5 Most Common Causes of Roof Problems and How to Fix Them.

There is also a common myth that says, “you will know a roof is faulty if there is a leak”, this could not be further from the truth. There are many roof problems that do not manifest by leakages and by the time a leak is observed, the roof is 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 lack of maintenance which results in the roof’s deterioration. Just like a crack on your foundation would mean a new foundation, a cracked roof that goes unnoticed may easily lead to a new roof.

Many roof problems are hard to spot and you would require a roofing expert to access the roof and assess any issues with the proper tools and equipment. Many reputable roofing companies/contractors offer workmanship guarantees to assess and resolve some of these issues. To avoid future disappointments, always ask your roofing contractor if they offer workmanship warranties and the written terms and conditions that their warranties carry.

With that background, here are some 5 common causes of roof problems that you might encounter:

Lack of a ventilation system

Your roof absorbs most of the heat that you generate in a home and therefore ventilation around the eves and at the ridge or the highest place of your roof mut be incorporated. This system is efficient and effective as it is a natural method of displacing the hot air inside your house through the attic and cold air is received into the house through the eaves.

Poor or inadequate ventilation would mean no heat is displaced making the house too hot, leading to accumulation of water droplets in the attic, consecutively damaging the ceiling, decking such as 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 inconveniencing to the home owners due to the scaffolding required and drilling works.

Damage of 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 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 damages on 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 works 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 their 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 which 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 rain water -through the roof. But a roof on its own is not sufficient to drain off rain water. Rain water that is left on the roof will ruin your house 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 leaves which cause damages to your roof and building or structure. You need to take measures to regularly fix them.

Solution

Proper roof maintenance checks 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, copping among others.

Conclusion

We strongly recommend using a professional roofing contractor to install, repair, maintain and inspect your roof. REXE Roofing Products LTD is your one-stop-shop for all your roofing and waterproofing solutions.

We supply quality roofing and waterproofing solutions which include: Cambridge Xpress roofing Shingles, Stone Coated Roofing Tiles, APP and liquid waterproofing solutions, Roof underlays, OSB 3 Boards among other roofing materials. We Deliver Our Roofing Products Countrywide.

Our services include roof installation and re-roofing old roofs.

Do you need any of our products or services? Request for a FREE Quotation, and upload your roof plan. We will get back to you in less than 48 working hours with a full quotation with a Bill of Materials.

Roofing 1 on 1

Would you like to know more about installing a perfect shingles roof using Cambridge Xpress roof shingles? We conduct a FREE program ‘’Roofing 1on1’’ at our REXE Showroom on Menelik Court, off Menelik Road and we would love it if you could pay us a visit. Feel free to Get in Touch with us for more information on our Roofing materials and products which include supply and installation of APP Waterproofing membrane, Roofing Shingles and Stone Coated Roofing Tiles among other Roofing Boards and accessories

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