What Causes Damage to Roofs?

You may have the most beautiful furniture and decor, but all can be destroyed if you have a serious problem that you ignore with the roof. Nothing is more devastating to the interior of your home than water marks, damp, leaks and decoration damage for homeowners. There are many reasons for maintaining the roof and it always pays to keep a regular eye on the health of your roof, so you can nip problems in the bud before small leaks turn into big damage.

The main causes of roof damage include:

Common causes of roof damage

Poor Weather – Extremes of any type of weather can cause damage such as cracking or blistering. Too much heat, significant drops in temperature and excess rainfall can cause these problems, leaving vulnerable exposure for certain roof parts where water can seep in. Powerful winds can rip the tiles, leaving parts exposed to the weather conditions.

Corrosion – There could be some roofing material that has corroded over time. This can occur in areas where there is no ventilation, chimney, flashings or valleys. Wherever corrosion strikes, this will eventually result in damage to the roof.

General wear and tear – Over time, all of them suffer from wear and tear and if your roof is old, it might only be a natural disintegration of the material as it ages. Wind gusts can also blow the leaves, branches and other detritus into your roof. The roof is the first defence against all elements and also take a lot of traffic over the years from birds, squirrels, cats and other small animals. For problems with squirrels, contact Essex Pest Control like BPC Pest Control, leading Essex Pest Control experts.

If you want your roof to last even longer, you have to commit to doing routine maintenance checks. Roofs made of asphalt can last up to 15 years and those made of clay, cement or slate can last a lifetime if thoroughly checked and maintained. Areas to check out include any that are more susceptible to damage and possible leaks.

Vulnerable parts of the roof

Valleys – these lie between the roof slopes and thus are vulnerable to the accumulation of detritus like leaves and dirt.

Chimney – if there is not enough flashing, the chimney is the main place for water damage and leaks.

Vent – these protrude from the roof and are also more vulnerable to leakage.

Downpipes blocked – the problem may have nothing to do with a leak in the roof but can be derived from the gutters and downpipes become blocked by ice, snow or leaves. When this happens, water cannot flow freely to the bottom and backs up in the flashings, shingles or tiles.

When to check your roof

The ideal time year to check your roof is during better weather in the summer. This should be done at least by the beginning of autumn, before the bad weather and harsh conditions are expected during the winter.

Tracking down the source of a leak

Water can travel some distance from where it gets in, so the damp patch indoors is not always below the fault. Checking a few usual suspects helps narrow it down.

Anything that passes through the roof must be properly sealed. Look at the gasket around vent pipes for cracks or gaps and check for missing nails, as plastic vents can crack after years in the weather. Holes left after removing an old aerial or other fixture will also let water in and should be sealed.

Metal flashing seals the joins around chimneys, dormers and skylights. If a nail is missing it can shift, and the sealant can dry out and crack. Blocked gutters slow the run-off and give water time to soak through, while a gutter that empties straight onto a lower roof can saturate it, so extend the downpipe to a lower level or the ground. After strong winds, use a ladder to check hidden areas for missing tiles or shingles.

Summary

This article explains what commonly causes damage to roofs, including extreme weather, corrosion where there is poor ventilation, and general wear and tear from age, wind and wildlife. It highlights valleys, chimneys, vents and downpipes as the most vulnerable areas for leaks and blockages, and recommends checking the roof in summer, ahead of autumn and winter weather.

Questions this article raises

• Which parts of a roof are most likely to develop leaks?
• How long can different roofing materials be expected to last?
• Why is summer the best time to check a roof’s condition?