3 Common Reasons for Residential Roof Leaks

The rainy season is a time to delight. Rainwater reduces the need to perform manual tasks such as lawn watering and it helps rid of dust coming into your home from adjacent roads. However, leaking rainwater can also cause a lot of damage if it finds its way inside your home. Indeed, the roof section is one of the areas that often requires waterproofing repairs. 

Here are a couple of common causes of leaking problems experienced with residential roofs.

Gutter issues

When your rain gutters get blocked due to buildup of leaves, branches, twigs and other foreign elements, the trapped water exerts additional stress on the roof structure. The ponding water can gradually seep in through your shingles by capillary action. It is essential to keep the roof clear of any debris to allow for quick run off of water.

There are a couple of things that can be done to ensure that your roof gutters remain clog-free. You can start by asking an arborist to trim overhanging branches from any trees located near your house. Aside from that, you should ask a roof cleaning expert to come over to your house and clear existing debris from your gutters before it can accumulate and cause problems.

Age

Even a well-installed roof will eventually need waterproofing repairs because the waterproofing membranes used to waterproof residential roofs have a restricted lifespan. Once the membranes reach the end of their service life, they will become less efficient at keeping water out.

What is more, prolonged exposure to harsh weather conditions may cause roofing materials to deteriorate over time. For instance, elongated exposure to direct solar heat can cause the tar that holds roof shingles together to melt. Make sure that your roof is replaced immediately after it reaches the end of its useful life.

Slope

Most of today's residential roofs slope for a good reason. High-pitched roofs allow rainwater to run off much faster than flat roofs, which are notorious for allowing water collection. If the slope of your roof is flat, ponding water will deteriorate roof shingles over time. Once the shingles are worn, the pressure exerted on the surface of the materials by pools of rainwater may lead to leaking.

You need a competent waterproofing expert to ascertain whether or not the lack of slope is the source of the water damage on your roof. Therefore, be sure to seek professional help if you have concerns regarding the slope of your roof.