Roofing Charlotte, NC
Consider your roofing in Charlotte, NCCare awareness for your roof & common issues & fixes.
No one wants to have to go racing for the drip bucket every time it starts to really rain. Not only is having to stay on top of the weather forecast annoying and not very practical, but that one small drip usually indicates a larger roofing problem. We all know that roofing issues can mean an investment of both time and money.
In an attempt to save you on that type of investment, we have listed The 10 Most Common Causes of Roof Leaks. Below you can read more about what roofing problems may look like, why they happen, and even how you can even fix them yourself. Regardless of your roof at 2 years old or 25 years old keep this list for reference. You never know when it could mean the difference between you doing a quick repair or a having to pay for a new roof installation. Has Your Flashing Cracked? What Does It Look Like: “Flashing” are the thin portions of metal that are installed under the shingles and on the joints of your roof in order to make a water resistant barrier, which can be either concealed or exposed. If it’s exposed, flashing will look like long stretches of sheet metal and if you’re your flashing is concealed, they will have a rubber type coating on top. Broken flashing will have large cracks that are can be seen. Why Flashing Cracks: It is common practice for roofers to use tar to seal the flashing together and that can naturally diminish over time. When that happens, your flashing is left exposed, elements like wind or rain could seep in and be the reason it becomes cracked. How To Fix It: Once you identify the source of the leak, remove the nails used to secure the old flashing. Lift each shingles out of the way and remove the cracked portions. Gently put a new stretch of flashing in that one’s place, you would then fasten the new flashing in the same exact pattern as your old piece by using standard roofing nails. Then, simply apply a coat of roofing sealant to each of the nail heads. Call the Roof Pros Of Charlotte for more information about Roofing Charlotte, NC. |
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What if You Have A Broken Shingle?
This one is easy to spot relatively quickly. Since shingles are the outer layer of the roof, you should be able to identify damaged (or even missing) shingles by seeing different-colored areas on your roof, typically darker in shades. You may even find the shingles themselves lying your yard after a heavy storm.
Why Shingles come off: Our frequently windy Charlotte weather, or very heavy rains.
How To Fix It: Slide a pry bar or similar tool under the row of roofing nails that connects the damaged shingle to the one under it. Carefully lift it up until the nail head comes out and then press down on the shingle while you remove the nail completely. You’ll need to do this for each of the nails around each shingle. Then pull out the damaged shingle, replace it with a new one, and secure it with new standard roofing nails in each corner.
What if Your Valleys Are not Sealed Properly?
What Does This Look Like: Any area where any two parts of your roof come together, these areas of the roof are usually sloped or at an angle, and when the valleys are not sealed together properly and fully , rain water will get inside your attic or home as it runs down off the roof. You can detect this problem by searching for wet areas along the seams of your roof.
Why It Happens: Several reasons can cause this problem – at the first build of your roof, the outer sealing may not have been done properly. Then it may have cracked when being stepped on for finishing work, or even a lot of rain and ice may have caused it to become eroded over the years, which can happen naturally.
How To Fix It: This is one of those things that really needs to be taken on by a professional because of the complexity and we do not recommend homeowners attempting it on your own. It is a relatively common problem, especially with older homes, so our roofing technician will likely fix the problem by installing a new and reliable leak barrier along the valley and the shingling over-top.
Call the Roof Pros Of Charlotte for more information about Roofing Charlotte, NC.
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Your Vent Booting Becomes Cracked
What Does It Look Like: Roof vents are the things that look somewhat like small pipes sticking out of the top of your roof. They are necessary to keep excess moisture from the inside of your home or structure. Leaks from this area will likely usually leave dark spots and mustiness.
Why It Happens: Roof vents are generally sealed by putting flashing around the opening and over time and just from natural elements, flashing can break or the roof can begin to become weak around the piping.
How To Fix It: Carefully use a knife to remove the rubber all around the vent pipes. You’ll need to use a pry bar or something similar to break the seal on any shingles that it is sealed to. Gently slide a new rubber boot under each of the shingles, over the vent, and bring it down directly onto the roof itself. Then just secure the new boot with roofing nails on both sides and then caulk under each of the shingles to seal them to your new flashing.
Were Your Skylights Properly Installed?
What Does It Look Like: Any leaks from this problem should be pretty easy to see. If you find yourself noticing any wet spots or a drip around the sides of your skylights, it’s evident that that’s become a real issue. However, if you see leaks and wet spots near the top of the skylight may actually be a flashing problem.
Why It Happens: There are usually one of two causes for this unique type of leak. Improperly measuring or fitting of the skylights at the time of installation or you have decayed insulation along the skylights outter edges.
How To Fix It: Clean off of your skylight and check for cracks in the glass. You can seal any cracks with a layer of clear silicone along the length, if that’s needed. If that is not the cause, examine the surrounding flashing and then replace it if it is needed.
Your Gutters Are Getting Clogged
What Does It Look Like: You may be able to see leaves or debris sticking out of your gutter when you look up onto your roof. When it’s raining, you should notice the if there’s a comparable amount of water trickling out of a downspout.
Why It Happens: Your gutters are designed to help water flow away from the roof. When there is a blockage and they get clogged, that flow stops or stagnates. Rainwater will then pool in areas of your roof and it is then more likely seep through cracks.
How To Fix It: Very carefully- because of the dangers here, we recommend having gutters professionally cleared and cleaned.
Call the Roof Pros Of Charlotte for more information about Roofing Charlotte, NC.
What Does It Look Like: Roof vents are the things that look somewhat like small pipes sticking out of the top of your roof. They are necessary to keep excess moisture from the inside of your home or structure. Leaks from this area will likely usually leave dark spots and mustiness.
Why It Happens: Roof vents are generally sealed by putting flashing around the opening and over time and just from natural elements, flashing can break or the roof can begin to become weak around the piping.
How To Fix It: Carefully use a knife to remove the rubber all around the vent pipes. You’ll need to use a pry bar or something similar to break the seal on any shingles that it is sealed to. Gently slide a new rubber boot under each of the shingles, over the vent, and bring it down directly onto the roof itself. Then just secure the new boot with roofing nails on both sides and then caulk under each of the shingles to seal them to your new flashing.
Were Your Skylights Properly Installed?
What Does It Look Like: Any leaks from this problem should be pretty easy to see. If you find yourself noticing any wet spots or a drip around the sides of your skylights, it’s evident that that’s become a real issue. However, if you see leaks and wet spots near the top of the skylight may actually be a flashing problem.
Why It Happens: There are usually one of two causes for this unique type of leak. Improperly measuring or fitting of the skylights at the time of installation or you have decayed insulation along the skylights outter edges.
How To Fix It: Clean off of your skylight and check for cracks in the glass. You can seal any cracks with a layer of clear silicone along the length, if that’s needed. If that is not the cause, examine the surrounding flashing and then replace it if it is needed.
Your Gutters Are Getting Clogged
What Does It Look Like: You may be able to see leaves or debris sticking out of your gutter when you look up onto your roof. When it’s raining, you should notice the if there’s a comparable amount of water trickling out of a downspout.
Why It Happens: Your gutters are designed to help water flow away from the roof. When there is a blockage and they get clogged, that flow stops or stagnates. Rainwater will then pool in areas of your roof and it is then more likely seep through cracks.
How To Fix It: Very carefully- because of the dangers here, we recommend having gutters professionally cleared and cleaned.
Call the Roof Pros Of Charlotte for more information about Roofing Charlotte, NC.
More Roofing InfoYou Have A Cracked Chimney
What Does It Look Like: Most times, you can look for obvious signs of wear and tear along the chimney’s mud cap, the mortared or cemented looking area around the top of the chimney. You should also look for any holes or gaps in the mortared areas where the chimney connects directly to the roof. Flashing and shingles in the surrounding area can also be a potential problem. Why It Happens: Mortar is basically just a thick mixture of water, sand, and a cement compound. It becomes eroded naturally over the years in even mild weather conditions. |
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How To Fix It: In most cases, all you need to do is find the place where the leak is coming from and replace the mortar compounds. But, since materials used for chimney repairs are different compounds than those for standard roofing fixes, we recommended that you get a professional handle those type of repairs.
Is There Condensation Inside Your Attic?
What Does It Look Like: When your attic shows signs of mold growth or even mild mildew, it usually is a leak some where. Any musty odor in your attic is also a strong indicator that water has gotten inside and this is a problem that will get worse over time.
Why It Happens: At the highest point of your home, your attic is situated between indoor and outdoor temperatures. When those collide together, the temperature creates condensation and moisture is sure to follow.
How To Fix It: You’ll need to take care of any mold growth before addressing the overall issue, as mold can be dangerous. Be sure to isolate your attic to prevent extreme variations in the temperature. Be sure that all of your roof vents are cleared from the inside and you may need to consider installing a larger ventilation fan in some homes.
You’re Using It Too Much
The wisest advice we can give is to hire a professional roofer to do your fixes, since they are well trained on how to avoid the most easily-damaged areas while addressing your issues and fixing the problem.
Whether you have an older roof, newer roof, or even a fancy multi-color rooftop, wear and tear is unavoidable for home owners roofs. There will always be rainstorms, heavy winds and sometimes even ice storms here in North Carolina. With the awareness care, every roof should have the ability to keep your family warm and dry for decades to come. As you work to protect your investment and focus on home maintenance, refer to this list of the most common causes of roof leaks. You’ll be glad it’s handy when catching a leak early saves you a lot of time and money.
Do you know the signs that your roof may need repair, or that you need the services of a roofer for your home or office? If not, you may have issues even now as you read this, that are eating away at your home’s or business’s roof, issues that may eventually lead to some serious and even costly damages. The good news is that our team is ready and able to help with any issues, or even provide full and complete roof replacement. When you call our Charlotte roofer professionals, you will gain access to our teams comprised of individuals with years of long term training and valuable experience in the industry. We can handle any type of roofing material and ensure your roof is able to do its job to the fullest extent by protecting your home or business.
Call the Roof Pros Of Charlotte for more information about Roofing Charlotte, NC.
Call the Roof Pros Of Charlotte for more information about Roofing Charlotte, NC.
