A Short Primer on Common Roofing Problems

A Short Primer on Common Roofing Problems

Part 1: John, the roof

Is LeakIng…

While leaks are most certainly not the only problems ever encountered with a damaged roof, a leak is one of the first, and certainly the most common sign that there is in fact a problem. A leaky roof is often a symptom of weather damage; it can also be a sign that age is catching up to the roof, and maybe other

parts of your building as well.

A Short Primer on Common Roofing Problems

When your roof starts springing leaks, that’s your structure warning you that repairs are in order. If left unaddressed, underlying conditions could lead to se-rious structural damage. Even something seemingly inconsequential—such as the proliferation of mold and mildew, for instance—can exacerbate problems. Mold, in particular, can pose serious health problems for the people living or working in a particular building.

If you’d like to stave off your roof ’s degeneration, you need to be able to recognize and pinpoint the damage it is most likely to sustain over time.

Oftentimes, the sources of leaks in the roof are not visible. The most blatantly obvious would be a yawn-ing hole in your roof but, short of that, these are the spots to watch out for:

▶ Leaks at joints: the joints between two sloped sec-tions on a roof, or between the roof and the chimney, are highly susceptible to leaking.

▶ Leaks along flashing: flashing—the material in-stalled along the roof line for waterproofing, typically where things stick up from the roof (like the chimney, vent stacks, etc.)—can eventually become weak spots where the rain is likely to seep under the shingles.

▶ Broken or cracked shingles: broken or cracked shingles can let water seep through your roof into the building.

Part 1: John, The Roof Is Leaking…

A Short Primer on Common Roofing Problems

Let’s Talk About The Weather…Roofs take a hammering all year round from the weather; that’s not even taking extreme weather, like tornadoes and hail storms, into consideration. While both modern and traditional building materials are incredibly durable—manufacturers’ warranties for metal and tile roofs are good for upwards of 50 years, and slate roofing on older buildings has been known to last for more than a century—it is inevitable that wear and tear from the weather will eventually wear your roof down. Yearly exposure to the extremes of summer and winter weather contributes, directly or otherwise, to deterioration and roof damage.

While roofs are generally shaped to withstand high winds and reroute the force of the wind along the ga-bles to the ground, various factors can lead to shing-les becoming loose; the wind can slip under loose shingles and pull them right off the roof. Hailstorms are a significant source of roof damage; balls of ice striking asphalt shingles can leave dimples that then become weak spots, points where later complications can occur.

The sheer weight of accumulated snow can collapse a roof, but the roof ’s con-struction by itself will seldom be the reason for a roof ’s failure. Undue damage from extreme weather con-ditions or even the roof ’s age alone can, and do, play a significant role in the roof ’s overall performance, as doe’s regular and timely maintenance.

Part 1: John, The Roof Is Leaking…

A Short Primer on Common Roofing Problems

Part 2: It’s not Just

the roof

Many problems associated, correctly or oth-erwise, with roofs rarely actually have any-thing to do with the roofs themselves. It just so happens that these problems occur on or around the roofs, so they end up being associ-ated with roofs and roof repair. This can often lead to chronic, recurring problems as home-owners or building residents turn to the roof looking for the cause of the problem, only to find that the roof is perfectly fine. Mysti-fied, the problem is allowed to continue un-checked, which can result in more complex

situations further down the line.

A Short Primer on Common Roofing Problems

One example of this is ice damming. A com-mon source of roof damage during the winter, ice damming occurs when a build-up of icy snow oc-curs low on the roof along the gutters, but higher up on the roof the snow is starting to melt. Blocked by the dammed-up ice lower down on the roof, the snowmelt pools up, eventually seeping its way underneath the shingles.

It may seem counterintuitive, but the source of the problem isn’t actually on the roof; rather, it is inside the premises. Chronic ice damming is commonly caused by poor circulation in the attic. No amount of work on the roof will address the problem of chronic ice damming; rather, the correct way to solve the prob-lem is to fix the insulation and ventilation of the attic.

Another such problem is ice buildup, which can occur if rain gutters are clogged or were improperly cleaned during the fall. As melting snow accumulates in the gutters and freezes again, continued ice formation causes icicles to form and hang from the frozen gut-ters. The weight of the ice thus formed can bring down the gutter and make it sag. This can result in the gutter draining poorly even when subsequently unclogged.

The soffit—the wood or metal panel on the under-side of the roof overhang—and the fascia—the board that runs behind the gutter or along the roofline, boxing in the overhang—are both, over time, at risk of water damage. If the roof drip edge, which directs the water into the gutters, has sustained damage or is otherwise missing, water runoff will cause the fas-cia and, eventually, the soffit, to rot. Animals, such as birds, raccoons, and squirrels, to name a few, will ex-ploit a weakened soffit, working away at it to create an opening so that they can nest in the area inside.

Part 2: It’s Not Just The Roof

A Short Primer on Common Roofing Problems

Part 3: What You

Can Do

Regular maintenance and a periodic inspec-tion is the key to making sure of your roof ’s in-tegrity. While a professional inspection is often the only way you can be absolutely sure, there is a lot that you can do to help you determine whether a professional opinion is necessary.

A Short Primer on Common Roofing Problems

A simple sight check will often reveal broken or cracked shingles, as well as ones that are buckling, curling, or blis-tering. Check the

southern face of the roof first, as exposure to the sun tends to cause those to deteriorate first. Look for loose material or wear around chim-neys, pipes, and such. It is best to do inspec-tions during the early morning or late after-noon or towards the early evening, when glare from the sun is less likely to obscure visibility.

Large amounts of shingle granules in the gut-ters are a good sign of shingle deterioration.

Make sure, too, that your attic is properly venti-lated and insu-lated. Not only does this help pre-vent ice damming in winter, it also helps reduce en-ergy expenditure, prevents the deterioration of roofing materials, and works to head off the formation of mold, mildew, and wood rot.

If your chimney is over 30 inches wide, make sure to install a small saddle roof structure or “cricket” on its backside. This will help pre-vent the pooling of water around your chim-ney, which could lead to larger issues over time.

Part 3: What You Can Do

A Short Primer on Common Roofing Problems

Make sure your gu-tters are clean and in good condition; a simple sight check is often enough to verify this. If leaves and debris are allowed to

accumulate, clogging the gutter or the down-spout, the buildup of water can cause mil-dew and mud to accu-mulate, and cause the gutters to sag.

For commercial roofs, especially, there are many effective methods of repair. Most com-mercial roofs are either flat or low-sloped, and will usually face problems associated with ex-cessive heat and age, which can damage the surface of the roofing material. Seams often lose their adhesive bond, and surfaces begin to take on the appearance of “alligator skin.”

Don’t be afraid to call in professional help, especially after a major storm. Your insur-ance policy typically covers having to have your roof inspected for damage. It’s better to be safe than sorry, after all, and not tak-ing the time to know, one way or another, just about guarantees that you will end up sorry.

Part 3: What You Can Do

A Short Primer on Common Roofing Problems

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