Your Roof Started To Leak Long Before You Noticed It
Contrary to popular thought, normal weathering of asphalt shingles will not cause sudden leaking in your home.
The most common causes of leaks are as follows:
Flashings: the strips of metal around chimneys, sidewalls or junctions of a roof are most frequently to blame as the causes of leaks.
These crucial areas must be watertight and expertly fitted to avoid water penetration.
Installation of flashings is often the most difficult and time consuming part for a roofer and requires technical knowledge to complete properly; otherwise the flashing seal is not in place or will fail in time.
Many roofing companies will fly through this portion of the project, not spending the adequate time on properly fitting flashings or, as I’ve recently come across on a repair job, not installing them in the first place, since they are so time consuming.
Archer Roofing contractors take pride in a job well done and we take as much time as it takes to fit your roof with custom flashings.
Missing shingles: damaged or missing shingles will leave the roof exposed to leaks and should be repaired without delay.
During our annual inspections for homeowners, we frequently encounter areas with missing shingles due to blow-off or animal damage (especially in Kelowna, with its ferocious raccoons).
These bare patches on a roof will cause extensive damage if not fixed promptly.
Self Help Tip: If you’re installing a few missing shingles on your own, make sure you note the alignment of the shingle cutouts, as well as the nailing location, as these areas are crucial to maintaining a watertight layer.
Without proper shingle alignment, leaks will be unavoidable, as water will ultimately find its way into these exposed crevices.
Overlying shingle tabs should always cover these areas.
Inadequate ventilation: As mentioned in a few of my previous posts, inadequate ventilation can cause condensation accumulation, ice damming and frost buildup, which will in turn force water under the shingles and, over time, deteriorate a roof, leading to leaks.
These problems can be easily prevented with proper ventilation spacing, as mandated by the National Building Code of Canada (Section 9.19) which we strictly adhere to.