The 5 Most Common Causes of Roof Leaks

Your roof is one of the most important components of your home. It keeps you dry and provides insulation during the cold Ontario winters and sultry summers. Even a small roof leak can do considerable damage. Knowing the common causes of roof leaks can help you keep an eye out for damage and get it repaired before the damage becomes widespread.

Common causes of roof leaks

1. Problems with flashing. Flashing are the metal pieces that keep water from seeping in along the seams of your chimney, furnace, and changes in your roofline. If these pieces become loose or cracked, moisture can enter your home. Extreme weather can cause cracks in your flashing. However, the good news is that this issue is easy and inexpensive to fix if caught early.

2. Walking on your roof. Roofing material is generally not made to walk on. Yes, there are times when you need to go up on your roof, but you should avoid it whenever possible. Walking on your roof can cause shingles and tiles to crack and compromise the integrity of your entire roof.

3. Clogged gutters. When your gutters fill up with leaves, dirt and other debris, rainwater and melting snow can build up and overflow under the shingles at the edge of your roof, causing leaks. Avoid this scenario by making sure to clean out your gutters every year in the fall after the leaves are all off of the trees.

4. Ice dams. An ice dam is a ridge of ice formed when melting snow refreezes at the roof line. This can cause water to back up and get underneath your shingles. One of the major causes of ice dams is not having enough insulation, which allows the heat from your house to escape and melt the ice and snow on the top of your roof. To get rid of an ice dam, a roofing professional needs to use a roof rake to carefully remove the ice and snow without further damaging the roof.

5. Missing or damaged shingles. Strong Ontario winds can cause roofing shingles to blow off of your roof or become damaged. Often, you can see this damage from the ground. If so, it’s time to call a roofing professional to get those shingles reattached or replaced before the next storm.

Roof repair in Barrie

If you find you have a roof leak, we can help To schedule a free repair estimate, contact us. We’ve been helping Barrie area residents like you with their roofing needs for more than 30 years.