Common Causes of Water Damage: When Roof Leaks Go Undetected

Roof leaks are among the leading causes of water damage to residential properties. They can strike at any time and during any season, and unfortunately, they often go undetected until it’s too late.

The good news is that home improvement and roofing professionals offer a complete range of services to help you recover from a roof leak, restoring your home’s good condition while upgrading its defenses against the elements. This guide will help you understand the main causes of roofs leaks and the steps involved in handling and remediating water damage resulting from a leaky roof.

Common Causes of Water Damage: When Roof Leaks Go Undetected

5 Common Causes of Roof Leaks

Roofs leak for many reasons, so if any of these might apply to your home, it’s a good idea to check to make sure there isn’t an undetected leak already starting:

• Age: Roofs become more prone to leaking with each passing year, starting around year seven to ten
• Slope: Some roof slopes leave shingles prone to wind damage, which can loosen them and expose the underlying structure
• Shingle damage: Shingles will inevitably wear down over time, and damaged or missing shingles can quickly lead to water penetration
• Excessive moisture: If rainwater isn’t properly drained from your roof, it will collect and start to seep through as the underlying roof elements are weakened
• Debris: Branches, twigs, pine needles, and other forms of debris can cause damage on their own, or trap moisture on your roof where it will do damage over time

Why Do Roof Leaks Go Undetected So Often?

When roof leaks are caused by excessive moisture, you may not even be aware that there’s a problem until it’s late in the game. Moisture causes shingles and underlying roof elements to wear down and become porous over an extended period of time, but until the water actually starts to penetrate the interior of your home, this problem is all but undetectable unless you’re specifically looking for it – the importance of a professional roofing inspection cannot be overstated here.

In other cases, leaks may be confined to areas of your home that you don’t use very often, such as your attic. It’s important that you regularly inspect your roof’s exterior, as well as adjacent interior areas to make sure there aren’t any problems building up.

Regular inspections are key in detecting small issues before they become major problems.

Follow These 5 Steps to Recover from a Leaky Roof

If you discover a leak, there are five essential steps you should follow to remediate it, starting with filing an insurance claim:

• Document the damage by taking photos
• Arrange for a professional roofing inspection, and get a written estimate for the repairs from a reputable roofing contractor
• Contact your home insurance provider with the estimate and documented damage to determine whether you’ll qualify for reimbursement
• File a repair insurance claim once you’ve been notified that you will be covered
• Have a licensed contractor perform all necessary repairs and cleanup services

You’ll also have to check carefully for signs of mold damage and have these promptly removed if they are found.

When you bring professionals in to fix the damage, be sure to talk to them about how to prevent the situation from recurring in the future before you commit to a solution, especially if you’re planning to outright replace your roof. It may be better to go with a more durable material like metal roofing if you’ve been having consistent problems with leaks.

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All Roofing Solutions is a family-owned/operated Delaware roofing installation & repair contractor with over 20 years of experience in residential/commercial roofing, siding, and gutters installation/repair. Call 302-725-ROOF (7663) in Delaware or 610-551-ROOF (7663) in Pennsylvania to schedule your