Roofers Hattiesburg MS Reveal the Hidden Causes of Roof Leaks Most Homeowners Miss

Adrianna Tori
Roof Leaks

Most people think that roof leaks only occur when shingles are blown off, a storm hits, or a tree branch falls on the roof. But in reality, it’s much more astonishing-and much more complex. Professional Roofers Hattiesburg MS say that the largest leaks seldom begin with dramatic damage. They begin quietly, in inconspicuous places that most homeowners don’t conceive of looking.

At B&A Roofing and Gutters, professionals see roof leaks every day that could afflict your home. In many of these cases, a considerable amount of the damage has taken place in advance of noticing water stains on the ceiling or mold touch. However, if you know these the hidden causes of leaks, you can end up saving thousands of dollars in repairs, help protect the integrity of your home, and help to extend the life of your roof system.

Let’s talk about the less obvious leak sources that professional Roofing companies Hattiesburg MS most commonly uncover.

1. Cracked or Aging Roof Flashing

Flashing is some of the most critical elements to your roof system. Flashings protect any area of the roof where water naturally tries to get in-around chimneys, vents, skylights, and roof intersections.

Flashing can be crack or develop rust; or the flashing can diassemble from the roof surface, causing water to slip beneath the roof system layers. Because the damage begins underneath the shingles, many homeowners rarely notice until:

Roofing companies near me find flashing issues to be one of the most common problems located during inspections around older homes.

2. Improperly Constructed Roof Valleys that Channel Water Improperly

Roof valleys are meant to get water (rain) off the roof as quickly as possible. Roof valleys hold more water flow than any other area of the roof so it is also an area of the roof where conditions will develop quicker.

Common issues include:

When valleys weaken, leaks spread quickly because the water bypasses protective layers.

3. Damaged Vent Pipe Boots

Vent pipes provide egress for air from kitchen and bathroom and to equalize air pressure in the plumbing system. The rubber covering each pipe is intended to create a watertight barrier, but over time, through heat, UV rays, and storms, the rubber material will fail.

Once the boot cracks:

According to Roofers Hattiesburg MS, this is a very common source of leaks, yet most homeowners don’t think to check these pipes.

4. Nail Pops and Loose Fasteners

One nail that backs out of the roof deck can allow water to seep in with every rainfall. Nail pops happen due to:

Nail pops seldom are detected from the ground by homeowners, yet they often cause slow, steady leaks that lead to expensive interior repairs.

5. Clogged or Overflowing Gutters

Most individuals consider gutters to be only piping for drainages on the exterior but clogged or backed-up gutters could also create a major roof leak. When backed-up water is allowed to flow beneath shingles it exposes the decking to moisture or water.

Signs this is happening include:

Many homeowners looking for Roofing companies near me find out the hard way that neglected gutters can often lead to roof leaks, not just foundation problems.

6. Inadequately Installed Roofing System

Quality shingles are of no value if they are not properly installed to protect your home, as miscalculating the installation of a new roof system is one of the main reasons for leaks.

Some examples of improper installation are:

This is why house owners should always hire the reputable Roofing companies Hattiesburg MS, and not necessarily the cheapest one.

7. Hidden Decking Damage Below the Shingles

The decking, which is the structural base of your roof, will begin to rot, crack, or warp at some point, and water will leak regardless of how good the shingles appear to be on the outside.

Decking damage can normally be attributed to:

Experienced contractors, such as B&A Roofing and Gutters check and investigate the decking closely when doing any inspection for deeper issues that may be developing.

8. Skylight Seal Failures

Skylights are very nice and add a great deal of natural light to a home, but they have a reputation for leaking if not sealed correctly and with time the seals will dry out and deteriorate.

When the seals fail, it does not always mean that the water drops straight down into the living space; however, the water may be wandering along the roof layers, causing the leak while hard to pin point the leak source.

9. Attic Moisture and Ventilation Issues

Inadequate proper ventilation can create an attic chamber of moisture, because warm moist air rises from the home and condensates against the colder roof. This trapped moisture:

This kind of damage is often mistaken for a roof leak when, as a matter of fact, it starts in the attic.

Roofers Hattiesburg, MS often find ventilation related issues that homeowners never realize it is a roof performance issue.

10. Minor Leaks at Roof Penetrations

Anything that penetrates the roof surface such as vents, satellite mounts, and HVAC lines creates an opening for water intrusion. With time, the caulking dries out, the fasteners loosen, and the seals fail. 

These leaks might go undetected for many years, taken into consideration these are small openings to the elements.

Final Thoughts 

Roofs don’t always leak because of magnificent storm damage, or missing some shingles. Most leaks into roves come from small underlying problems that you would not even identify unless you had a trained eye. Periodic checkups are important, along with reputable professionals like B&A Roofing and Gutters, can save you larger and costlier repair costs.

The sooner you find the issues that have gone unnoticed, the better your roof will keep you dry.

Related Articles
↑
Exit mobile version