When it comes to home maintenance, few things are more troubling than the discovery of a persistent roof leak that causes water damage inside of your home. You’re left hoping for a string of dry days to avoid more water damage before you’re able to get a contractor out to perform an assessment. In order to be a little more informed about roofing before hiring a contractor, take a look at three of the most common causes of roof leaks, and the likely fixes.
Leaking from Vent Pipe Boot Failure
Vent pipes that exit your roof are waterproofed where they penetrate its surface, per ThisOldHouse.com. This is done through the use of flashing, or a boot, that covers the base of the pipe. Over time, ultraviolet rays from the sun can deteriorate these boots, which are often made of synthetic rubber. Animals and weather patterns can also affect their durability. Typically, vent pipe boots last no longer than 10 years before they begin to crack and decay, making roof leaks more probable.
Likely Fix
A pipe’s boot can be repaired by installing a small rubber collar (rubber gasket) over the top of the old cracked boot, according to ThisOldHouse.com. The collar will encase the flashing around the base of the pipe. Properly installed, the modified pipe boot should last an additional 10-15 years.
Leaking from Improperly Driven Nails
Leaks can occur when a roofing nail backs out of a shingle due to improper installation, where a roofer failed to drive the nail deep enough. When it rains water can pool around the head of the lifted nail and penetrate beneath the shingles—ultimately leading to a leak.
Likely Fix
A high-quality roofing contractor will pull out any poorly-driven nails, properly drive replacement nails, and lay an ice and water shield on top.
Leaking from Gutter Clutter
ThisOldHouse.com explains that when two roof sections join at different angles and form the shape of a V it’s referred to as a “valley.” A valley that stops at the middle of a roof has a gutter to carry water away.
If the gutter in the valley becomes filled with leaves and debris, it will send rain water through the path of least resistance—the roof’s fascia board, which travels along the lower edge of the roof and carries all of the gutters. If the fascia board doesn’t have flashing, a leak will occur that can penetrate the interior of your home—depending on the location of the gutter.
Likely Fix
Clearing away gutter debris and laying segments of flashing behind the gutter and under the roof valley can resolve the leak.
