When your roof springs a leak, it can be a considerable cause of stress and frustration to you as a homeowner. Considering that a majority of leaks tend to go undetected for a while, by the time you do realise you have a problem on your hands you could be facing a significant amount of property damage. For this reason, it is vital for individuals to be aware of what the common culprits of roof leaks are so they can take proactive measures to prevent the leak from occurring in the first place.

Formation of ice dams

Australia may be renowned for its warm climate, but the colder months can be quite chilly. To counter this, homeowners use furnaces and other heating systems to maximise the comfort in their home. What you may not realise is that the excess heat that your residence is generating will typically not have anywhere to go. As a result, the rising heat starts to collect in between your attic and your roof.

When snow accumulates on your roofing structure, the heat below melts the ice and causes it to collect in the eaves of your roofing where it ends up re-freezing. The more ice that forms in these constricted places, the higher the chances of frost backing up under your roof shingles. This process is what leads to ice dams on your roof. When the ice dams start to melt, water pools inside your roofing, and this can lead to leaks. Installing insulation between your roof and the primary structure helps prevent this from occurring.

Unchecked damage to skylights and chimneys

As long as you have openings on your roofing, there is an increased likelihood of developing a leak in your structure. Prolonged exposure to the changing weather conditions coupled with natural ageing can lead to sealants, flashing and myriad other adhesives disintegrating steadily. This degradation leaves your roofing vulnerable to ice and precipitation that may seep into the home.

However, not many homeowners will take the trouble to carry out a physical inspection of their roof to check whether their chimney, skylights and other features are in optimum working condition. Therefore, the damage and the resultant leakage goes undetected until the signs show up on your ceiling. It is critical to have a roofing specialist inspect your home on a routine basis and carry out the necessary maintenance to uphold the integrity of the building.

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