eventually find a way down. Water can leak through membrane punctures or along walls. Pooled water is heavy and can cause further damage to the roof.
Holes: A flat roof is a membrane of plastic, asphalt, or foam. Some materials are able to self-repair minor punctures. However, larger blemishes can eventually leak water and cause a ceiling to leak.
Chimney Leaks
Rain can cause a ceiling leak, just as water can seep in around a skylight. If you have a brick fireplace, look for gaps in the mortar and signs of rust, corrosion, or cracked metal.
Plumbing Leaks
Most people immediately suspect the roof when they see their ceiling leaking due to rain. However, it could be a plumbing problem. Check for leaks in the pipes under your subceiling and make sure all connections are sealed with o-rings or plumbing tape. These connections can wear down just like roofing material, and water damage spreads quickly.
What are some temporary fixes you can make to repair a leaking roof from the inside?
If you can’t fix the roof right away, a small patch can help stop the leak temporarily. Use tar to temporarily fix a shingle roofing panel. If you want to prevent water from dripping onto the insulation or ceiling, you can secure a plywood piece inside the roof. These patches are temporary and should only be used until you schedule a roof repair appointment.
Calling professionals for emergency roof repair
Do you have a roof emergency? Professional repair experts can quickly seal the hole, replace missing shingles, or repair larger sections of damage. If the roof leak can cause serious damage to the interior of the building, or if there is a storm forecasted, opt for emergency repairs.
This post was written by Ted Williams! Ted is the owner of A Old Time Roofing which offers Roofing Contractors In Clearwater FL! Ted is a Master Elite Weather Stopper GAF Roofing Contractor, a double award winner of Best Steep-Slope Contractor from GAF and achiever of Master Elite Consumer Protection Excellence from GAF. He has been serving the Pinellas County area since 1978. Old Time Roofing has a tradition of quality workmanship, servicing residential and commercial properties.
