Welcome to Family Roofing

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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

COMMON REASONS FOR ROOF LEAKS

There are few things more concerning as a homeowner than a roof leak.  Unfortunately, there are plenty of reasons your roof could be leaking.  Below are possible reasons for roof leaks.

Pipe Boot Failure

The most common roof leak is when a boot around a pipe fails or another penetration.  A pipe boot is a type of roof flashing that goes around the base of the pipes coming through your roof.  While there are different types (lead, plastic, copper, etc.), the most common is a neoprene (synthetic rubber) pipe boot.  No matter the material, its main job is to prevent water from following the pipe down through your roof and into your home.

Because a neoprene pipe boot is the most common.  Over time, UV from the sun breaks down the neoprene and it cracks. Once it cracks, water follows the pipe into whatever roof it’s above.  Pipe boots will not last the full life of the roof.  They should last around 10 years, but different factors (location, weather, animals) ultimately determines when they’ll need to be replaced.

Improperly Driven Nails

Another common cause of roof leaks is when a roofing nail backs out through a shingle.  If a nail isn’t driven in far enough or driven in sideways, the head of the nail eventually work its way up through the shingle.  When it rains, water coming down your roof catches the nail’s head and follows it down to the inside of your home.  This doesn’t happen just with roofing nails used on shingles, but also decking nails.

If the decking nail didn’t hit wood when the framing was done, the sun can draw the nail out through the shingle.  This makes choosing a roofing company with a great and proven installation history crucial to avoid this roof leak.

Chimney Wear and Tear

While not exactly a roof leak, the next common leak is actually multiple chimney problems.  It could be leaking from problems with the flashing under the shingles surrounding the chimney.  If it’s brick, it could be the mortar joints.  If it rains for a few days, the mortar joints and even the bricks themselves get so saturated that water comes into the interior of your home.

There could also problems with water coming through the top of a chimney.  This could be from a masonry top cracking from being wet and freezing or a metal top rusting over or the fasteners have come loose.

Missing or Damaged Shingles

One obvious cause of a leaky roof is damaged or missing shingles.  Your shingles provide a barrier and help direct the water off the roof, so you can have major roof issues when something happens to them.  Heavy winds, branches on the roof, and other issues can cause damaged shingles.  When you’re missing shingles or the shingles are cracked, curled, or otherwise damaged, they allow water to reach the structural parts of the roof.  The water can seep into your home, where it can cause water stains on the ceilings and rotting in the structural components.

Damaged or Incorrectly Installed Flashing

Roof flashing goes along joints on the roof where water can easily penetrate.  If your roof flashing is installed incorrectly or becomes damaged, it can allow water to leak into the joints it’s supposed to protect.  Flashing can wear or rust over time, or it can become damaged due to impact or extreme temperature fluctuations. If flashing becomes loose, water can often get behind it and get into the house.