My Roof Has A Small Leak

Run the water over the place where you think the leak might be located.

My roof has a small leak. Even over a short time small leaks can lead to big problems such as mold rotted framing and sheathing destroyed insulation and damaged ceilings. Confirm that the source of the water on the inside of the home is a result of a roof leak and not due to a problem associated with other components of the home. If your roof is fewer than 15 years old it can probably be spot repaired instead of requiring a total replacement. Even over a short time small leaks can lead to big problems such as mold rotted framing and sheathing destroyed insulation and damaged ceilings.

If the leaking appears to be caused by ice buildup on the edges of the roof this likely will need to be handled by a professional ice removal crew. It can cause water damage to your ceilings and walls mold in your home s insulation or rotting rafters and roof sheathing. The rubber gasket that surrounds the vent pipe could be rotted. So let s look at the ten of the most common culprits in causing your roof to leak and what you can and should do about them other than recruiting a bucket brigade.

Ice dams are generally fixed by a crew that uses steam to melt away the ice buildup allowing melting snow to drain off the roof rather than back up under shingles. Don t go crazy with the water. If shingles get lifted or torn from high winds the damaged shingle exposes nails holding the shingle below it. These nails will eventually rust.

Just remember that a small leak will not go away it will only get worse. Something that starts as a small problem a roof leak can lead to big damage and even bigger headaches. Be sure to start small. If you have a leaky roof you d better fix it immediately even if it doesn t bother you much or you re getting a new roof next year.

Have a helper stationed in the attic with a flashlight looking for moisture. And just one rusted out nail can cause your roof to leak every time it rains. Roof nail leaks can happen when roof nails have been loosened slightly from high winds or have simply pulled out over time. If you don t want to wait for rain to look for the leak try bringing the garden hose up on the roof.

Roof leaks can ruin insulation become a breeding ground for black mold damage interior ceilings and walls and rot the wooden framing. A roof leak is extremely aggravating. Both danger and the probability of structural erosion increase if unaddressed. Roof leaks are typically just signs of a much larger problem.

Look for cracks in the base of flexible rubber flashing or broken seams in metal varieties of vent pipe flashing. If you have a leaky roof you d better fix it immediately even if it doesn t bother you much or you re getting a new roof next year.