Roof leaks are among the most common roofing problems – almost every roof owner knows what a nuisance it is to have to deal with the damp patches that appear on the ceiling or with the dampness that transforms the attic into a sauna after storms. Fortunately, with a little care and attention, most roof leaks can be prevented and as a bonus, the strength of the roof to protect the building underneath against other elements can also be maintained – here is how.
Regular Roof Cleaning and Inspection
Knowing what is going on with your roof is the best way to know whether the roof needs repair. Regular roof cleaning and roof inspections by Panama City roofing contractors are necessary steps of achieving such control.
Both roof cleaning and the following inspection are very important for keeping your roof leak-free. The debris, such as the dust, the dried leaves and twigs, is carried by the wind are deposited on the surface of roofs and forms a layer that absorbs the moisture from rain, preventing the roof underneath from drying properly and weakening it gradually until the roofing material gives in and lets water through. Roofs that are cleaned twice a year and then checked for faults are much stronger, they withstand storms and prolonged rainy periods better and they are much less prone to develop leaks than neglected roofs.
Timely Repairs
It is not enough to clean the roof and to find the faults that can cause leaks – the faults also need to be repaired. Regular inspections will make sure that the faults you find will never be more substantial than a couple of damaged shingles or a crack in the flashing.
Taking Care of the Gutters
Roof leaks can be caused not only by the faults of the shingles, tiles or panels on your roof or by the flashing around the chimneys and in the roof valleys. Damaged gutters, pipes that are clogged, cracked or sagging and can no longer fulfill their role of directing the water away from the building can also cause roof damage that can lead to the appearance of leaks. The solution is simple: whenever your roof is inspected, include a thorough gutter check in the process and correct the faults as soon as possible.
Install Roof Vents
Roofs can develop leaks not only because the roof surface gets damaged. Roof leaks are often caused by structural damage suffered by the roof’s deeper layers, usually in the roof’s support structure made from wood. Whenever it rains and the air becomes more humid, unvented roofs are exposed to water damage by the moisture that can get trapped under the roof, in the attic area. If the roof is not equipped with vents, that moist air cannot evacuate and it will release its moisture in the form of droplets of water that settle on the surfaces throughout the attic. Exposure to water being something that wood cannot stand up to for too long, the wooden beams, boards and planks that make up your roof’s support structure will get damaged sooner or later, which will weaken the entire roof and is likely to cause roof sagging and the resulting shifting and movement of the roofing surface. Roof covering elements that no longer form an intact surface will let water through and will lead to leaks.