Sometimes it’s not the harsh weather that causes leaks and other roof problems. If you see signs of roof problems after even a mild shower, there’s a good chance that your issues lie in the roof itself – or more specifically, how it was installed.
The roof building process may seem pretty straightforward, but be sure to measure and lay out everything carefully beforehand, as even a minor slip-up in measurement can badly affect how well the roof will hold up against the elements. Here are a few examples of why badly installed components can mess up your roof altogether.
Bad flashing
The flashing is supposed to protect areas of your roof where the shingles or roof tiles aren’t able to provide complete cover. Without proper flashing, these areas become extremely vulnerable to water, wind, and debris. Badly installed flashing leaves gaps in your roof’s otherwise weatherproof surface. This is especially true for flashing that covers roof valleys, since rainwater is naturally channeled to those areas before flowing into the gutter.
Loose seals, nails and fasteners
Nails and fasteners keep your roof tiles in place, and they also serve the purpose of ensuring that the tiles don’t wiggle around when the wind blows. On the other hand, roof sealants are applied to provide a watertight barrier over the gaps between individual tiles and panels. Badly installed nails can easily be dislodged, which can in turn cause entire tiles to slide off the roof. Meanwhile, poorly applied sealants don’t provide complete water protection, which is almost as good as not having any sealant at all!
Poor ventilation and insulation
Sometimes, roof problems come from under the roof’s surface. Poor ventilation and insulation can cause the attic (and the rest of the roof’s inner surface) to suffer from moisture damage caused by condensed water vapor. If neglected, the water can form dark rings on the ceiling, cause rust on metal components, and even encourage mold and mildew to grow on surfaces.
To avoid problems caused by bad roof installation, it’s best to avoid DIY roofing projects and leave the job to reputable roofing experts.
You know the causes, now it’s time to act. In the last part of this blog series, find out what you should do when you encounter roof problems.