Okay, so you haven’t got a series of pans and precisely placed buckets around the home – but that doesn’t mean your roof isn’t letting in a little liquid. The most costly damage from roof leaks occur when the subtlest signs of something untoward go unchecked – more often than not because the property owner simply doesn’t know what to look for. Here are several, often overlooked signs that a roof is leaking…
Mould on exterior walls
You’re likely to spot mould appearing inside the home, but what about outside? Would you notice the same tiny spots starting to appear, and know how to react? Mould growing on an exterior wall could be a clear indication that a leak has started in the roof above. If you spot mould outside the home, check the same spot on the other side of the wall, inside the home, and be sure to look for damage to the roof and guttering above the spot.
Damaged tiles and shingles
Unless you’ve got a good view of your roof, a single tile or shingle that’s become loose or cracked is easy to miss. This is why it’s recommended that you check your roof at least annually, if not twice per year, or have a professional give it a once-over. Repair to a single tile is relatively straightforward – but small amounts of damage are even easier to overlook. Think of a single, damaged tile as losing a button from your coat – the weather is certainly going to get in.
Rusted flashing
Similarly, even if your tiles or shingles are perfectly intact, what about your chimney? Flashing, especially steel flashing, is prone to rusting and may have a completely different lifespan to the rest of your roof. Again, it’s easy to overlook, essentially as most people don’t think of looking for it.
Flashing needs to be replaced by a professional company, such as Findley Roofing & Building, which sends roofers to Chester-le-Street and other parts of County Durham. Furthermore, once it’s repaired, you’ll know how long it will be expected to last.
Clogged guttering
Admittedly, this can occur at any length of your guttering and drainpipe system, but clogs can back up all the way to the roof and subsequently cause a wide range of issues. While it’s not always as simple as looking up and spotting a giant pile of leaves or a family of birds sticking out, there are other clear signs that your guttering isn’t functioning adequately.
For instance, if it’s raining, it makes sense that your gutters should be working overtime – if you don’t see a steady stream of water being drained away, it’s a sure sign that something’s amiss with the system.
Looking back over the above advice, you can actually see the best solutions for dealing with, and avoiding, roof leaks. You now know that regularly checking your entire roof, guttering and even exterior walls is the most efficient way of identifying leaks or recognising where the potential for a leak could occur – potentially saving you vast sums of money, and periods of stress, in the long run.
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