Leaking roofs are a blight on a house and can cause all kinds of problems, many of which are extremely dangerous.
So here is some expert advice on how to prevent roof leakage:
- Common Causes of a Leaking Roof
- How to Prevent Roof Leakage
- Stay weather aware and clean gutters
- Replace missing or damaged shingles
- Maintain roofing ventilation
- Summary
There’s not much you can do about the cause of a leaking roof. However, you can maintain certain things, and help from experts like Western Pacific Roofing is always available.
Common Causes of a Leaking Home Roof
Before you can begin roof leak prevention, you must first understand how a leak starts in the first place. Even a new building can spring a leaking roof because of poor materials, bad weather, and insufficient maintenance. For the most part, your leaking roof will be caused by its age, missing shingles, and underlay materials or condensation in your loft space.
How to Prevent Home Roof Leakage
How to stop water leakage from the roof is an ongoing process. The roof is perhaps the most important part of your house since it protects it from water. But the roof itself becomes severely damaged by water if it isn’t maintained. You can always call experts to maintain your roofing. However, you can prevent most water damage by inspecting your roof and acting quickly.
Stay weather aware and clean water gutters
For the most part, the weather is your biggest enemy when it comes to roof maintenance. Through wind, rain, cold and intense heat, your roof takes the brunt of the elements. However, storms are going to cause the most damage. But there are some things you can do:
- Keep up to date with apps such as Weather.com and AccuWeather.
- Clear the gutters before a storm to prevent excess debris from blocking drainage.
- When it’s safe to do so, clear what you can from your gutters after a storm.
Experts like Western Pacific Roofing are experienced in repairing storm damage to roofing. So always consider calling them for anything more complex than cleaning gutter debris. Otherwise, keep an eye on the weather, and act to clean your gutters before and after rainy weather.
Replace and fix missing or damaged shingles
Of course, leaks will begin and indeed get worse if there is any damage to your roofing. This will often come from missing or damaged shingles or compromised membranes. Repairing these can be tricky and usually requires an expert hand. So, for safety reasons alone, don’t attempt it yourself. However, you can prevent the worst with regular inspection and swift action.
Make sure to maintain home roofing ventilation
Ventilation is essential to any property. Roofing ventilation is crucial for letting out heat and moisture from your house, both of which can be incredibly harmful. Combined with excess, they can cause mold and dampness. However, if your ventilation is damaged or not properly sealed, it can result in leaking. Inspect your roofing vents often, and replace them every ten years or so.
Home Roof Leak and Maintenance Summary
Leaking roofs are common. Yet you can help prevent leaking with ongoing maintenance. Clear gutters before and after storms, replace missing or damaged shingles, and maintain the vents.
If you’re in the Greater Northwest, we’d love to serve you! Our professional roof repair and replacement specialists serve all of NW Oregon & SW Washington.
You can call and get in touch with Western Pacific Roofing today at (503) 659-7663 for all your roofing needs.