Finding a leak in your roof is a hassle that no one wants, but unfortunately, they do happen with homes of all types. If left unattended, a roof leak will lead to further, costly damage and possible health issues from the build-up of mould. If you already know that your roof is leaking we would advise you to get in touch with our team for roof repairs as soon as possible.
The most obvious signs that you have a roof leak are:
- you have water stains on your ceiling, inside the house
- you hear water running or dripping inside the walls
- you see water coming into the house from the roof when it rains
Before you try to decide what to do about the roof leak, and what kind of repairs may be necessary, it’s important to figure out what is causing the leak.
Why your roof may be leaking?
- There is a hole in the roof This may be caused when an old TV aerial or satellite dish is removed, or if something hits your roof in a storm. Depending on the extent of the damage, a hole in the roof can often be patched.
- There is a tile or shingle missing If you have a roof made of tiles and shingles, it’s important to have them checked periodically to make sure none have come loose or come off. This can sometimes happen in a bad storm or if they haven’t been initially applied correctly.
- The roof has come away, allowing water in It is possible that a section of the roof has come away or become detached, causing a roof leak. There may be a sheet of a metal roof that has lifted in strong winds, or sections of shingles that have come loose. This can be extremely dangerous, and you’ll want to get your roof repaired as soon as possible.
- There is an issue with your gutters, drainpipes or downpipes As water runs off the roof, it flows into the gutters and through the drainpipes or downpipes. It’s wise to have these checked regularly to make sure that they’re all still in good condition and attached to each other and to the roof properly. If a gutter is weighted down by debris that hasn’t been cleared regularly, it may pull away and cause damage to the roof.
- There is a crack in the roof A crack may not be as apparent as a hole in the roof, as it may not be easily seen, so it’s essential to conduct regular checks. If you aren’t comfortable getting up on a ladder (we don’t recommend anyone do this if you’re not confident and don’t have the proper safety gear), the team at Sumich can do this for you. Make sure you regularly check for leaks on the inside of your house by looking for watermarks on the ceiling and around roof cavity/storage spaces.
- Your roof is leaking because of its age Like anything, a roof will suffer the effects of gradual wear and tear over time. One of the consequences might be a roof leak. If your roof is 20 years old or older, this could very likely be the cause of the leak. Give us a call and we can come and do a maintenance check to help determine the cause of the roof leak.
- The flashing is faulty or damaged Roof flashing is the strips of metal designed to prevent leaks where roof the panels join and where the roof meets walls or gutters. They’re designed to seal areas where water may enter and prevent roof leaks. They can, however, be the cause of a roof leak if they’re not installed properly or if they’ve become damaged in bad weather.
- The slope of the roof If the slope or angle of a roof – or parts of it – are too shallow, there may be issues with water not running off the roof as it should. We sometimes see this when an addition to a house has been built, or a granny flat has been built with a flat roof. Roofs do not need to be built with a steep angle, however if you’ve got a shallow angle or a flat roof, it must be designed to have adequate run off so water does not pool or cause a leak.
- Leaking from a skylight or chimney There may be water seeping in from your roof around any fixtures or openings, such as a skylight or chimney. Wherever there are joins that need to be sealed, there is potential for those sealing mechanisms to perish over time or get damaged in bad weather.
- Debris on the roof It is crucial to ensure that nothing is impeding the water run-off from your roof. It’s important to check your roof regularly for debris, tree branches, leaves, etc. This is particularly true if there are several trees around your property. If you have a build-up of debris on your roof as well as any damage to the roof itself, the water may not run off and may seep down through the roof, into the roof cavity of your house.
It’s important to find out what’s causing the leak in your roof and address any of these problems quickly. But don’t worry … a roof leak doesn’t automatically mean you need a new roof. It may be possible to repair what is causing the leak. Give the team at Sumich Plumbing & Drainage a call and we can come out and assess the problem.
For any other water leaks around your home or business you can get in touch with our water leak detectors, they will be able to identify & repair the even the most difficult of leaks.