Discovering a leaky roof is enough to terrify most homeowners. But a roof leak can vary in impact from an inconvenience to a headache to a disaster. If your roof is leaking, in many cases you do not need a brand-new roof. The hardest part of repairing a roof leak is finding the source of the leak. Determining where the weak or damaged spot is, whether in the chimney or the flashing or the joints, or in the shingles themselves, requires a trained eye and a careful attention to detail. And there’s no way to know how serious the issue is until we’ve uncovered the cause of the leak.
Not All Roof Leaks Are Created Equal …
Ice Dams
If your roof leaks only on bright or warm days in winter or early spring, then you likely have ice dams. These are very common in Cincinnati, and throughout the midwest and northeast. With an ice dam, collected ice traps water from the melting snow. As it holds onto the water, and blocks it from draining properly, the water can seep upward under the shingles, and drip through the roof into your attic. It is not easy to combat, but improvements to your insulation and venting can prevent it. The formation of ice dams usually doesn’t indicate a need for a total roof replacement.
Interrupted, Damaged or Missing Shingles
Many of the leaks that plague Cincinnati roofs occur in places where the shingles are interrupted – either places that they’ve been damaged, lost, or loosened, or in places where plumbing, chimneys, roof vents, and anything else that interrupts the layering of shingles may have caused a problem. Being able to trace backward, from the water stains in your attic – or the black marks from developing mold – through to the roof can help us investigate the problem, discover its source, and determine the best way to solve it. Roof leaks from interrupted shingles often don’t require a complete roof replacement – just a correction of the shingle placement or other mitigation strategies.
Holes in the Roof
If you can see light coming through the boards of your attic, then you likely need a completely new roof, regardless of the cause. But not always … so it’s always good to have a professional roofing contractor take a look before you decide that all is lost.
Sagging Roof
If you see sagging in your roof, you have an emergency on your hands. Call us right away, as that sagging indicates structural damage that requires immediate attention. You do not want to wait until your roof collapses to call the experts in.
If you’re in the Cincinnati area, all of us here at Harper Siding and Roofing are available at 513-444-6098. We can give you a detailed estimate so that you can keep your roof – and your whole house – happy, healthy, and fully covered.