5 Most Common Causes of Roof Problems and How to Fix Them
Many believe a roof only has problems when it starts leaking. That assumption is false and often leads to serious damage. There are several roof problems and how to fix them before leaks appear. By the time you see water stains, your roof is already severely compromised.
Unlike paint on the walls and home appliances, homeowners do not interact with their roofs on a daily basis. This may lead to roof neglect and a lack of maintenance, which results in the roof’s deterioration. An unnoticed roof crack can quickly force you to install a new roof.
Roof problems are often difficult to see. A roofing expert uses proper tools to climb up and assess the damage. Many reputable roofing companies/contractors offer workmanship guarantees to assess and resolve some of these issues. Always ask your roofing contractor if they offer a workmanship warranty with clear, written terms and conditions.
With that background, here are 5 common causes of roof problems and how to fix them:
Lack of a ventilation system
Your roof traps most of the heat in your home, so proper ventilation at the eaves and ridge is essential. This setup naturally pushes hot air out through the attic and draws cool air in through the eaves.
Without proper ventilation, heat builds up inside, making your home uncomfortable and increasing moisture in the attic.
Moisture in the attic causes water droplets to form, which damage the ceiling, OSB boards, and roofing shingles.
Solution
This problem can be resolved by incorporating an adequate ventilation system. This is ideally done during the construction stage. The process can still be done later if it was omitted during the construction phase, but it will be more costly and inconvenient to the homeowners due to the scaffolding required and drilling works.
Damage to Roof Sections
Ideally, the roof installation should be done in tandem with other building works that need access to the roof, such as plumbing, solar panel installation, and skylight installation. However, this is not always possible, either due to challenges with resources or differences in planning for the construction.
Once other contractors move to the site after the expert roofing contractors have left, they may step on the roofing materials used, such as shingles or stone-coated tiles, leading to severe damage to the roofing product and compromising the initial workmanship.
These damages may go unnoticed and later manifest either by leakages or lifting of shingles.
Solution
To avoid this problem, always ensure that you ask for a representative from your roofing company to be present whenever you have any other work going on after they have finished the roof installation and left the site.
Poor workmanship
It is said that “it is better to have an average product installed properly than an excellent product installed poorly“. Unqualified and/or uncertified contractors in need of quick money may take up roof installation jobs that they have no skills or expertise in. This scenario is further reinforced by clients who would like to make a bit of monetary savings.
In order to cut costs, rogue contractors do not abide by the required and approved roof installation standards, government regulations, and licenses for proper roof installation. When the problems start to show, most of these roof installers, who also do not give workmanship guarantees, will have taken their pay and disappeared, leaving the homeowners to pay the high and bitter price of a raw deal.
Solution
There is only one solution to this problem: engage a reputable roofing company that will keep its promise as governed by the law, ethics, brand reputation, values, and as stipulated on the warranty terms and conditions.
Low-Hanging Trees, Branches, and Leaves
Roofs that are surrounded by low-hanging branches and leaves normally have molds and algae on most parts of the roof. Branches pose a great danger to roofs because of the impact they have on the roof if they fall.
Solution
We do not recommend cutting down trees that are instrumental in conserving our environment and our well-being. We highly recommend that tree branches be trimmed regularly and leaves be removed immediately they land on the roof. This will protect the roof from heavy impact should a branch fall and water stagnation from rainfall, because shaded areas take longer to dry.
Lack of Water Harvesting Gutters
There is only one way by which your home sheds rainwater -through the roof. But a roof on its own is not sufficient to drain off rainwater. Rainwater that is left on the roof will ruin your house’s fascia board, ceiling, and walls as it runs off undirected.
Solution
Every pitched roof must have either concrete gutters or regular UPVC gutters to collect the water from your roof and direct it to the downpipes, either for recycling or gardening. Always hire an expert roofing contractor who has the relevant skills and is well-versed with main water collection points on the roof,
Roof Negligence and Lack of Maintenance
Just like other components of your home, your roof needs care and maintenance. Your roof may have cracks, debris, and leave,s which cause damage to your roof and building or structure. You need to take measures to regularly fix them.
Solution
Proper roof maintenance checks should be carried out at least once every year. The maintenance should be carried out by a qualified roofing expert who has the necessary tools, skills, and experience to look out for key areas of your roof that could easily be missed, such as chimneys, flashings, valleys, capping, among others.
Conclusion
We strongly recommend using a professional roofing contractor to install, repair, maintain, and inspect your roof.
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