Most Common Causes of Roof Leaks – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

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Most Common Causes of Roof Leaks

No one wants to have to go running for a drip bucket every time it rains.  One small drip symbolizes a larger roofing issue – and roofing issues mean an investment of time and money.  Below is a list of the most common causes of roof leaks.  Whether your roof is two years old or twenty keep this list handy. You never know when it could mean the difference between doing a quick repair or a major remodel.

1. Your Flashing Has Cracked

Flashings are thin pieces of metal that are installed under shingles and on the joints of your roof in order to create a water-resistant barrier, which can be concealed or exposed. If exposed, they will look like long runs of sheet metal and, if concealed, they will have a rubberized coating overtop.  Broken flashing will feature large cracks.

Why It Happens:  Roofers often use tar to seal the flashing together and that can corrode over time.  In the event that your flashing is left exposed, elements like wind and rain could be the reason behind its crack.

2. You Have Broken Shingles

Since shingles are the exterior layer of a roof, you should be able to identify missing shingles by seeing different-colored patches on your roof.  Alternatively, you may find the shingles themselves littering your yard after a heavy storm.

Why It Happens: Again, weather. High winds and heavy rains.

Also, check the rubber boots that protect your venting for cracks that let water in.

3. Your Valleys Aren’t Properly Sealed

An area where two planes of roof come together is a valley.  Since, these areas of the roof are usually sloped, if the valleys are not sealed together properly, rainwater can get inside as it runs down the roof.  You can detect a problem by searching for wet spots that run along the seams of your roof.

Why It Happens: A variety of reasons – the sealing may not have been done properly in the first place, it may have cracked when being stepped on, or an excess of rain and ice may have caused it to erode over time.

Since valleys feature such a large seal, they are often the culprit behind leaks.

4. Your Vent Booting Is Cracked

Roof vents are those things that look like small pipes sticking out of the top of your roof.  They’re used to expel excess moisture from the inside of the house. Leaks from this area will likely leave corresponding dark spots (and mustiness).

Why It Happens: Roof vents are often sealed by placing some flashing around the opening and slipping a tight, rubber boot over the area where the pipe peeks out of the roof. Over time, the flashing can break or the roof can decay.

5. Your Skylights Were Improperly Installed

Leaks from this kind of problem should be super easy to spot.  If yu find yourself noticing wet spots or consistently needing to place drip buckets around the sides of your skylights, you’ve found the cause.  However, leaks and wet spots near the top of the skylight may be a flashing issue instead.

Why It Happens: There are two main causes for this type of leak.  Improperly measuring and fitting the skylights upon installation or decayed insulation along the skylights edges

6. Your Gutters Are Clogged

You may be able to see the leaves sticking out of the gutter when you look up onto your roof.  But, if not, you should notice the lack of water trickling out of a downspout during a rainstorm.

Why It Happens: Your gutters are meant to help water travel away from the roof.  When a blockage forms and they get clogged, that travel stops.  Rainwater will then pool in one area of the roof and have more of an opportunity to seep through cracks.

7. You Have A Cracked Chimney

Most often, you can look for signs of wear and tear along the mortared area around the top of the chimney.  You should also look for any holes in the mortared joints where the chimney connects with the roof.  Also, be on the lookout for loose flashing and shingles in the surrounding area.

Why It Happens: Mortar is essentially just a thick mixture of water, sand, and cement.  It erodes easily in harsh weather conditions.

8. There’s Condensation In Your Attic

A leak is most likely coming from your attic if the space shows signs of mold growth or mildew.  A strong, musty odor  emanating from the attic is also a key that water has gotten inside.

Why It Happens: As the uppermost part of your home, the attic is trapped between indoor and outdoor temperatures.  When those clash – think hot summers and cold winters – condensation will form and moisture will follow.