The small drip of water into the attic or a trickle of water into the side wall can lead to big issues down the road for your home or commercial building. Many Cincinnati area home and business owners don’t understand how a little leak in the roof can become a major problem. You cannot afford to ignore even the smallest of roof leaks. How can small roof leaks lead to big issues?
The Structural Impact of Roof Leaks
A leaking roof — at a minimum — means that water is getting through the structural membrane of your home. Water from outside is getting inside. When people think of water leaking into their roof, they often assume it will form a puddle on the attic floor, eventually warping the floorboards (which would be unfortunate). Realistically, it is more likely that the water is going to follow the roof decking to the wall and then into the wall itself. This will cause the walls of your home to become damp. This is sometimes visible on the exterior of the walls, but much more often it isn’t visible at all – the walls, and the space behind them, just gradually get wetter and wetter, causing damage and allowing for mold growth, in areas you can’t see. The walls may warp, or they may begin to rot. A leak in the shingles and roof deck itself can cause the roof to sag, and eventually, it could cause a roof collapse. Therefore, in every case, a minor leak can lead to structural damage over time.
In a *best* case scenario, you notice the damage from the roof leak right way – with a drippy ceiling or a damp wall. In most cases, the damage from a roof leak collects slowly and quietly, and by the time you notice, you may have a major mold problem or a loss of structural integrity.
The longer you wait to repair the leak, the more expensive the eventual repair bill. For example, the longer a roof leak goes on, the sooner the roof system wears out. Leaving little leaks unaddressed means you’ll have to replace the entire roof years sooner than originally planned. And this isn’t SOMETIMES true, it’s ALWAYS true. Roof leaks aren’t a “wait and see” situation – they don’t get better on their own. If you suspect a roof leak, it’s time to call in a professional roof repair company, right away.
The Environmental Impact of Roof Leaks
A water leak into your home will fuel the growth of mold and mildew. Wet fiberglass insulation in the attic will foster mold growth, and that can enter your home if it reaches your air ducts. Water dripping into your walls causes mold to grow there, and it can eventually grow through the drywall or into the wood. This certainly affects indoor air quality, triggering asthma and allergies – or more significant health problems.
Insulation also loses part of its insulating value when wet, causing you to use more energy to heat and cool your home. If the problem is bad enough, your insulation could freeze in the winter, making it impossible to get and keep your home warm. Oh, and when all that frozen moisture thaws, expect to see water dripping everywhere.
A minor leak that grows over time as shingles are lost and wood rots away will let more air-conditioned air escape outside in the summer, too, while giving unwanted pests a way into your home.
The Potential Hazards of Roof Leaks
Water in your walls won’t just erode the insulation and structural elements of your home – it can create a fire hazard, too. When water from a leaking roof reaches exposed electrical wiring, it could create an open circuit and sparks may literally fly. If water seeps around a junction box, the same thing can happen. If your lights or electronics are on the fritz every time it rains, it may be due to a roof leak. Unfortunately, that same water leak could create an electrically conductive area around any exposed wiring or electrical connections. That would give you a shock if you came into contact with it. This risk is why you should turn off the power when you call in an electrician to check your wiring as well as anytime you have someone working on a leaking room.
On top of this is the classic case of the slip and fall — if you have water puddles forming around your home, you, a family member, or a guest in your home could slip and fall and get injured.
Roof Leaks Don’t Always Come From the Roof
Roof leaks are not always due to missing shingles or a fallen branch that punched a hole in the roof. Sometimes the root cause is due to issues with the gutters or downspouts. In other cases, it is due to damaged or failing flashing letting water drip down next to the fireplace. A blockage in your gutter can allow water to drain into the siding of your home, while a steady stream of water off the side of the roof or over the edge of a blocked up gutter can erode your foundation, as well. Leaks around a skylight could cause the skylight to fall. In almost every case, the leak will grow worse with time. Depending on the situation, water could get trapped in sagging parts of the roof or soaked up in waterlogged insulation until your roof actually collapses.
So, What Should You Do with A Leaking Roof?
The solution to all of these problems is to have small leaks addressed as soon as they are discovered and suspected leaks located and resolved before they put your home or business at risk – don’t wait for a leak to cause even bigger issues. If you need help with roof leaks in the Cincinnati area, contact us for a roof leak repair estimate. Get answers to your questions about the health of your roof sooner, rather than later.